I find it very amusing to note that so-called "critic" and "reviewer" Paul Gaita has not been forced to retract his defaming comments about Buford Pusser, calling him a "brutal and less than scrupulous character". Anyone foolish enough to take any film version as the gospel truth about any real-life person is very naive indeed!! The real Buford Pusser, never carried a "big stick" or used one on anyone. Like most law enforcement officers in the U.S. who value their lives, he always carried a gun. Maybe the screenwriters got the very real Sheriff Buford Pusser confused with the ever-popular, but highly fictional Sheriff (without a gun!!) Andy Taylor of Mayberry, North Carolina!! The fictional and wonderfully simple and crime-free Mayberry was a far different place than the real Tennessee-Mississippi state line "strip" during Buford Pusser's six years as sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee and for a number of years before-hand. Quite obviously, Paul Gaita is one of these naive people!! Apparently, he seems to feel that whatever Hollywood chooses to write about a real-life person is all that is needed to make a judgment about that person. Another thing the original film "Walking Tall" got wrong was about Buford's wife Pauline opposing his running for sheriff. In reality, she was always highly supportive of him. The films all say in the credits that they are based on "certain events in the life of Buford Pusser", that "certain events have been portrayed to heighten the dramatic effect". "Walking Tall" is a very violent, but entertaining film. The sequels were quite obviously made to continue making all the money the filmmakers could from the formula. The real Buford Pusser's mother was opposed to any more films being made and was even quoted as having said "I fought them on making that final chapter, they just wanted to make a dollar off him". The films, factual or not, brought fame and actually, very little fortune to the real Buford Pusser. They made a lot of money for other people. But, most significantly, many people still remember, admire and respect Buford Pusser, nearly 30 years after he died after being thrown from his speeding Corvette (not from an explosion as Paul Gaita has erroneously stated and has not even owned-up to!!). The facts are documented!! I just can't help but wonder just how many people will still remember, admire and respect Paul Gaita 30 years after his death!!
