Two actresses associated with this film went on to commit suicide: Elizabeth Hartman jumped from the 5th floor of a Pittsburgh apartment building in June 1987; Brenda Benet took her life in April 1982. She had been married to Bill Bixby. Many residents of McNairy County were upset and turned their back on Sheriff Buford Pusser when the movie was shot in neighboring Chester County, shutting them out of the money being spent by the production. Pusser subsequently lost re-election for Sheriff. ...[Read Story ]