Opened 6/15/73 in Seattle, Washington, at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Its ad campaign, whose slogan was "When was the last time you stood up and applauded a movie?", was one of the most successful in Hollywood's history.
Sheriff Buford Pusser was the technical consultant for this movie. On its sequels, Walking Tall Part II (1975) and Final Chapter: Walking Tall (1977), his father Carl Pusser was the technical consultant.
When Bufford Pusser is being chased by the town's sheriff, the police vehicle flies into a river and explodes. However, the car explodes in mid-air, before it hits the ground.
When Pusser is in the morgue you can clearly see a boom coming in from off screen. Then in the next scene outside you again can clearly see a microphone poking up from below.
When Buford goes into the Lucky Spot with his stick and begins to hit the men, it is obvious that he is not using a stick to hit them with because it is flexible. It appears to be made of foam. In non-contact shots in the scene it is a real stick.
John Witter: [to Buford]
Ya know, ideals and realties are very far apart. One day you're gonna see that son. And if ya don't, someone's gonna point it out to you... CLEARLY!