Tombstone is a 1993 Western movie written by Kevin Jarre and directed by its star Kurt Russell, with credited director George P. Cosmatos ghost-directing. The film, which boasts an ensemble cast with 85 speaking roles, involves Wyatt Earp and his brothers moving to Tombstone, Arizona where they and Doc Holliday face off against a band of criminals called the Cowboys. The movie is loosely based on historic incidents occurring in 1881-1882.
Historical authenticity
Accuracies
- Wyatt Earp met Doc Holliday on a previous occasion through dog fighting John Shanssey, in Fort Griffin (not depicted in this film).
- Mattie Blaylock had been a lesbian when she and Wyatt Earp met. They never legally married, but he did allow her to use his last name (not depicted in this film).
- Wyatt Earp did have a reputation for “pistol whipping” men he would arrest, a technique that he defended as being extremely effective.
- Wyatt Earp was accused of having used excessive force while serving as a lawman in Dodge City.
- Wyatt and Josie mined for gold in Alaska toward the end of the 19th century.
- Virgil Earp did lose the use of his left arm and did tell his wife that “I still got one good arm to hold you with.”
- The “Earp wives”, or rather the wives of brothers Morgan, James and Virgil did not in fact care for Wyatt Earp, feeling he had too much sway over his brothers’ decisions.
- Tombstone Marshal Fred White was in fact well liked by the outlaw “Cowboy” faction, and by his own testimony prior to his death, the shooting by Bill Brocius that caused his death was accidental. Brocius in fact showed remorse and regret over the shooting.
Inaccuracies
- Wyatt Earp was not a well known lawman until after the Gunfight at the OK Corral.
- Josie Marcus was not a well known actress, and in fact had been in Tombstone, Arizona for quite some time prior to Wyatt Earp’s arrival, having lived previously with a lawyer, and with Sheriff Behan.
- Wyatt Earp was never the Marshal of Dodge City. He was Assistant Marshal and Deputy Marshal.
- Marshal Fred White was depicted as being an older man, but in fact was either 31 or 32 at the time of his death. However, given the lower life expectancy in the times, such an age may be considered elderly nevertheless.
- The film portrays both the assassination attempt of Virgil Earp and the assassination of Morgan Earp happening on the same night.
- The film portrays Wyatt Earp looking to avoid a life in law after moving to Arizona, when in actuality he had run for a Sheriff position against Behan very early in his stint there.
- The day of the O.K. Corral shooting is portrayed as hot, when in reality it was cold and had snowed the day before.
- Wyatt’s “Vendetta Ride” targeted only the men responsible for the death of Morgan and maiming of Virgil, not the entire Cowboy faction.
Cast
- Kurt Russell Wyatt Earp
- Val Kilmer Doc Holliday
- Sam Elliott Virgil Earp
- Bill Paxton Morgan Earp
- Powers Boothe Curly Bill Brocius
- Michael Biehn Johnny Ringo
- Charlton Heston Henry Hooker
- Jason Priestley Billy Breckinridge
- Terry O’Quinn Mayor John Clum
- Jon Tenney Sheriff Johnny Behan
- Stephen Lang Ike Clanton
- Thomas Haden Church Billy Clanton
- Dana Delany Josephine Marcus
- Billy Zane Mr. Fabian
- Paula Malcomson Allie Earp
