Aug 28, 2015 this early wyatt earp movie, based on stuart lakes book frontier marshall, presents a very romanticized version of the gunfight at the o. However, the overall structure of the film is a reasonably accurate portrayal of the events in and around tombstone. Its not as historically accurate as wyatt earp, but is the most exciting, and has better actors in the roles. Supporting roles included sam elliot, bill paxton, powers boothe, michael biehn, and dana delany, with narration by robert mitchum. But if it were not, the movie is so powerful that we wouldnt care one whit what the real history was. The earp legend has been dramatized in many hollywood films, including the 1957 classic gunfight at the o.
In all the other movies about wyatt earp theres never mention of this organized crime gang called the cowboys, red sashes, and wyatt earp chasing them all down and killing them one by one. Tombstone was first, and kevin costner was involved. Director cosmatos was highly focused on accurate historical detail, including the costumes, props, customs, and scenery, to give them authenticity. Corral but it is, nonetheless, a very entertaining film. Especially how he looks progressively sicker as the movie goes on.
Fans of tombstone may be disappointed with its fairly weak supplement package. Thats not the grave we see in the film, since most of it was filmed in california, but they stayed true to the words. Apr 18, 2018 tombstone is a 1993 american western movie directed by george p. Allowances have to be made for hollywood of course but i believe that its pretty close. Changing facts in historical material does constitute factual mistakes, whether. Vivid imagery and powerful acting depict the historical events of tombstone with apparent accuracy. I really love val kilmors potral of doc holliday, i never tire of seeing it. But believe it or not, there is a real tomb in tombstone, arizona that has those exact words written on it. The making of tombstone, a book about the film, was published in 2018. In the movie the earps arrive in tombstone in 1881 and ride past boot hill cemetery.
The film was a financial success, and for the western genre, it ranks number 16 in the list of highestgrossing films since 1979. The movie begins in a saloon in the infamous tombstone, arizona where troublemakers make the law. The absolute best historically accurate westerns true. Jan 22, 2018 for entertainment value, it may be the best film on the subject, but it aint history.
Tombstone on the other hand, begins when earp and his brothers move to the town named in the title and is for the most part, a far more direct and satisfying approach. Personally, the definitive wyatt earp film is john fords magnificent my darling clementine, and although it may not have the historical accuracy of this, it is a typically mystical, moving, and surprisingly dark masterpiece, featuring a great henry fonda performance. The absolute best historically accurate westerns true west. Western fans how accurate is tombstone doc holliday. The movie has an interesting idea in having a duel between doc holliday and johnny ringo, the deadliest gunfighters next to john wesley hardin.
The film acknowledges this by putting a geeky looking accountant on nesss team and giving him a great big gun. So, in choosing the absolute best historically accurate westerns, weve made our selections in several different areas. Find out where tombstone is streaming, if tombstone is on netflix, and get news and updates, on decider. The fact or fiction section analyzes the historical accuracy of the film. It depends on who you ask, but historical consensus is that tombstones version, which has billy clanton and wyatt earp firing simultaneously, is the most accurate. They served as lawmen during 188081 and fought the cowboys in the famous gunfight on october 26, 1881, they left the area in april 1882. On wyatt earps arrival in tombstone in the 1993 movie tombstone, the. Most historically accurate film about ok corral gunfight at. Kevin costners film, wyatt earp is the most historically accurate.
Cast, characters, crew, fact or fiction, insights, other related films and resources for tombstone can all be found on this patriot resource site. Corral, wyatt is talking to his brothers and doc on the porch of the town marshals office. Soon, salaries and costs for maintenance were paid with new fees levied on deadwoods businesses. Weve looked at accuracy of biography and of specific historical events. It seems a bit absurd, and the kind of thing you would see at the haunted mansion at disneyland. The other films section lists some of hollywoods other similar films. The film does take liberties in telling the story, many of which are themselves based on legend. Val kilmer reveals the real story behind tombstone and kurt. The filmmakers behind tombstone paid attention to historical accuracy and even put wyatt earps real life fifth cousin in the. Its historical accuracy and authenticity made it a huge hit.
The making of tombstone sd, 27 min this three part feature focuses on the cast, the making of the film, and the gunfight at the o. A look behind the scenes of the classic western drama. Mar 19, 2009 period and historical films the untouchables. While filming inside the infamous birdcage theater, kilmer recalled that it was 4 degrees fahrenheit, prompting him to later. The movie comes closer to historical accuracy than did.
Wyatt earp, now an icon in western history, fiction and film, came late to that position. I found this site on doc and while it gives great info on him and tombstone, it does not mention him killing john ringo. So much happened behind the scenes, its difficult to believe that tombstone ended up being as good as it was. Aug 02, 20 tombstone is actually not too far from accurate in a historical sense. Three of the earp brothers arrived in tombstone on december 1, 1879. Tombstone, a archetypal western, is a quality film that brings to life the story of the legendary dodge city marshal wyatt earp and his pursuit of justice in the western town of tombstone. It opens with earp ending his stint as a kansas law officer and heading for tombstone with his brothers virgil and morgan and their families in toe. Tombstone is a 1993 american western film directed by george p. Daniel deweese on wyatt earps arrival in tombstone in the 1993 movie tombstone, the preening and corrupt cochise county sheriff johnny behan bragged about the towns fashionable citizens. On august 18, 1876, he was elected mayor of deadwood, working first to obtain official recognition for the settlement by the dakota territorial government.
Tombstones adherence to provable facts make it the most accurate. I have seen this film, my darling clementine, wyatt earp with kevin costner, and tombstone with kurt russell and val kilmer. I have seen both and imho wyatt earp is by far the superior film. This film came out at the same time as tombstone which was directed by george pan cosmatos. For entertainment value, it may be the best film on the subject, but it aint history. The cast was held to accuracy in their clothing, donning wool costumes in the arizona heat.
Kurt russell is the epitome of the historical wyatt earp, and looks the part in keeping with director cosmatoss fulfillment of historical accuracy and the legendary events in tombstone, with special and gripping performances next to him from the late bill paxton, sam elliot, powers boothe, michael biehn and dana delaney. The western film genre may not appeal to everyone, yet despite that, most people have heard of the 1993 classic american western film, tombstone. Although you probably wouldnt want to write a collegelevel history paper based on the facts in this movie either. All the information you could want on the movie is available there. The young wyatt earp at age 21, taken about 1869, probably in lamar, missouri.
The film is rated r for violence, of which there is a fair amount. Unforgiven is a work of pure fiction, yet is so powerful, that the movie is. When westerns made the leap from printed page to film. Its extremely well acted, engaging, and does a lot of things right in terms of being true to the real story. However, this is only scratching the surface of the movies intriguing details. Writers like ned buntlinewho was born edward zane carroll judsonsensationalized people and events and created myths that endure to this day. The successful farnum went on to invest in several deadwood mining ventures. Historical inaccuracies aside, my darling clementine. Theres no real reason to cinematically retell the story of wyatt earp and doc holliday, unless it is to inject some historical accuracy into the. I dont have the energy to write out all of the innacur. I think they both make a nice set of bookend movies. What movies most accurately reflect the historic old west. Jul 09, 20 the tombstone legacy the american western that captivated audiences everywhere inspires fashion today.
Corral 1957, with burt lancaster and kirk douglas or tombstone 1993, with kurt russell and val kilmer. Every mustache in this film was 100% grown by the goddamn man that willed it onto his face for the duration of the shoot. For a movie thats building toward the most famous gun battle of the old west, its in no particular hurry to get there, content to dawdle. The 10 best movies about wyatt earp and doc holliday taste. The following is a list of some of the most important historical elements the film depicts. Costner made a visit to the actual tombstone, arizona way before filming ever started. I like tombstone for one reason, and wyatt earp for another. He had disagreements with the writers focus and left the project to produce his own film, which became wyatt earp. Mix play all mix history buffs youtube james wild bill hickok. It is possible within the film, as the whole scene is not historically accurate.
Tombstone has plenty of hollywood western easter eggs to discover. From kurt russell being the real director behind tombstone, to missing. Now, i have read quite a few history books regarding the earps and regarding the famous gunfight. Jan 03, 2017 from historical accuracy to production quality, lets cock the hammer on this 90s western and explore some hot topics, including. The resources section has various links related to tombstone. Aug 07, 2006 how historically accurate is the movie tombstone. Feb 05, 2011 which of these three films on wyatt earp and the o. Director cosmatos was highly focused on accurate historical detail, including the costumes, props, customs, and scenery, to give them. You may know every scene in this movie like the back of your hand, but. The costumes were historically accurate, deeply symbolic and. Cosmatos, written by kevin jarre, who was also the original director but was replaced early in production, and starring kurt russell and val kilmer. Check out tombstone on the internet movie database. Critical reception was generally positive and the film has become a cult classic since its release. Part of keeping with the times historical accuracy was ensuring the authenticity of the costumes.
The insights section includes notestrivia about the film and a script draft. Thanks to its starstudded cast, the film was somewhat of a revival for the genre, helping it gain popularity once again. The old west was fictionalized even as it was happening. Not for nothing is this film titled my darling clementine rather than, say, gunfight at the o. In the movie the earps arrive in tombstone in 1881 and ride past boot hill.
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