The life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser spawned what may be the most unexpectedly weird franchise ever.

It was violence with believable and tragic consequences.

Not on TV you didnt, anyway, at least not in 1974.

During his six-year tenure as sheriff, its said he survived some eight shootings and seven stabbings.

The resulting film was ugly and nasty and stupidly entertaining.

So the producers had a brilliant idea.

Why not hire Buford Pusser himself to play Buford Pusser?

Thats when things started getting weird, both on and offscreen.

He was declared dead at the scene.

The sequel hit theaters in 1975.

Hes also much taller, and blond.

Historically, Pusser spent almost three weeks in the hospital following the ambush.

Here they state he was hospitalized for eight months.

That would imply the films action takes place roughly during the latter half of 1968.

It was only after he left office they began turning up mysteriously dead.

One dies when Pusser refuses to pull him from a burning car.

Another dies in a shootout with cops.

The third is left paralyzed after a police chase.

It was all more or less legal and proper.

Its also a far less compelling film, losing much of its energy by the halfway point.

But then the screen goes black.

Initially it would seem the standard issue set up for a sequel.

It doesnt matter that the car accident occurred some six years after the events just portrayed in the film.

With the protagonist dead, where else can you go?

That plot point will simply have to remain dangling there.

But givenPart IIwas likewise a hit, there was little choice but to charge ahead.

Its very episodic and disjointed, as Pusser meanders from one unconnectedWalking Tall-esque scenario to another.

Then we see Pusser at a screening, watching the scene in which his wife is killed.

So in short theWalking Tallfilms become a franchise about not Buford Pusser so much, but theWalking Talltrilogy itself.

The closest I can think of isPee Wees Big Adventure, but at least there it made perfect sense.

Pusser goes to the county fair with his kids, then hops in his sports car to head home.

Nothing is said about any heavy drinking, but that would just get in the way.

Which may be the most surprising thing of all.