Walking Tall (2004 film)
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| Walking Tall | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kevin Bray |
| Written by | David Klass Channing Gibson David Levien Brian Koppelman Mort Briskin (1973 screenplay) |
| Starring | Dwayne Johnson Johnny Knoxville Neal McDonough Kristen Wilson Kevin Durand Ashley Scott |
| Music by | Graeme Revell |
| Distributed by | MGM |
Release dates | April 2, 2004 |
Running time | 77 minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $46,000,000 |
| Box office | Domestic: $46,437,717 Worldwide: $57,223,890 |
Walking Tall is a 2004 remake of the 1973 film of the same name. It stars Dwayne Johnson and Johnny Knoxville. Like the original film, it was based on real-life Sheriff Buford Pusser, however, the main character's name was changed to "Chris Vaughn". The setting was changed from McNairy County, Tennessee to Kitsap County, Washington, USA.
Plot
Chris Vaughn, a former US Marine, returns home to find some work at the cedar mill, but he finds that it closed down three years ago, and now, there’s a new casino in town, owned by his old school friend, Jay Hamilton, who is now taking liberties because of the chaotic economic situation. With the mill closed down, the casino is the main source of income for the town. Vaughn decides to check out the casino, and sees the craps dealer use loaded die. When Vaughn gets somewhat violent, the security guards subdue him, then carve his stomach and leave him for dead, but was fortunate enough to be found, put in the hospital, and recovers. Vaughn goes to the Sheriff to place charges on those who carved his stomach, but the Sheriff refuses to allow Vaughn to press charges because the casino is viewed as so important. After Vaughn also finds out that his nephew, Pete, experimented with Crystal Meth, which was sold to him and his friends by the casino security, Vaughn goes to the casino, and using only a four-by-four, he beats the security guards, and makes his point to Jay Hamilton that he won’t tolerate the crime in his town anymore. In the ensuing trial, Vaughn delivers a speech that convinces the jury to appoint him not guilty, and runs for Sheriff of Kitsap County, and obtains the job with the hope of cleaning up his town. Vaughn fires the entire police force, and deputizes his friend, Ray Templeton, who he knows will remain loyal, and fight for what he knows is right. Vaughn and Templeton find drugs on Hamilton’s right-hand man, Booth, and they take him into custody. In an attempt to make him rat on other drug dealers, they tear his truck apart, but he doesn’t talk. The former Sheriff and his deputies then go to the Sheriff’s office, blow up Vaughn’s truck, and try to kill him, and while guns are being fired into the Sheriff’s office, with his life in danger, Booth tells Vaughn where the drug base is, and where they make them, which is in the old mill. Soon after releasing this information, Booth gets shot, and dies. Vaughn is able to escape. Vaughn’s parents’ house was raided by some of Hamilton’s men, but Templeton, who was stationed there, managed to keep everyone safe with the help of Chris Vaughn Sr., Chris Vaughn’s father. Vaughn then goes to the mill, and finds the drugs there, along with Hamilton, who sets a trap on Vaughn, and they fight for their lives in the woods behind the mill, with Vaughn eventually beating Hamilton, and placing him under arrest. Vaughn closes the casino, and the mill was reopened shortly after.
Cast
- Dwayne Johnson Sheriff Chris Vaughn
- Johnny Knoxville Ray Templeton
- Neal McDonough Jay Hamilton
- Kristen Wilson Michelle Vaughn
- Kevin Durand Booth
- Ashley Scott Deni
- Khleo Thomas Pete Vaughn
- John Beasley Christopher Vaughn Sr.
- Michael Bowen Sheriff Stan Watkins
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. (March 2008) |
In the film, Chris Vaughn asks the sheriff what happened to the previous sheriff. The current sheriff replies that the previous sheriff died in a mysterious car accident. This is a reference to how the real Buford Pusser died, and to how Pusser's predecessor as Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee met his demise.
In the original film, Pusser uses a wooden club to beat the criminals. Director Kevin Bray wanted to update it by making it a baseball bat. But there were objections, so the compromise was to just add a handle.
Reception
The film grossed $57 million worldwide. [1] The budget of the film was $46 million.
Sequel
Walking Tall: The Payback and Walking Tall: Lone Justice, are two direct-to-video sequels that have been released starring Kevin Sorbo.
Music
The Southern Rock/country band, State Line Mob included a song titled McNairy County Line on their 2008 album, Ruckus, which honors Buford Pusser & tells the story from a factual point of view.
References
- ^ "Walking Tall (2004)". boxofficemojo.com.
External links
- "Official website" (Flash). walkingtallmovie.com.