The real-life Buford Pusser actually wanted Bo Svenson to play him in this film; however Svenson was unavailable and Joe Don Baker was cast instead. When Baker turned down Part 2: Walking Tall (1975), the producers approached Svenson again, by which time Svenson jumped at the chance to play Pusser.
The elected officials of McNairy County, Tennessee, the setting of the movie, were so embarrassed by the national attention brought to the corrupt county that they refused to allow the movie to be shot there. It was consequently shot in neighboring Chester County. The short-sighted officials didn't realize the amount of money it would bring into McNairy County, one of the poorest counties in Tennessee. However, when the remake, Walking Tall (2004) was announced, the county aggressively "courted" the filmmakers, trying to get the movie made in McNairy County. It was to no avail, as the remake was shot in Vancouver, BC.
Buford Pusser's actual house was turned into a museum after his death. The car that he died in, a red 1974 Corvette, is on display there.
According to a biography of Buford Pusser written by Dwana Pusser (his daughter), Pusser never carried a wooden post, though he was known to pick one up whenever it was needed.
Sheriff Buford Pusser was the technical consultant for this movie. On its sequels, Part 2: Walking Tall (1975) and Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977), his father Carl Pusser was the technical consultant.
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