Final Chapter: Walking Tall

Plot synopsis:
Picking up where Part 2: Walking Tall left off, this movie begins with Buford (Bo Svenson) remembering the ambush that killed his wife. One year has passed, and Buford still has a hard time dealing with it. He goes to his wife's grave and breaks down, telling her that if he had listened to her about not being sheriff, she would still be alive.Buford then goes to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation wanting to know why John Witter (Logan Ramsey) (the mobster who ordered the ambush) is not in jail. Buford is told that there is nothing that can be done since they have no case against him. Pinky Dobson is paralyzed and his girlfriend retracted her statement implicating Witter. Buford then goes to see his friend, attorney Lloyd Tatum (Sandy McPeak) and asks if this is the case. Lloyd tells Buford that it's just the way the law reads, and he will have to be patient and let the TBI do their job.John Witter is now in New York, and tells his boss (Morgan Woodward) that he will settle things with Buford once and for all. The boss tells Witter that he should face the fact that Pusser beat him, and let it be at that. There isn't any prostitution, stills or gambling left in McNairy County, and the boss doesn't want back in. Witter is told that due to his mistakes, he must cede 25% of his territory, which WItter says he doesn't have to accept, but the boss tells him he will.Meanwhile, Buford and Grady (Bruce Glover) are staking out a still being run by O.Q. Teal (Clay Tanner) and his brother Udell(Michael Allen Honacker). Buford witnesses O.Q.beating his son Robby (David Adams), and intervenes. He takes Robby to the car and tells Grady to entertain him while he deals with O.Q. Buford orders O.Q. to drop his trousers and proceeds to give him the same kind of beating he gave his son. They then depart, blasting the still as they leave. Buford takes Robby to a foster home, and returns to the office to find a telephone message from Luan Paxton (Margaret Blye) a prostitute who helped Buford get rid of the state line gang. Buford arrives at the motel and upon seeing Luan, asks her if she is still hooking. He is surprised when she tells him that she is on her way to the gulf coast and works in real estate.Buford arrives at home and his father, Carl (Forrest Tucker) tells him that his tax situation is bad due to all the expenditures he incurred while sheriff. Buford says he will ask the county for a raise after reelection. Carl asks Buford if he really wants to remain sheriff despite all the pain it has caused, and Buford says its the only thing he knows how to do.Buford arrives at his office the next morning to find O.J. Teal's lawyer, French (Taylor Lacher) waiting. French shows Buford the pictures taken of O.Q. after the beating that Buford inflicted on him. French wants Buford to drop the charges against O.Q. and in return he will not file police brutality charges. Buford declines to which French reminds him that the office of sheriff is up for election soon.Buford has a meeting with Sheriff Clegg (Lecile Harris) from Hardin County. Sheriff Clegg wants Buford to check out a new club called the 3 Deuces. The club is in an area that no county claims, and Buford is reluctant to involve himself, since he will be up for reelection soon, but reluctantly agrees. As they are talking, some boys steal Bufords car and go for a joy ride. Buford and Sheriff Clegg give chase, and finally catch them. Buford takes them into custody, handcuffs them to each other and has them clean up the courthouse lawn. French sees this, and confronts Buford about their civil rights. Buford says that the alternative, detention hall and a police record would be a lot worse. One of the witnesses watching the boys at the courthouse places a phone call to John Witter filling him in on everything that happened. Witter believes he can use this against Pusser on election day.Pusser goes to the 3 Deuces bar, and is surprised to see Luan there. Angry that she is still a prostitute, he offers her money, which Bulow (H.B. Haggerty) the bar manager sees. After Buford leaves, Bulow confronts Luan, and tortures her. Witter's boss is angry that Witter opened the 3 Deuces without his consent, and orders him to shut it down.With the election coming up, Lloyd tells Buford that French has mounted a good campaign against him, and that there will be a citizens meeting, and wants Buford to attend. Buford is reluctant believing that his presence will prevent people from speaking their minds. Buford finally concedes, and agrees to attend. As the meeting is set to begin, Buford gets a radio call from Sheriff Clegg that they have found a dead body, Buford departs before the meeting starts. Lloyd speaks on behalf of Buford, reminding the residents that Buford put his life on the line to make McNairy County safe. French then speaks, and says that the time is passed for the type of law enforcement that Buford administers. Buford arrives at the scene, and sees that the dead body is that of Luan. He angrily leaves for the 3 Deuces. Once there, he storms in, orders everyone to leave, and starts busting up the place. Milo and his thugs fight with Buford, and defeated, they leave. Buford then goes back to his car, gets a flare gun, and fires shots into the windows, proceeding to burn down the 3 Deuces.Election day comes, and the next day Buford is informed by his dad that he lost in his bid for reelection. John Witter returns home elated that Pusser lost the election, and is ready to do business again. He is told that it might be hard to do. Buford has lunch with his secretary Joan(Libby Boone) and tells her that he will run for reelection in two years. She asks him what he will do in the meantime, and he says he has applied for the highway patrol. Buford's parents are beginning to worry about Buford's situation, and their own finances since the lumber mill they owned is no longer in operation.Buford is now earning some money fixing up old cars and selling them. While in town, O.Q. Teal and his brother, now out of jail, see Bufords car and finding Buford's stick in the front seat, begin smashing it. Buford confronts O.Q. and his brother and knocks them out. The new sheriff (R.D. Smith) arrives, and believes Buford is causing trouble. Since no one is willing to witness the confrontation, Lloyd does, and presses charges against the Teals. The sheriff apologizes, but tells Buford not to cause any more trouble.Carl has a talk with Buford and says that he had to borrow money from Buford's brother to help pay their bills. Buford then goes to his wife's grave and says that he doesn't know that to do. Buford's daughter Dwana (Dawn Lyn) shows up and reassures him that everything will be alright.Mel Bascum (John Malby), a movie producer, sees a news story about Buford, and is impressed at what he sees. He goes to Buford with a movie deal, which Buford is reluctant to sign since it will require filming the ambush that killed his wife. Buford seeks Lloyd for advice, and signs the deal, seeing that it will solve his financial situation. Buford acts as technical consultant and when the movie premiers in 1973, Buford is nervous. When the ambush scene comes, he is overcome with emotion and walks out of the movie.Witter is angered at the publicity that the movie has generated, and his boss tells him to leave it alone. Buford purchases mini bikes for his children, much to his mother's (Lurene Tuttle) dismay. She asks him if he plans to spoil his children, and he replies "I hope so".Two years later, Buford has dinner with Joan, and tells her that he still plans to run for sheriff. He also tells her that he did a screen test in Hollywood, and will play himself in the next movie 'Part 2'. With part of the money he gets, Buford buys himself a new car (Corvette). The children are going to the state fair, and Buford has to meet with the movie execs.That same night Buford returns, and as he parks his car, he is seen by Johnny (Robert Phillips), one of the goons from the 3 Deuces. Buford enjoys the evening with his daughter, telling her "good times are just beginning". Dwana asks to ride home with her friend, to which Buford agrees. Witter calls his boss saying he is ready to do business again. The Boss hangs up, and orders a hit on Witter.While driving home, Buford's car suddenly goes out of control and runs off the road and crashes, Buford being thrown clear. The car then bursts into flames. Minutes later, Dwana arrives at the scene and breaks down at the sight of her father laying dead beside the burning car. The movie closes with a shot of the marker at the actual site where Buford Pusser died. The true nature of his fatal car accident remains a mystery.

Tags: violence

Review:
In a nutshell about how the first film came to be..
Did any of the "Rocky" sequels truly match the first one?
Of course not.
This could be said of this The Final Chapter and Walking Tall Part Two as well.
A substantial portion of this picture is about how Buford Pusser becomes nationally known as a result of the original film..
A Great Finsh To The Pusser Story.
TITLE: Walking Tall Final Chapter was release on August 8, 1977 and it was 112 minutes long.
Bo Svenson, Lurene Tuttle, and Forrest Tucker.
The film was directed by Jack Starrett.
The film opened in the US on May 31, 1977.
The on-screen title of the movie is "Final Chapter Walking Tall." Bo Svenson, Lurene Tuttle, and Forrest Tucker.
Walking Tall: Final Chapter is the third installment of the Walking Tall film series.
Walking Tall: Final Chapter is the third installment of the Walking Tall film series.
SUMMARY: The movie begins with Buford (Bo Svenson) remembering the ambush that killed his wife.
One year has passed, and Buford still has a hard time dealing with it.
He goes to his wife's grave and breaks down, telling her that if he had listened to her about not being sheriff, she would still be alive.
Buford then goes to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation wanting to know why John Witter (Logan Ramsey) (who ordered the ambush) is not in jail.
Buford is told that there is nothing that can be done since they have no case against him.
Pinky Dobson is paralyzed and his girlfriend retracted her statement implicating Witter.
Buford then goes to see his friend, attorney Lloyd Tatum (Sandy McPeak) and asks if this is the case.
Lloyd tells Buford that it's just the way the law reads, and he will have to be patient and let the TBI do their job.
John Witter is now in New York, and tells his boss (Morgan Woodward) that he will settle things with Buford finally.
The boss tells Witter that he should face the fact that Pusser beat him, and let it be at that.
There isn't any prostitution, stills or gambling left in McNairy County, and the boss doesn't want back in.
Witter is told that due to his mistakes, he must cede 25% of his territory, which Witter says he doesn't have to accept, but the boss tells him he will.
Meanwhile Buford and Grady (Bruce Glover) are staking out a still being run by O.Q. Teal (Clay Tanner) and his brother Udell (Michael Allen Honacker).
Buford witnesses O.Q. beating his son Robby (David Adams), and intervenes.
He takes Robby to the car and tells Grady to entertain him while he deals with O.Q. Buford orders O.Q. to drop his trousers and proceeds to give him the same kind of beating he gave his son.
They then depart, blasting the still as they leave.
Buford takes Robby to a foster home, and returns to the office to find a telephone message from Luan Paxton (Margaret Blye) a prostitute who helped Buford get rid of the state line gang.
Buford arrives at the motel and upon seeing Luan, asks her if she is still hooking.
He is surprised when she tells him that she is on her way to the gulf coast and works in real estate.
Buford arrives at home and his dad, Carl (Forrest Tucker) tells him that his tax situation is bad due to all the expenditures he incurred while sheriff.
Buford says he will ask the county for a raise after reelection.
Carl asks Buford if he really wants to remain sheriff despite all the pain it has caused, and Buford says it's the only thing he knows how to do.
Buford arrives at his office the next morning to find O.J. Teal's lawyer, French (Taylor Lacher) waiting.
French shows Buford the pictures taken of O.Q. after the beating that Buford inflicted on him.
French wants Buford to drop the charges against O.Q. and in return he will not file police brutality charges.
Buford declines to which French reminds him that the office of sheriff is up for election soon.
Buford has a meeting with Sheriff Clegg (Lecile Harris) from Hardin County.
Sheriff Clegg wants Buford to check out a new club called the 3 Deuces.
The club is in an area that no county claims, and Buford is reluctant to involve him, since he will be up for reelection soon, but reluctantly agrees.
As they are talking, some boys steal Bufords car and go for a joy ride.
Buford and Sheriff Clegg give chase, and finally catch them.
Buford takes them into custody, handcuffs them to each other, and has them clean up the courthouse lawn.
French sees this, and confronts Buford about their civil rights.
Buford says that the alternative, detention hall and a police record would be a lot worse.
One of the witnesses watching the boys at the courthouse places a phone call to John Witter filling him in on everything that happened.
Witter believes he can use this against Pusser on Election Day. Pusser goes to the 3 Deuces bar, and is surprised to see Luan there.
Angry that she is still a prostitute, he offers her money, which Bulow (H.B. Haggerty) the bar manager sees.
After Buford leaves, Bulow confronts Luan, and tortures her.
QUESTIONS: Why did Buford run for reelection?
Did Buford really think he was going to win?
On the other hand, Buford run for reelection because he didn't know how to do anything else?
Why are Buford parent's beginning to worry?
Why was Buford fixing up old cars and then selling them?
What happen to Buford's car?
Were there any witness?
Why did Buford visit his wife's grave?
Why did Dwana show up at here's mom grave?
Who contacts Buford about a story?
Why is Buford reluctant to sign a contract?
Why did Buford seek help from Lloyd?
MY THOUGHTS: I give this movie 8 weasel stars because of the suspense that keeps watching the picture and the action..
Not enough story to justify a movie.
They had pretty much run out of story by the end of the second film, so making a movie with what was left was kind of redundant.
Yet they somehow manage to stretch what was left to an unbelievable length (116 minutes), a lot of which is made of endless and unnecessary footage of people walking from one place to another.
A competent editor would have been able to prune not only this filler, but a lot of scenes that don't do anything to the plot, or start subplots that go nowhere.There was promise in the sequence when Pusser sells his life story to the big screen (including when Pusser tells why he is reluctant to do so) but they don't spend much time in this sequence.
If you don't care about this, and just want to see Pusser swing his bat at heads, you should know there isn't much of that this time around.
Most of the movie is just people talking, and it's not interesting talk.
If you know what happened to Pusser, then there's no reason for you to see this movie..
Stick with the original..
You don't have to agree with its message to enjoy the first "Walking Tall".
Certainly not as violent as the "Dirty Harry" pictures, but just as unsubtle, it was a powerful movie with a totally convincing, appropriately square performance by Joe Don Baker.
The first sequel, in which Baker was replaced by Bo Svenson, was a boring, by-the-numbers follow-up, with none of the force of the original.
The second sequel is even worse; talky and drab, it exploits (in an almost cannibalistic way) the first movie by lifting and recreating the most famous sequences from it.
There are a few good moments (when Pusser picks up his trusty bat), but they are very scarce..
NOT HALF AS GOOD AS " WALKING TALL ".
This movie was good.....but i suggest you see the original.(Walking Tall) I find that this movie shows Buford Pusser as just a fantasy movie character, and not the real tennessee sheriff he was.
Bo Svenson was terrible as the role of Sheriff Buford.
Why didn't Joe Don Baker act in the final two?
They probably would have been alot better if he were in them..
OK this movie should be in the bottom 100.
The first movie in the series what fantastic and the second was just horrible because they change the actors a little bit and now the 3rd movie in the series is just horrible.The first movie in the series had a lot to tell about Bufford Pusser's life and the second in the series had just had few thing that really happened to Bufford but not enough to make it interesting and now the 3rd movie in the series is just horrible worst then the second one and this one doesn't tell anything real about Bufford life except for when he died at the end.If anyone if planning on watching this movie you should not watch this one and just watch the first in the series its more interesting then this one.Please don't waste your time watching this movie go on and make coffee instead..
He's not going down without a fight.
The Final Chapter Walking Tall.
The Final Chapter Walking Tall.
Is perhaps the most fictionalized chapter in the series Bo Svenson once again picks up the big stick.
The film goes into detail as it's one year to the day Pauline Died and Buford is still fighting his war.Buford is filled with gulit and remorse.
If he had not been Sheriff his wife would still be alive.
But Buford only knows one thing and that's action.
He continues his war and dries up the county and breaks the back of the state line mob.
Soon Re Election comes up and Buford is voted out of office.
It seems the people want change.
and Buford's violent war is something they want to put behind them.So Buford decides to fix cars up and sell them.
However some people have a hard time in accepting the fact that Buford is no longer sheriff and call him for help.
His enemies attack him.
And Buford tries to move on with his life.
A Hollywood producer sees a news story on Buford and decides to make a film based on Buford's life.
This leads to Buford helping out with the film in telling his story.
the end of the film comes with the tragic death of Buford Pusser just days before he was to step in front of the cameras to film Buford.
a film continuing his story.
A fitting end to the legend of Buford Pusser..
Good return to form.
Rough'n'tumble maverick sheriff Buford Pusser (a fine and credible performance by Bo Svenson) finds himself falling out of favor with the people in the small town he enforces the law in and faces an uncertain future after he's voted out of office.
Moreover, the local mob plot to take him out.Directed with trademark muscular aplomb by Jack Starrett, with a strong script by Howard B.
Kreitsek and Samuel A.
Peoples, an engrossing story that unfolds at a constant pace, a few potent moments of bloody'n'brutal violence, a tough serious tone, an interesting subtext concerning changing social mores and victims of progress, and several exciting and well-staged action set pieces, this film packs essentially the same fierce punch as the excellent original.
Furthermore, it's compelling to see Pusser try to do something else with his life besides being a lawman and eventually cutting a deal with Hollywood types who want to make a movie about his exploits because he desperately needs the money.Svenson gets to show a greater range of emotion this time out and rises well to that particular challenge.
In addition, there are sound supporting contributions from Forrest Tucker as Buford's hearty dad, Sandy McPeak as helpful lawyer buddy Lloyd Tatum, Logan Ramsey as slimy toad John Witter, Dawn Lynn as Buford's spunky daughter Dwana, Margaret Blythe as the sultry Luan, Libby Boone as smitten secretary Joan, H.
B. Haggerty as the brutish Bulo, and Morgan Woodward as fearsome bigwig the Boss.
Robert B.
Hauser's polished cinematography boasts the occasional snazzy visual flourish.
A worthy closer..
Like Davy Crockett, too good to kill off.
This turned out to be a false title because this film was not the Final Chapter: Walking Tall.
Like that other hero from Tennessee Davy Crockett, Buford Pusser was too powerful a hero to die, cinematically speaking.Still as in real life we find that the sheriff with the stick was not universally popular.
You take the approach he does to law enforcement and eventually people will fear you.
That was a plot in fact for two westerns with Richard Widmark, Warlock and Death Of A Gunfighter.
Pusser was in fact defeated for re-election.But news of his exploits in cleaning up his county and all the attempts on his life got him a Hollywood offer for his life story.
And then came the car crash that ended his life.I'll never understand why Joe Don Baker didn't do the sequels.
To this day it's the role people remember him for because he was so good in the part.
Bo Svensson for the rest of his life always came out second best even with more Walking Tall movie to his credit.
My best cinema memory of Svensson was as the guy employing Clint Eastwood's wife Marsha Mason in his joint in Heartbreak Ridge.This film maybe entitled Final Chapter, but it was by no means a fade to black for the Walking Tall hero Buford Pusser..
A dramatic alas predictable end.
This last chapter is better built than the second and hence has a better rhythm.
He is defeated in the election because he shows a high level of distance from the people.
He seems to consider it below him to come and discuss things with the public, the electors of the county in a public meeting.
Then of course he is a double or triple victim One, of the low life people he had chased and hunted down in his crusade against crime and they think they can finally get their revenge and they can trash his car or even attack him in the street or attack his family or the people he has relations with.
Two, of the new sheriff who has the tendency to consider him as a dangerous person and a trouble maker.
Three, of the real bad ones who know he does not have the protection his uniform could provide him with (cars, deputies, etc) and they come to the idea they can finally organize his end and go through untouched.
That will be his doom.
But the best part is his economic situation once he is no longer the sheriff.
He lives with his parents who are old and retired and live on a small pension.
He refuses to accept the job his brother in the north is proposing because he does not want to move.
He also refuses to accept the job the local lawyer is proposing: investigator for his special cases, because he feels it is charity.
He finally accepts the proposal of some Hollywood producer to make the film of his life and that brings him the end of his financial problems but also the multiplied desire to get even from the local traffickers, even against the advice of their own higher-ups.
This reveals how difficult it may be after you have been in the limelight of law enforcing in a small city.
The people reject you and even refuse to testify for you when you are attacked and your property is attacked by some local bullies or rough individuals.
The film also shows very well there is a change in the US at that time.
People after the worst criminal activity is gone, want to have a more peaceful and less visible law-enforcing police force.
But at the same time it represents the end of a generation of traffickers who also want to run things in a smoother way.
In other words US society in these early mid 70s, at the end of the Vietnam war, moved from the cult of sheer force to solve any problem to the understanding that a solution can only come if it is founded on some kind of peaceful consensus, even if that means accepting some kind of traffic provided it becomes non-violent, peaceful, and it respects some basic rules like paying taxes.
That's exactly what Buford Pusser did not understand.
Maybe he was right but at that time crime moved from the back woods of Tennessee to the dilapidated ethnic and poor suburban areas or ghettos of the big cities because the main traffic did not concern moon-shine whisky any more, an inheritance of Prohibition, but the new hard drugs like heroin and cocaine coming from Latin America.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne & University Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines