THE FINAL CHAPTER: WALKING TALL

US, 1977, 112 minutes, Colour.
Bo Svenson, Lurene Tuttle, Forrest Tucker, Lief Garrett.
Directed by Jack Starrett.

Tennessee Lawman and Final Chapter: Walking Tall are the two sequels to the very successful Walking Tall of 1973, directed by Phil Karlson. Beauford. 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. The overall impact of the film? In itself? As part three of Buford Pusser's story? An action film, law and order, crime? Human interest? The biography of and tribute to Pusser ?

2. Presuppositions from the previous films? Pusser's career and his confrontation of crime, his injuries arid accidents, Pauline's death? The characters of the family, John Witter, his fellow police? Their characterisation from the previous films? The ending and the fact that the film Walking Tall had been made? The prospect of Pusser acting in the sequel? Presuppositions about violence, the role of the police, might and right? The changes in attitude towards violence and the administration of justice in the United States in the seventies? The film echoing the themes of the seventies?

3. The background of Tennessee, as a Southern State, its attitudes towards the law, the variety of people? Illicit stills and their administration, vice and its organisation, Northern city administration?

4. The character of Pusser and his reputation? The pain of his wife's death, the importance of the soliloquies at the cemetery and the revelation of himself and his relationship with his wife? his relationship with his children and enjoying their company, the fishing, the bikes? His love for his parents? The domestic sequences? Their supporting him with money? A hero to be admired, seeing him at work, his failure in re-election? The tribute to him and the making of the film?

5. Pusser at work, his companionship with Grady, the blowing up of the still, the rescuing of the boy who was beaten, the beating of his father, Pusser's big stick? The repercussions of this with the two brothers bashing his car? Audience response to this kind of administration of justice?

6. The ex call girl and her memories, the bond with Pusser? her being tortured, her dead body and Pusser's vengeance and destruction of the three Duces?

7. Lloyd and his friendship with Pusser, his continued advice, helping him with his campaign and the campaign meeting, helping him financially after his loss of job? The lawyer for the still owner and the campaign against Pusser for Sheriff'? The meeting and the speeches pro and con?

8. The loss of the election, his being out of work, his mending the cars, the Highway Patrol turning him down? his continued popularity with the people, the old lady ringing him up? The information on the television, the Hollywood producer, the making of the film? The premiere and the emotional impact for him and the whole
family?

9. The portrait of the criminals? Witter and his being turfed out of town, his insane wish to come back, his return, Pusser's death, the contract on him? The boss and his attitudes towards Witter and finally killing him? The world of contracts, vice? Murder?

10. The scene at the Fair, the happiness before Pusser's death? The ugliness of his death and his daughter seeing him?

11. Audience judgment on the stances he took, the use of violence? Pro and con? The emotional response to what he did? Intellectual judgment on what he did?

12. The final memorial and Buford Pusser as an American hero of the seventies?