Walking Tall (1973)

Emerging as a surprise sensation, 'Walking Tall' boldly narrates the crusade of a man who dares to defy the norms of his tainted town for the sake of justice. The film transports us to Selmer, a quaint yet corrupt town nestled in southwest Tennessee, which serves as the genuine backdrop for this high-voltage biographical drama. Imbued with Southern grit and resilience, Buford Pusser, a former wrestler portrayed with admirable tenacity by Joe Don Baker, is the heart of this tale. Pusser's wife yearns for a life tethered to stability, pulling them back to his homeland in Tennessee. His hope to live a peaceful life, however, is shattered as he uncovers a web of deep-seated graft and corruption seeping into the town's veins. The film's narrative takes a dramatic turn when Pusser, himself a victim of this corruption, decides to strike back. His weapon? A bid against the corrupt sheriff. His victory propels him into an intense personal war against the town's corrupt forces, a battle that reverberates through the sequels. 'Walking Tall' is more than a piece of cinema; it's a potent slice of '70s Americana which not only catapulted Baker's career into the limelight but also kickstarted the 'southsploitation' genre of the era. While the franchise may not find its way into the annals of classic cinema, its raw depiction of a heroic southern sheriff's fight against injustice is unforgettably compelling. Tragically, the real Sheriff Pusser, poised to portray himself in the sequel, met his end in a car crash before he could bring his story to life again. His legacy, however, continues to echo through the franchise, making 'Walking Tall' an enduring testament to the power of one man's sense of right and wrong.

Walking Tall is an action movie featuring Joe Don Baker.

Walking Tall is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex and Plex Player and it's also available on DIRECTV and Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel .

It is also possible to buy Walking Tall on Amazon Video, Apple TV, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube or rent it on Microsoft Store.