Posts from markgpl in thread „Movies About Wyatt Earp And The Gunfight At The Ok Corral“

  • Movies About Wyatt Earp And The Gunfight At The Ok Corral



    Hi Chester:

    Thanks for moving this topic to the correct forum. As a relatively new member here, I'm still trying to get the hang of things.

  • Movies About Wyatt Earp And The Gunfight At The Ok Corral



    Hi Arthur:

    It seems that a few people like Gunfight at The OK Corral as their favorite. I also found it an entertaining film, but I guess it ranked as my lowest in terms of preference for the couple of reasons that you alluded to.

    You're right - Doc's death was not even close to the way things played out. I think he was "burned" by a bullet to the hip, but that was the extent of his injuries. Morgan took a serious wound to the shoulder and Virgil took a bullet through the calf - Wyatt was the only person who walked away completely unscathed.

    As well, Walter Brennan, who played either the patriarch of the Clanton clan or Ike Clanton (I can't remember which character he played), wasn't even present at the infamous gunfight or didn't die in the fight. And Johnny Ringo, who was killed by Doc Holliday in the movie, also wasn't there.

    He apparently died either by his own hands as some speculate or perhaps shot to death by Wyatt Earp after the fight and found propped up next to a tree. In the movie Tombstone, he was done in by Doc Holliday.

    Finally, the actual Gunfight at the OK Corral, by every account that I've read, lasted no more than 30 to 45 seconds and when all of the shots were fired, three of the cowboy faction were dead (the McLaurys and Billy Clanton) and 3 of the Earp faction were wounded. In this movie, the gunfight last for a good 15 to 20 minutes.

    It was an entertaining movie - no question about it - and on that level, I enjoyed it. But it just seemed to stray too far from the actual events and that's why it's at the bottom of my list.

    Mark

  • Movies About Wyatt Earp And The Gunfight At The Ok Corral

    In common with alot of the poster here, many / most / all of us not only share an interest in John Wayne movies, but perhaps an interest in the culture and history of the American West.

    I just finished rereading a great book about the life of Wyatt Earp and it reminded me about all of the movies that have been made about this legendary character and the famous fight that took place in Tombstone, Arizona on October 26, 1881 - Gunfight at the OK Corral / Hour of The Gun / Wyatt Earp / Tombstone and My Darling Clementine quickly come to mind.

    Of these films, my favorite probably has to be Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp.

    Yes - it was essentially panned by the critics for being too long, but I enjoyed it because I thought it provided the most realistic depiction of this very complex man. As well, it gave us a glimpse into the life of Wyatt Earp from a young boy right up to the infamous fight at the OK Corral. And you have to give credit to Dennis Quaid for dropping alot of weight to capture the "tuberculosis" ridden look of Doc Holliday.

    Tombstone was also very good, but I thought it was more of an entertaining film - with an incredible Doc Holliday portrayed by Val Kilmer - as opposed to Costner's more ambitious epic film. Kurt Russell's moustache, though, wins hands down of all the Wyatt Earp character's moustaches.

    My Darling Clementine is a beautiful John Ford film with Monument Valley again as the backdrop and Henry Fonda is a pillar of integrity and character as Wyatt Earp. However, I thought Victor Mature was a weak and not terribly believable Doc Holliday

    The Hour of The Gun stars James Garner as a very passable Wyatt Earp and Jason Robards as Doc and is another one of those very entertaining fims that I can watch a hundred times and never get bored.

    Finally, Gunfight at the OK Corral pairs Burt Lancaster as Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday. An entertaining film, but not one of my favorites,