Walking Tall Trilogy Boxed Set

Starring:Joe Don Baker, Elizabeth Hartman, Gene Evans, Noah Beery Jr., Brenda Benet, John Brascia, Bruce Glover, Arch Johnson, Felton Perry, Richard X. Slattery, Rosemary Murphy, Lynn Borden, Ed Call, Sidney Clute, Douglas Fowley, Don Keefer, Sam Laws, Pepper Martin, John Myhers, Logan Ramsey
Director: Phil Karlson, Jack Starrett, Earl Bellamy
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Bing Crosby's company produced the first Walking Tall feature, which was based loosely on Southern sheriff Buford Pusser, a former wrestler who took on organized crime in his hometown. Joe Don Baker's formidable appearance and downhome persona helped sell the filmmakers' depiction of Pusser as an average American who stood up for justice, and Baker's performance and plenty of action helped make Walking Tall a major moneymaker in 1973. Pusser's big stick was handed to Bo Svenson for Walking Tall, Part II (1975), which followed his search for his wife's killers (she died in the first film). Svenson wasn't the only change--director Phil Karlson's no-nonsense style was replaced by veteran TV helmer Earl Bellamy's colorless approach, and American International Pictures took over distribution from the bankrupt Cinemation. Pusser himself, who had served as technical advisor on the first film, had also died in an explosion. Though audiences turned out in droves, the drop in quality was obvious. The addition of action specialist Jack Starrett (Race with the Devil) as director on Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977) was initially promising, but the result was a tired retread of Pusser's previous adventures and, amusingly enough, the making of the first film. A short-lived series starring Svenson followed in 1981, but by then, the story had exhausted itself. A new theatrical version is reportedly in production.

Amazon.com

Bing Crosby's company produced the first Walking Tall feature, which was based loosely on Southern sheriff Buford Pusser, a former wrestler who took on organized crime in his hometown. Joe Don Baker's formidable appearance and downhome persona helped sell the filmmakers' depiction of Pusser as an average American who stood up for justice, and Baker's performance and plenty of action helped make Walking Tall a major moneymaker in 1973. Pusser's big stick was handed to Bo Svenson for Walking Tall, Part II (1975), which followed his search for his wife's killers (she died in the first film). Svenson wasn't the only change--director Phil Karlson's no-nonsense style was replaced by veteran TV helmer Earl Bellamy's colorless approach, and American International Pictures took over distribution from the bankrupt Cinemation. Pusser himself, who had served as technical advisor on the first film, had also died in an explosion. Though audiences turned out in droves, the drop in quality was obvious. The addition of action specialist Jack Starrett (Race with the Devil) as director on Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977) was initially promising, but the result was a tired retread of Pusser's previous adventures and, amusingly enough, the making of the first film. A short-lived series starring Svenson followed in 1981, but by then, the story had exhausted itself. A new theatrical version is reportedly in production.

This three-disc set compiles the Walking Tall trilogy in a no-frills package that's more convenient than collectible. Considering the films' much-vaunted subject and the success of the first film, it's a disappointment to learn that the discs lack any extras or even improved image quality (VHS masters appear to have been used). While it's good to have these lowbrow crowd-pleasers back on the market, the set's threadbare presentation makes it essential for trilogy devotees only. --Paul Gaita

Customer Reviews:

Joe Don the VERY best part !!.......2007-05-13

I saw this movie with Joe don Baker when it came out very first time.I have lots of clippings from the eal life of Mr. Pusser .The first movies comes the closest to his real like , in my opinion.Joe Don does a GREAT job , but the actor " BO " can't fill his shoes , let alone the real Pusser's shoes. My hubby , son and I visited Mr. Pusser's home town not long after he was killed, we saw ALL the places that these events happened.Plus we called his mom and asked if we might come over and meet her, she was delighted .We went to Mr. Pusser's home (the one now that you pay to go in ) and it was as if he still lived there.We also met his daughter , who then was in her late teens.But Mrs. Helen Pusser was so very nice, she told us all the things we had only heard and saw in the movies, what was real and what wasn't.plus she gave us a LOT of photos of the Pusser family, including a LOT of Mr. Pusser . It was a trip I will always remember .Now I'm so happy I s\went , before they turned it into a place like it is now.It was more real to life when we were there.
For anyone who hasn't say Walking Tall , esp. the first one, U are missing a GREAT movie , as far as Mr. Pusser's hometown, a Beautiful little county town in TN . You should go there if U EVER get the chance.
God bless
linda

3 months and still nothing - BOO to Amazon!.......2007-02-03

I ordered this as a Christmas gift in November. Today is February 2, and I've received notice that it will not be available until April! You've got to be kidding me! If you really want this boxed set, do not order it here, you will be sadly disappointed!

WHAT IS TAKING SOOOO LONG?!.......2006-12-10

I ordered this Nov 5th..item was in stock...paid for 2nd day ship. Today is DEC 9th...still no "Trilogy" set. This was ordered as a Birthday gift (Nov 15th)..needless to say, I had to come up with another!! Now, I just HOPE this will be here for Christmas!! Maybe Easter?!

MISTAKE!!! Do not order is you need this...in the next YEAR!

Good for the Movies, Not the Frills.......2006-09-26

This set gives what it promises. It provides videos of the 3 movies from the 70s about Sheriff Buford Pusser. It does little else. There are no special features to speak of; its just the movies.

If you like the movies and don't care for the frill, you will like this set. If you want more, you will be disappointed.

Synopses of the individual films appear below:

Walking Tall
The Original is still a Classic
Joe Don Baker plays the part of Buford Pusser, a.k.a. Buford the Bull, a pro wrestler who is disenchanted with the crooked sport and who decides to settle down in his home town in rural Tennessee. Home is not the way he remembers it, though. There is a hint of corruption in the air.

This does not matter overly much to Buford until it affects him personally. When the local thugs, working for the local moonshiners and madam, work him over and leave him for dead, he decides that he has had enough. He doesn't get a gun, his wife does not like guns. Instead, when he recovers, he gets a big piece of oak, heads over to the roadhouse where all the problems are and proceeds to kick everyone's collective butt. That lands him in jail.

When the trial comes about, it's a pretty open and shut case. Even Buford admits that he did the violence. It looks like he is going to be convicted until he fires his lawyer, makes an impassioned plea on his own behalf, shows the jury his scars and promises that if he is acquitted, he will run for sheriff and clean up the town. He gets off and then proceeds to clean things up.

The problem is that the crooks don't want to be cleaned up. They fight him and even threaten his family. That makes it personal for Buford. He cleans them up anyway but has to endure a fair amount of grief in the process. Throughout it all, he relies only on speaking softly and carrying a BIG stick.

This is not highbrow. Its just a simple good versus evil story. Buford is the good guy and he is likable.

Walking Tall Part 2
Vengeance in Mine Sayeth Buford
Near the end of the Original WALKING TALL, Sheriff Pusser's wife is killed while the mob is attempting to kill him. Now it is time for payback. There are a few changes, though.

Bo Svenson replaces Joe Don Baker as the likable sheriff. He does a creditable job but, under the circumstances, he is less concerned with the niceties of exactly following the law.

He's still effective, though. He is so effective that the mob is desperate to get him and hires a variety of hit men to do the job. One of the mob leaders, in particular, is just as obsessed with getting the sheriff as the sheriff is with getting them. That leads to an intense conflict and no concern for niceties. That means violence and mayhem.

Even with his proclivity for violence, the sheriff is concerned for his people. He is still a "nice" guy unless you are one of the people who is responsible for the problems. He still manages to get most of the small fry but the big fish still elude him.

This is not a bad movie as sequels go but it is not as good as the original. Anger can only take you so far in progressing the plot. It cannot make up for a lesser script and lesser story.

Walking Tall: The Final Chapter

End of the Road

The second Walking Tall ends with a notice that Sheriff Buford was killed in an auto accident. This third one picks up earlier in the story though. He is still adamant about getting the people who killed his wife and the Mob is still bent on getting the sheriff but Buford has a problem. He has lost his job as sheriff.

The job loss comes about for several reasons. In some cases, Buford is scene as having gone too far outside the legal boundaries. This happens even when his solutions make life easier for everyone, including the perpetrators. The people of his county also seem a bit jaded by continued success. Where they once cheered him, now they are not ready to support him.

The loss of his job means that Buford has to go after justice as a private citizen and he is well on his way to the poorhouse in pursuing his aims. The new sheriff is suspicious of him and is fearful that Buford might become a problem for him. It begins to look like he might have to move away with his business unfinished when he gets a lucky break.

A Hollywood producer learns of his story and wants to make a movie about him. That brings in money and a chance for achieving his goals. The mob leader with a taste for vengeance finally gets his chance and we learn the story of the end of the former Sheriff of McNairy County.

This one is better than the second but not as good as the first.

walking tall.......2006-04-08

i like this movie set because it deplects some of the real life characteristics of Bufford Pusser. I know this for a fact because i grew up in Adamsville Tn just a few houses down from the Bufford Pusser museum and some of my family members knew him very well. My family has lived in that area along time and we know just about anything and everything about Bufford that you wont find in the movies here or in the books. If you purchase this triology and have any questions about it feel free to email me at anthony.goodman1@us.army.mil thank you and have a nice day.

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