Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

John Sturges directed this, the greatest of Hollywood’s tributes to the legendary gunfight.

The action begins quickly with Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster) and Doc Holliday (Kirk Douglas) becoming reluctant allies despite a mutual dislike for each other. You see, Wyatt is the U.S. marshal, and Doc is the town gambler, shootist, and general ne’er do well.

Despite the ordinance against carrying guns in town limits, Ed Bailey (Lee Van Cleef) has a small derringer concealed in his boot. Ed is a gunnin’ for Doc Holliday who killed his brother in a fair fight. Doc has his back to the bar but is watching Bailey in the mirror. Wyatt had earlier tipped Doc off to the derringer in a verbal fencing match that set up the relationship between the two lead characters. Bailey stands up with the derringer in his hand. Doc whirls around, produces a knife from his collar, and skewers Bailey. The sheriff quickly arrests Doc and incarcerates him in his hotel room under guard. Wyatt pistol whips the guard and helps Doc escape just before the lynch mob gets to the hotel. From this beginning the two men begin a friendship that ripens to a point where either man is willing to risk his life for the other.

Wyatt is ready to retire and gets ready to settle down with beautiful lady gambler Laura Denbow (Rhonda Fleming). At that exact second a telegram from brother Virgil arrives. He is in trouble and needs help, now! Virgil Earp is the town marshal of Tombstone, in the Arizona Territory.

Wyatt immediately gets his horse, hat, and gun and sets off to meet his date with destiny, much to the chagrin of Ms. Laura Denbow. Along the trail who should show up except Doc Holliday, fresh from a run of busted luck at the poker tables of Wichita. As they stop to camp for the night Wyatt waxes poetic on the virtues of clean mountain air over the stinking saloons that Doc usually inhabits. While they sleep, three villains attempt to assassinate them, but Doc’s ready Colt makes short work of the trio. "Clean mountain air, indeed," fumes Doc.

At Tombstone we meet the rest of the Earp clan, including Virgil and Morgan (Deforrest Kelly) and younger brother James (Martin Milner). It is a real homey atmosphere, one that Wyatt and Doc have sorely missed. But the problem is cattle rustling by the Clanton family and their gang of cowboys, who are not going to let the law stand in their way. There is some preliminary maneuvering, but when the Clantons back shoot James, the brothers resolve to settle it the only way the Clantons will understand. The three brothers set off on that October morning at sunrise. As Wyatt gets his shotgun, Doc Holliday appears at his door, willing to come along. This is a good thing because the odds are now only 6 to 4 in the Clanton’s favor.

The Clantons are already at the Corral, hiding behind a wagon, when the Earps and Holliday arrive. The Earps scatter and hit the dirt. The gunfight consists of fire and maneuver with the Earps prevailing against the more numerous foes.

The Gunfight at OK Corral is the best interpretation of the legendary battle for several reasons: First, the casting of Burt Lancaster as the stern, upright Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as the colorful, rum-soaked Doc Holliday was masterful. Director Sturges eschewed handlebar mustaches in favor of clean shaven Earps, but the power of the leading actors’ performances overshadowed that of later versions. The secondary roles were played by competent actors like Earl Holliman, John Ireland, Jo Van Fleet, Jack Elam, and Dennis Hopper. The story, while fictionalized, was accurate as far as the general reasons why the two sides squared off. The dialog was witty, well-written and did not require euphemisms and profanity to get its point across. The sets were more accurate than those in other interpretations, and the geographic location looked like Tombstone, unlike other interpretations. The photography and direction was brilliant with a big blue sky and plenty of interesting camera angles. The weapons sequences were better than other interpretations: six shooters shot six times, shotguns fired twice, and recoil was evident from the shooting. The newer interpretations show a closer affinity to John Woo with zero recoil and 30 shot six shooters!! (snicker) The music by Dimitri Tiompkin is perfectly suited to the action. Even though the Frankie Laine theme song is a little trying at times, it is typical of the era.

As much as I like Tombstone and My Darling Clementine, which are great interpretations of the West's most famous gunbattle, I have to say that Gunfight at OK Corral is the best of the best. Five stars.

Recommended: Yes