Search - A Real American Hero on DVD

Buford's ongoing problems with intergroup relations.

rsoonsa | Lake Isabella, California | 03/09/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Burly Brian Dennehy, despite his failure to maintain the local dialectic condiment in his speech, nonetheless makes for a believable physical personification of the real life Buford Pusser of Selmer, Tennessee, the sheriff who finds it easier to follow his own rules while contending with the local criminal element than to abide by the constraints of probable cause. This particular entry in the series relating of Pusser's deeds was made for television with its original title being "Letter of the Law", and chronicles how Buford decides to use very old county laws and statutes which have not been revoked or superseded in order to keep control of his office against the opposition of well meaning citizens and of lawbreakers. The script is actually rather leisurely in spirit with a number of scenes written in the main to supply local colour, including some humourous and musical moments, and there is some opportunity for character development, but the film's mass media lineage has infected its climactic minutes, with formulaic actions abounding as Pusser singlehandedly attempts to vanquish a surfeit of felons. Ken Howard dominates his scenes as bootlegging Danny Boy Mitchell, primary adversary of the freewheeling sheriff, while Sheree North gives us an effective turn as an aging ex-harlot freshly released from prison after seven years for killing her procurer, and who subsequently meets resistance from local bluenoses who wish for her to go elsewhere, and Forrest Tucker produces a smooth performance as Buford's father, but Lane Bradbury as a blemished sheriff's office employee, sinks 'neath the freight of her mawkish lines.



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Walking Tall Too

Eric Howard | kansas city, Mo | 05/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This made for TV movie has the look of a series pilot, a series did come out soon after, but filmed in Cailifornia. This film was made on the same locations as the Walking Tall films and has much of the same feel. The story is fictional but is inspired by Buford Pusser's unconventional law enforcement activities. Brian Dennehy is more big than tall but he does exibit the compassion vs. rage of Sheriff Pusser as well as his ability to use the law as well as work outside it to do his job.



During Pusser's carreer his most deadly foes were Louise Hathcock and Carl White, who both owned dives on the Tn/Miss stateline. In Walking Tall Pusser dealt with a fictional version of Hathcock- called Callie. In this film his foe is Danny Boy played Ken Howard. Danny Boy seems be be a fictional, but somewhat more likeable version of White, who was a lieutenant in the so-called Dixie Mafia. Both White and Danny Boy run bars that are busted up by Pusser and both White/Danny Boy hire killers to ambush Pusser on the hiway. In real/reel life Pusser, not bothering to to get a warrent, pays White/Danny boy a visit and gives an unauthorized butt kicking.



Dispite being made for TV this film has plenty and believable violence. It is also fast moving. Don Williams provides a good song, actually another verse of the Johnny Mathis song, written by Don black that was featured in 1973's Walking Tall. In many ways this is the true Walking Tall II."