A Real American Hero

(1978)

Action / Crime / Drama

94 minutes

Directed by Lou Antonio

Cast: Brian Dennehy, Forrest Tucker and Ken Howard

Burly Brian Dennehy makes for a believable physical personification of the real life Buford Pusser of Selmer, Tennessee. Buford is a sheriff who finds it easier to follow his own rules while contending with the local criminal element than to abide by the constraints of probable cause. This particular entry in the series relating of Pusser's deeds was made for television with its original title being "Letter of the Law", and chronicles how Buford decides to use very old county laws and statutes which have not been revoked or superseded in order to keep control of his office against the opposition of well meaning citizens and of lawbreakers.