Related Events
** This event is postponed until further notice.
The legends surrounding Buford Pusser loom large over both Memphis and McNairy County, where he was sheriff from 1964 to 1970. Buford was a professional wrestler who became a sheriff in an area overrun by the Dixie Mafia. He went to war with and killed Louise Hathcock, the operator of The Shamrock Motel, where the Babushka lady was supposedly seen hanging out a week or so before JFK got popped.
Buford’s star really started to shine when his friend, country and rockabilly singer Eddie Bond started singing about him. Legend has it, when Buford got ambushed by the Dixie Mafia (and his wife was killed and his face was shot off), he hid out in Memphis at a nightclub on Madison that Eddie Bond owned with “The Fabulous One” Jackie Fargo.
Buford’s legend and story was interesting enough that they made THREE movies about him, and the first is Walking Tall. The film fictionalizes Buford’s journey from bear wrestler to one-man crime crusader. Walking Tall stars character actor Jo Don Baker (Joysticks and Fletch) as Buford Pusser and Elizabeth Hartman (A Patch of Blue and The Secret of NIMH) as his wife Pauline, plus Lief Garrett (Macon Count Line, Walking Tall Part II, Final Chapter: Walking Tall, Tiger Beat Cover Model) and Lief’s real-life sister Dawn Lyn as the Pusser kids!
1973/Phil Karlson/1973/125 minutes
The Crosstown Arthouse Film Series showcases a diverse collection of independent, international, historically significant, artistic, experimental, cult, underground and documentary features.
Films begin at 7:30 pm sharp at Crosstown Theater
Tickets are $5 (at the door only)
