"I'm your huckleberry." Doc Holliday

Tombstone (1993)

Every since I was a boy, the legend of the Earps vs. The Clantons and the Gunfight at OK Corral on October 26, 1881, has been one of my favorite stories. In fact, I even had a facsimile copy of the "Tombstone Epitaph" for the day following the shooting. The paper justified the shooting of the Clantons and McLaurys by the Earps and Doc Holliday.

Stuart N. Lake’s popular book about Wyatt Earp also had a profound influence on my impressionable mind. From Lake’s book, I even remembered Wyatt Earp’s explanation on how to gunfight:

"Be mentally deliberate but muscularly fast. Aim for just above the belt buckle."

The movie covers the period just before and after the famous gunfight, and the activities of the three Earp brothers and their rivals, known as "The Cowboys", which included the Clantons and McLaurys, Johnny Ringo, and others.

Adding to my basic knowledge of the "GFOKC" I much later learned of the political polarity of the two groups. Tombstone was a silver town and the republican Earps were protective of the silver mining interests, while the Cowboys were open range democrats.

The movie did not go into this, but there was definitely more to the rivalry than simple good vs. Evil, as my facsimile copy of the "Tombstone Epitaph" originally reported it.

There are good solid performances all around, beginning with Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp. Kurt has been a superior actor in nearly every role he has attempted. Well, OK, forget "Stargate"!

Next, on the side of good we have Wyatt’s siamese-twin, Doc Holliday, portrayed by Val Kilmer in a bravura performance, his best yet. Val has an on-again, off-again success rate at acting. This time he was dead on and deserved a best supporting actor Oscar.

Wyatt’s brothers were portrayed by Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott, in virtually throw-away roles. They did a good job, but they were definitely not in the foreground. Likewise the Cowboys, other than Ike Clanton, Curly Bill Brocius, and Johnny Ringo, and to a lesser extent Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan.

On the baddies side, "Curly Bill Brocius" portrayed in an over-the-top performance by fine actor Powers Boothe. It was a very watchable, albeit cartoonish portrayal.

Ike Clanton, a dusty trail hand, was competently portrayed by an unknown actor. Johnny Ringo was played by fine actor Michael Biehn, although the characterization was also a bit macho and cartoonish. The scene in which he demonstrates his quick draw to Doc Holliday only to be parodied with Doc’s tin cup must be seen to be appreciated!

Finally, Johnny Behan, supposedly on the side of the law, actually on the side of the Cowboys. The unknown actor who portrayed him succeeded in making Behan a thoroughly despicable character and deserves commendation for a good job.

The rest of the players, and there are many, including Earp spouses, a love interest for Wyatt, Doc’s paramour, and others, only provide color for the rest of the action which revolves around Wyatt, Doc, and the three chief Cowboys, already described.

The sets and costuming deserve a minor con. The indoor saloon shots were OK, but the outdoor shots revealed buildings in partial state of erection that looked two dimensional, too modern and cheesy for the era. The costuming was good, consistent with typical Hollywood standards, but they were a little too stylish, clean, and pressed for 1881 Arizona.

The sound was very good and fit the action very well.

Editing was also a problem, with six-shooters firing about eighteen bullets apiece, double-barrel shotguns firing three times and other continuity goofs.

Weapons sequences were not very realistic with zero recoil .45s and shotguns. Watch the History Channel to see how real weapons react. All directors should study this area in my opinion.

OK, with all my nit-picking where does the movie stand? I liked it. It is a pretty durn good movie despite the flaws! The acting is excellent, especially from Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. The story is the closest to the traditional one that has been handed down from that October afternoon in 1881...

For contrasting views of these events the viewer is recommended to see "The Gunfight at OK Corral", starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, and "My Darling Clementine", starring Henry Fonda and Victor Mature.


Recommended: Yes