‘Corsicana’ movie: The tale of a legendary lawman

Above: "Corsicana," which is scheduled to open on Friday, is based on the real lawman Bass Reeves. (Photo/corsicanamovie.net)

Among the many characters that writer-director Jaymes Samuel included in his film “The Harder They Fall,” some were based on real people.

One was the legendary lawman named Bass Reeves, who was played by Delroy Lindo.

Now Reeves has a movie all of his own. It’s titled “Corsicana,” and it is scheduled to open on Friday.

Reeves is played by Isaiah Washington, who also directed based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Robert Johnson.

Johnson, by the way, is the real-life police chief of the real-life town of Corsicana, which sits just southeast of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. He, too, is the film’s producer.

Johnson was just a teenager when he learned about Reeves from a Texas Ranger. The lawman’s story intrigued him for good reason, particularly since it was essentially unknown.

"I thought, why is there nothing out there about this man?” Johnson said in an interview. “Most prolific law enforcement officer that you can imagine. Three thousand felony arrests. Born into slavery. Escaped bondage. He fled to the Oklahoma territory which was completely lawless."

In the film Reeves and two confederates trail a band of murderous outlaws to Corsicana, which Johnson admits is a departure from the truth.

"Bass Reeves never set foot in Corsicana,” Johnson said, “and that's why it's historical fiction, but I did want to pay homage to Corsicana."

Tales of the Old West are full of myths. “Corsicana” joins the revered posse.