Part 2: Walking Tall (1975) User Reviews

Shocking: and A Great Story

[ebiros2 · 7/10 · 16 January 2006]

This was the first "Walking Tall" movie I saw, I think in a $2 movie theater along Hollywood Blvd. , so I didn't have any reference to the first installment done by Joe Don Baker. I remember being shocked at the corrupted system of McNairy County and the brutality of the "redneck gangs". I was also amazed at the fact that one man decided he's not going to let it slide, and went out to do something about it. Courageous ? I thought so - to a point where it sent shivers up my spine.

I think this movie is a great story about American courage to stand up and do something about a system that's only serving its own interest. I was pretty blown away about it, and think this is still one of the best movie of the hero/anti-hero genre, which one might laugh but includes recent movies like the "The Punisher", but even more so because it's a true story. The recent remake starring the "Rock" just doesn't do any justice to the real fire in the story of Buford Pusser.

A "classic" that I'm sure will resurface again in the future.

Enjoyable yahoo fare.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 14 September 2013]

The exploits of real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser continue in this sequel to the hit film "Walking Tall". Bo Svenson now takes on the role; and while he may not be as good an actor as Joe Don Baker, he does alright at playing the take-charge, no-nonsense lawman, who finally gets out of the hospital after being ambushed near the end of the first film. He tries to go about his business while the bigshot criminals whom he pursued the first time around are now hellbent on getting back at him.

There are some good action sequences in this thing, such as one involving a runaway car and chase scenes on the river. Director Earl Bellamy does a decent job with the direction. One highlight is when Buford and his deputies, played by returnee Bruce Glover and Robert DoQui (who replaces Felton Perry as Obra) take apart the car of a racer (Richard Jaeckel) who doubles as a hired goon. The movie overall is fun if not as memorable as "Walking Tall" part one. At least one should be able to root for Buford and enjoy hating the bad guys.

Svenson is ably supported by a bunch of familiar faces. Glover and DoQui are very engaging as the deputies. Other holdovers from the first film include Noah Beery Jr. and Lurene Tuttle as Bufords' parents, real-life siblings Leif Garrett and Dawn Lyn as his children, Red West as the helpful Sheriff Tanner, and Logan Ramsey as cranky big time criminal John Witter. Co-starring are the always reliable Luke Askew, a typically creepy John Davis Chandler, and a lively Frank McRae. Supremely sexy Brooke Mills and Angel Tompkins provide plenty of eye candy.

All in all, this first "Walking Tall" sequel is solid entertainment, although it's sobering to hear the postscript at the end.

Seven out of 10.

No suspense! A weak thriller indeed!

[Dr_Coulardeau · 7/10 · 30 August 2008]

This second film is just as interesting as the previous one except that there is no suspense. We know what he is going to do and what is going to happen before it is even hinted at on the screen. Then the pleasure comes only from the way the various tricks happen and the succession of them. We know there will be dynamite in the car, that he will lose a wheel, that the car will have a crash, just to speak of the car. And that is what happens. Now the details and the particulars are for you to discover them in the film. That he may be baited by some dumb woman is obvious and has to come but we know that he has already seen through her and that he knows he is being dragged into a trap. Now, how is he going to get out of it? That's what you must discover by yourself. And don't worry he will get the main trafficker but how is another story. A speed boat is no match to our busy beaver on the river. We also know when he is going to be wounded. They did not know what bullet-proof jackets were in those days. It's true recently it was discovered that some GIs did not have that kind of equipment in Iraq. But what is the meaning of such a film? This insistence on hunting the traffickers and this blindness that does not see that it is the prohibition that creates the problem. But the film is a constant and perfect illustration that there is no value what so ever that can stand in the way of this moralistic crusade against the forces of evil. Why not simply legalize these goods so that they can be properly observed and under surveillance? When something is not illegal or pushed out of the way it is all the less fun to use them, to do them. It is the forbidden or the restricted that is attractive.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines

If anything ever happens to me. I want you to be sure to finish telling my story

[bluesman-20 · 18 January 2014]

Walking Tall Part II is a worthy follow up to the original Walking Tall. Bo Svenson carries the big stick and he does so with a lot of authority. Of course since this is Hollywood they can't get the facts right so they hollywoodize it. the story is Buford is on the rampage looking for the People behind Pauline's death. Those people are starting to get scared. And they send an assassin out to finish the job. In the End Buford gets his information foils the assassin and finds the spy in his office. Not a bad movie as far as movies go. But this one was mostly a fictionalized account of Buford Pusser's life. Having read everything on Buford Pusser that I could get my hands on. I find the films are a great way to tell Buford's Legend. Worthwhile film. And A good solid story that'll keep you in your seat.

Buford, ye old Pusser!

[Coventry · 6/10 · 4 April 2021]

Part two in the Buford Pusser homage-trilogy begins during the aftermath of the assassination attempt that killed Pusser's wife and heavily injured the Sheriff of McNairy County himself. After spending eight long months in the hospital, Pusser is ready to pick up the fight with corruption and moonshining again.

The "Walking Tall" movies are difficult to rate and review. They basically qualify as Rednecksploitation, but since they are inspired by true events and pay tribute to a real-life "American Hero", the films don't feature comic elements (don't expect goofy banjo-music chases here) and have a much more stern and depressing atmosphere. And yet, part two is also typical and clichéd kind of sequel, with a lot more action footage and crazed supportive characters than the in the first. John Witter, the cowardly head of the moonshine-syndicate, hires numerous people to eliminate Buford Pusser (including a duo of merciless crooks, a deadly prostitute and a brute Nascar-driver) but every attempt spectacularly fails, even though there are sad losses again.

What makes "Walking Tall: Part Two" even more of a cult movie is that it normally would have starred the real Buford Pusser if he hadn't died in questionable circumstances prior to the start of production. Bo Svenson took over the role from Joe Don Baker (who refused in honor of Buford Pusser) and portrayed him in this film, the last part of the trilogy, and a short-lived television series. The rest of the cast is also terrific, with many great names reprising their roles (like Bruce Glover) but also a bunch of freshly loathsome faces, like Luke Askew, John Davis Chandler, Angel Tompkins and Richard Jaeckel.

Almost as Good as Its Predecessor

[Uriah43 · 6/10 · 14 April 2022]

This film essentially takes up where its predecessor left off with "Sheriff Buford Pusser" (played in this movie by Bo Svenson) recuperating from his injuries sustained in an ambush which killed his wife. Although his loyal deputies want to go after the suspects involved in this fatal shooting, Sheriff Pusser manages to convince them to perform their day-to-day duties while he concentrates on winning reelection. To that effect, although he is quite popular to most of the people in his county, there is a certain corrupt element led by a man named "John Witter" (Logan Ramsey) who is intent on preventing that at all costs. For starters, it suits his business interests in having someone within the police department that he can control. But even more importantly, having had a role in the deadly ambush, the one thing he doesn't want is an investigation being carried out by someone intent on getting to the truth of the matter. That being said, when Sheriff Pusser does in fact win reelection, John Witter subsequently decides to eliminate his adversary by hiring several different people with unique skills of their own. Now, rather than reveal any more I will just say that, although it didn't have quite as much drama as the original movie, it had enough robust action to make up for it to a certain degree. I also liked the performances of both Richard Jaeckel (as "Stud Pardee") and Luke Askew ("Pinky Dobson") who played their parts quite well. Likewise, having both Angel Tompkins ("Marganne Stilson") and Brooke Mills ("Ruby Lee") certainly didn't hurt the scenery in any way either. Be that as it may, while this movie may not have been as good as its predecessor, it was still enjoyable for the most part and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Acceptable sequel

[Woodyanders · 7/10 · 7 February 2019]

Tough take-charge lawman Buford Pusser (Bo Svenson ably filling in for Joe Don Baker) gets reelected as sheriff and continues to go after moonshiners as well as the folks who killed his wife.

Director Earl Bellamy keeps the familiar, but engrossing story moving along at a steady pace, makes nice use of the rural Tennessee locations, and stages several exciting action scenes with a reasonable amount of skill. The strong cast of dependable character actors helps a lot: Luke Askew as no-count ringleader Pinky Dobson, John Davis Chandler as sniveling creep Ray Henry, Robert DoQui as feisty deputy Obra Eaker, Bruce Glover as the loyal Grady Coker, Richard Jaeckel as corrupt stock car driver Stud Pudee, and Logan Ramsey as slimy toad John Witter. Brooke Mills as sassy moll Ruby Ann and Angel Tompkins as sultry femme fatale Marganne Stilson provide tasty eye candy while Libby Boone amuses as smitten receptionist Joan Lashley. However, this PG-rated film lacks the hard gritty edge and raw power of the R-rated original, so it doesn't pack the same fierce punch to the gut that the first one did. Instead this movie feels like it was sanitized to appeal to a bigger family audience, but still manages to be entertaining enough to be worth a watch just the same.

Pallid sequel

[moonspinner55 · 1/10 · 6 May 2005]

Follow-up to 1973's "Walking Tall" continues the real-life drama surrounding Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, but this installment plays like a lame TV-movie. Bo Svenson takes over the lead role from Joe Don Baker, but he's much too mild for the part; he comes off like an ambling country singer with a bat instead of a guitar. Good supporting actors like Richard Jaekel, Luke Askew and Robert DoQui end up with very little to do. I would give the film one-star strictly on its good intentions, but the screenplay is a transparent and lazy mass of routine predicaments and the production is cheapjack. Followed in 1977 by "Final Chapter-Walking Tall" and in 1978 by the television film "A Real American Hero".

What happen??

[quinn18 · 3/10 · 21 July 2005]

How can they from Joe Don Baker (as Bufford Pusser in the first sequel) to Bo Svenson (as Bufford Pusser in the second sequel).Why did they do that for.Just Because Bo Svenon look more a like to Bufford Pusser they still should'nt of changed it because the first sequel it was Joe Don Baker as Bufford Pusser and that one of the thing i wanted to see in the second sequel.

I would've given this movie a 7 out of 10 and i would've given it a 1 out of 10 if the story did'nt have anything to do with Bufford Pusser's life but it did and that why i had given this movie a 3 out 10.

I strongly suggest that anyone who is planning on watching this cheese i suggest don't and watch the first sequel instead.

Walking Tall

[kimmh · 10/10 · 8 November 2006]

I first watched the Walking Tall movies when I was about 8 years old and I thought both Joe Don Baker and Bo Svenson did a great job, they must have anyway because since watching the movies, I have tried to learn as much about the real Sheriff Buford Pusser as I can. All 3 parts of the movie gave me chills and Buford Pusser was a true hero, I only wish he were alive today and that there were more people like him. I would love to thank him for getting rid of all the crime and being so brave. I am very sorry that his family had to go through such horror and pain. My heart goes out to them. So from a 30 year old fan of Sheriff Pusser and of the 3-part Walking Tall movies and the actors that portrayed him, please do not be negative about these movies and actors, they were only trying to let us know what a wonderful man the real Buford Pusser was and what a great family he had. And to all the young people who may have not heard much about Buford, I suggest you watch the Walking Tall movies and learn more about him.

Still Walks Tall

[QueenoftheGoons · 8/10 · 11 July 2023]

I wasn't sure if i could watch this without Dad. I made it thru surprisingly without it bothering me too much. This is the 1 i remember most watching with Dad. This was the first time i watched it since his death. Always loved Bo, fine figure of a man. Dad & me always liked/loved Jaeckel primarily because of him being in Grizzly which is a 11 star film. Luke Askew is funny on here. Always loved him. When Pusser tears Jaeckel's car apart i remember Dad laughing, loving every minute of it. Good memories. Its not the same without him but i do love these movies. Wish i had watched them more when he was alive. Gonna be a sad day when Bo dies too.

The Second in the Buford Pusser story

[garyldibert · 8/10 · 31 January 2007]

This picture came out in 1975 and it was the second in the three part series of the life of Sheriff Buford Pusser. Bo Svenson takes over the role of Sheriff Buford Pusser, and Luke Askew plays the role of Mobster Pinky Dobson. The last that we saw Sheriff Pusser he was laying in a hospital bed after him and his wife who was killed in ambushed Sunday morning drive. After Pusser recovers he goes after the men that killed his wife. Is Pusser able to complete the revenge that he's after or does the mob try to take him out before he successes. The only thing that bother me about this picture that this was an actual true story. How could you leave in a town with this kind of crime and yet don't do anything about it. Since there was real no name actress in this picture I can't give it 10 weasel stars but I can give 8

The stick loses a little luster

[yenlo · 16 August 1999]

This sequel to the 1973 picture of the same name but doesn't match up to the original. Bo Svenson stars this time as the big stick wielding southern Sheriff. The film takes up where the 73 film leaves off. Pusser is already well known around his parts and continues his war against the state line mob. Had this one been made with Joe Don Baker in the lead role it might have been better. Had Bo Svenson been in the original, likewise.

At times it drifts to the point that it resembles the adventures of a TV hero and not the exploits of a real person.

Long Live Bufford Pusser

[pmtelefon · 9/10 · 6 October 2022]

The original "Walking Tall" is a true classic but I actually find "Part 2 Walking Tall" (that's the actual title) a more enjoyable experience. The original is a heartbreaking movie to watch. "Part 2" has its fair share of serious moments but the first movie has a lot more. "Part 2" ends up being more fun. The cast is very good with an excellent Bo Svenson leading the way. The movie opens up with a notarized statement swearing that "Part 2" is true. That's good enough for me. Long Live Sheriff Bufford Pusser. Honorable mention: one of the greatest moments of nudity in movie history (Angel Tompkins).