TENNESSEE LAWMAN
US, 1979, 109 minutes, Colour
Bo Svenson, Luke Askew, Noah Beery, John Chandler, Robert Doqui.
Directed by Earl Bellamy.
Tennessee Lawman and Final Chapter: Walking Tall are the two sequels to the very successful Walking Tall of 1973, directed by Phil Kar1son. Buford. Pusser was to appear in the sequel but was ‘accidentally’ killed.
Joe Don Baker starred originally with Elizabeth Hartman. In the final two films Bo Svenson portrays Pusser - though less successfully than Baker. The final two films are somewhat repetitive of the original material and have less impact both dramatically and with violence and the themes of the administration of justice. The films were heavily criticised as promoting a might is right attitude towards the administration of justice. However, they echo the sentiments and. attitudes of many Americans in the seventies. Conventional director Earl Bellamy directed the immediate sequel. Jack Starrett, who had a reputation for tough short features, directed the final film - with feeling, and with sentiment and sentimentality.
1. This film was a sequel. Is it evident? Expectations from the original film, about Beauford Pusser? Comparison with the original?
2. The focus on Buford Pusser as a man, a lawman? The declaration that the facts were true, even though a number were not? The declaration concerning his death and suspicions? The significance of the title, the American title Walking Tall Part 2, English title Legend Of the Lawman, Australian title, Tennessee Lawman How did the film makers see Pusser?
3. The critiques of Walking Tall were very strong, and sometimes very hostile. There was a criticism of violence, vigilante attitudes in maintaining law and order, that might was right, that this was embodied in Buford Pusser. Was this evident in this film? The nature of evil and corruption and necessary means to eradicate it, combat it? The means and the violence that the criminals took? The appropriate violence that the law took , or not?
4. How interesting was the film as biography, whether it was true or not, the build up of incidents and dangers? An atmosphere of reality, heightened? Exploring a character, exploiting a character? The suddenness of his death?
5. As a portrayal of crime and the social injustice in the South; the portrayal of the gangsters, as personalities, attitudes towards the law, bootlegging, men in employ, the need for law and order?
6. The film as a police saga; the style, toughness, presentation of the incorruptible hero, the slick presentation, his big stick and bashing, administration of justice? The police are right?
7. Buford Pusser as a person, recovering from his injuries and his grief at the death of his wife, his dedication to his work, the symbol of the stick, his threats to the various criminals, his capacity for arresting, lack of fear? The death threats and the death attempts and the dangers of these? His collaboration with his fellow policemen? A family man, his relationship with his father? how endearing, as character, hero?
8. The portrayal of the villains; Dobson and Henry and their attitudes, the violence that the were capable of, money and greed? Witter and his control? Types, their work, capacity for killing and hurting? Their own deaths?
9. The introduction of Ruby Ann and the murderous woman, her villainy?
10. The background of politics , elections, the controlling of elections by money? Comment made by the film?
11. Pusser arresting drunks, smashing stills, bashing Pardee's car and the significance of this?
12. Pardee and his attitude, willingness to kill, suffering when his car was wrecked?
13. The character of Obra Eker in himself, in his work, the sad irony of his death instead of Pusser?
14 A portrait of America in the 70's, violence, need for law and order, individuals in society, corruption, politics? The impression from Americans? For outsiders?
