Walking Tall (1973)

Carrying a big stick can come in handy whether you speak softly or yell like a maniac. For proof, consult the efficacy of the man-and-cudgel combo in Walking Tall (1973). Buford Pusser was a real-life Southern tough guy whose battles against a hick town’s corruption and iniquity were elevated to the level of ultra-violent legend well before his character made it to the big screen as portrayed by Joe Don Baker. Walking Tall is universally regarded as one of the most grim and brutal true stories ever filmed. Unsparing in its depiction of the human character at its ugliest, director Phil Karlson’s most lasting effort nevertheless exults in the courage of one man willing to risk everything to fight back for what he knows is right.