Le justicier solitaire

Tame TV version of the "Walking Tall" Sheriff with the name you don't forget - Buford Pusser - played by renowned tough guy Brian Dennehy in one of his first screen appearances. Dennehy finds himself on his last warning after unlawfully conducting a search of a local disco in which he believes illegally distilled liquor is being sold. Told to shape up or ship out by the local magistrate, Dennehy elects to become the law's most abiding exponent, and enforcer, penalising anyone for the most trivial and often antiquated infringement to make his point and mete out a unique brand of justice by a thousand cuts.

Dennehy is okay as the one-man band, essentially no different to most of his characterisations, Ken Howard also watchable as the smarmy local bootlegger who finds himself the target of Dennehy's vendetta. Most notable amongst the cast is the sultry Sheree North, who had a string of memorable roles in her later career, here playing a former prostitute who served time for murdering her pimp. Dennehy takes on her cause as she struggles to re-adjust, shunned by the local ladies' club who treat her as persona non-grata.

Low key TV drama is light on violence (nothing more than a bit of fisticuffs, intimidation and jukebox smashing), but heavy on the noble causes proffering the justice to those who deserve it, and comeuppance for those don't approach to law enforcement. If you like that sort of thing, or have some regard for the minor cult hero Buford Pusser, then "Real American Hero" could be worth the watch.

Having seen all the Walking Tall movies, thus made for TV version is undoubtedly the "tamer" of the lot. Not taking away from any of the cast members, I found them all somewhat lacklustered. The ommision of Buford's wife, Pauline Pusser, is in my opinion, extremely noticeable. This, again in my opinion, is a large deterent in this vehicle getting a higher rating.

Pauline Pusser's murder was a huge factor in the "incidents" that followed in Buford's remaining life.

The movie as a whole was entertaining in and of itself.

The three original theatrical "Walking Tall" movies eventually lead to a short-lived television series in 1981, but three years earlier there was apparently an attempt by the makers of the theatrical movies to bring the legend of Buford Pusser as a TV series. It was with this made-for-TV movie, a series pilot in disguise. After seeing it, it's probably best these guys didn't get the green light to make a series. It's a really slow and dull movie. Though the movie starts off with Pusser's pursuit of moonshiners, it soon forgets to focus on this plot, and instead focuses on unnecessary characters and subplots. There is also a lack of action; after the opening car chase and disco smash-up, there's no more action for the next hour or so. That previously mentioned action, as well as the climatic action sequence, are flatly directed and have no excitement at all. And while Brian Dennehy may seem like a good choice to play Busser, his performance here lacks spark. He seems very uninterested in every scene he is. The 1981 television series (made by different people) was far from a great show, but it was still a lot better than this sorry TV pilot!

"A Real American Hero" looks and feels like what it is: a late '70s telefilm. But it benefits from strong performances by Brian Dennehy as the legendary (or infamous?) Sheriff Buford Pusser, Forrest Tucker as Pusser's father, and Sheree North as an ex-prostitute trying to start over after serving a prison sentence for killing her pimp. Ken Howard is okay as Pusser's moonshining nemesis, but he lays on the phony Southern accent a bit thick. A film like "A Real American Hero" is best viewed on a warm summer night as you relax in your favorite chair, a can of beer in your hand. If you're from my generation (and particularly if you grew up in the Deep South), the car chases and punch-outs will bring back pleasant memories :)

I have seen several versions of this sheriff and for me, Brian Dennehy is the one who seems most able to hold his own against the "bad guys". He portrays a man who loves his town and wants more than anything to rid the area of those who would destroy it.....including the children and teens. (Ken Howard did a great job with his part) I think it was excellent because I found it believable. The surrounding characters also lent great credibility, well done by all. I am a fan of Sheree North anyway, and find that in this movie she is as beautiful a lady as always. I really enjoyed how she was finally accepted by the better-than-thou church lady. If you have seen the other Buford Pusser movies and not this one, then you have missed a treat. Of all of Brian's movies, (I am a Jack Reed fan), this is one of his best of his earlier ones. I bought mine second hand online and was not disappointed.