Jimmy_the_Gent4 — 11 years ago(February 15, 2015 05:58 AM)

I re watched this and still love it,mostly for the grainy 1970s look and great cast led by Joe Don Baker and supporting players.
Joe Don Baker is great in the lead role of Buford Pusser,an imposing big man with an unforgettable deep voice and screen prescence. Bo Svenson took over the role in the next 2 films and TV series but he just did not have acting chops or macho charisma that Baker had.
The lovely Elizabeth Hartman plays Buford's gentle wife. She was a fine actress who had an Oscar nomination as the blind girl in "A Patch Of Blue". I had heard interviews with the cast on youtube remembering this late talented lady. Baker says that she was a "real sweetheart" and I can believe it.
Buford's kids are played by Leif Garrett and Dawn Lyn. Garrett would later play Felix's son on the TV version of "The Odd Couple" and would have a short lived career as a teen singing idol. Dawn Lyn had just finished a stint as Fred MacMurray's adopted daughther on "My Three Sons". Both of them were very good in this film,very cute and poignant.
Gene Evans plays a corrupt sherrif and Bruce Glover and Felton Perry are Buford's loyal deputies. Evans was favorite of Sam Fuller,most memorable as the tough sergeant in "The Steel Helmet". Glover was best remembered as the gay hit man in the 007 film "Diamonds Are Forever" and Perry was Dirty Harry's partner in "Magnum Force."