The real name of the inspiration behind Walking Tall was Buford Pusser. Pusser was so disgusted at what happened in his rural Tennessee town that he took his trusty block of wood and started cleaning house. There is something primal about a man wielding a piece of wood used as a deadly weapon. The first film was way back in 1973, and inspired sequels, a remake, and a television series. The new version of Walking Tall takes place in the Northwest, and the name changes from Buford Pusser to Chris Vaughn. Basically, all of the life and distinctiveness of the original was focus-grouped out of the film to appeal to the broadest demographic.