''A Real American Hero'' is an American

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

that aired on

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...

on December 9, 1978. It runs 90 minutes. The film was directed by

Lou Antonio Louis Antonio (born January 23, 1934) is an American actor and TV director best known for performing in the films '' Cool Hand Luke'' and ''America America''. He also starred in two short-lived TV series, ''Dog and Cat'', and '' Makin' It''. Ear ...

and written by Samuel A. Peeples.

Overview

The movie, which is set in 1978 and includes a disco reference, is about the real-life sheriff

Buford Pusser Buford Hayse Pusser (December 12, 1937 – August 21, 1974) was the sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1970, and constable of Adamsville from 1970 to 1972. Pusser is known for his virtual one-man war on moonshining, prostituti ...

, who goes after a criminal who has killed young people with his illegal

moonshine Moonshine is high-proof liquor that is usually produced illegally. The name was derived from a tradition of creating the alcohol during the nighttime, thereby avoiding detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial dist ...

Brian Dennehy Brian Manion Dennehy (; July 9, 1938 – April 15, 2020) was an American actor of stage, television, and film. He won two Tony Awards, an Olivier Award, and a Golden Globe, and received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Dennehy had roles in ...

plays Pusser. The rest of the cast include

Ken Howard Kenneth Joseph Howard Jr. (March 28, 1944 – March 23, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his roles as Thomas Jefferson in ''1776'' and as basketball coach and former Chicago Bulls player Ken Reeves in the television show '' The Whit ...

Sheree North Sheree North (born Dawn Shirley Crang; January 17, 1932 – November 5, 2005) was an American actress, dancer, and singer, known for being one of 20th Century-Fox's intended successors to Marilyn Monroe. Early life North was born Dawn Shirley C ...

Forrest Tucker Forrest Meredith Tucker (February 12, 1919 – October 25, 1986) was an American actor in both movies and television who appeared in nearly a hundred films. Tucker worked as a vaudeville straight man at the age of fifteen. A mentor provided fund ...

, and Brian Kerwin. The film was originally entitled "The Letter of the Law" (which appears in the closing credits) and was released on VHS as "Hard Stick".

Cast

Main

as Carl Pusser *

Brian Kerwin Brian Kerwin (born October 25, 1949) is an American actor who has starred in feature films, on Broadway, and television series and movies. Life Kerwin was born in Chicago and raised in Flossmoor, Illinois. He has three siblings: Anne, Dennis, an ...

as Til Johnson *

as Danny Boy Mitchell *

as Carrie Todd

Supporting

Lane Bradbury Janette Lane Bradbury (born June 17, 1938) is an American actress and writer. Biography Lane Bradbury was born in Buckhead, Morgan County, Georgia, near Atlanta. She studied ballet as a young girl. In the 1950s, she moved to New York City, and w ...

as Debbie Pride * Brad David as Mick Rodgers * Ed Call as Grady Coker (credited as Edward Call) * W.O. Smith as Obra Eaker * Julie Thrasher as Dwana Pusser * Jason Hood as Mike Pusser * Ann Street as Grandma Pusser * George Boyd as Lloyd Tatum * Maureen Shannon as Amelia Biggins (credited as Maureen Burns) * Charlie Briggs as Miles Conway * Elizabeth Lane as Sabrina Marlowe

References

External links

* 1978 television films 1978 films 1970s action thriller films American biographical films CBS network films Films set in Tennessee Films shot in Tennessee Walking Tall (films) Live action television shows based on films Films directed by Lou Antonio 1970s American films {{action-thriller-film-stub