TOMBSTONE
US, 1993, 130 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, Charlton Heston, Jason Priestley, Jon Tenny, Stephen Lang, Thomas Hayden Church, Dana Delany, Dana Wheeler -Nicholson, Joanna Pacula, Michael Rooker, Harry Carey Jr, Billy Bob Thornton, Paul Ben- Victor, Robert Burke, Billy Zane, John Corbett, Terry O’ Quinn, Frank Stallone, Pedro Armendariz Jr, narrated by Robert Mitchum.
Directed by George Pan Cosmatos.
Once again Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the OK Corral, this time quite spectacularly in George Pan Cosmatos large-scale Western. The sweep and style of the photography, locations and sets are impressive. The cast has many names. However, they tend to be character actors rather than stars. Kurt Russell is a solid, sometimes stolid Wyatt Earp, while Val Kilmer stands out as the educated consumptive but deadly Holliday. Villains include Michael Biehn and Powers Boothe. The Earps include Sam Elliott and Bill Paxton. Dana Delany is the actress who becomes Earp’s wife.
Robert Mitchum supplies the narration, along with some real and some fictitious silent footage, an introduction about the lawless cowboys and their brutality and the need for law and order in the frontier towns like Tombstone.
The interpretation of Wyatt Earp and his stances is an 1980s aggressive use of law and order and violence, the old Clint Eastwood creed. However, the screenplay also includes the 1990s ultimate wariness of violence, the Eastwood dilemma of Unforgiven. Which means that there is an ambiguity in audience response, the gung-ho support of the gunning down of vicious killers and moral questions of the righteous spree of violent law enforcement. It is a rousing western, raising issues of violence.
1. In the tradition of the classic westerns? Wyatt Earp and cinema traditions, interpretation of his character, stances, Law and order, The Gunfight at the OK Corral? Doc Holliday?
2. The voice-over, Robert Mitchum, the post-war West, more pioneers moving west, the discovery of silver in Arizona, the setting up of the Cowboys, their lawlessness, the need for order?
3. The strong cast, the musical score?
4. Wyatt Earp, his reputation in Dodge City, the reason for moving to Tombstone, the discovery of silver, money, his interest in gambling? His brothers, Vergil and Morgan? Their wives, Mattie and her relationship with Wyatt, the need for laudanum, buying it, deceitful use, the effect on her? The visit to the saloon, the lack of business? Taking over the saloon, the gambling, success?
5. The prologue: Curley Bill, Ringo, the Cowboys, the wedding, the shootings, the confrontation with the Friar, his death, their brutality? The Cowboys and their deaths, the distinctive red sash?
6. The role of the Sheriff in Tombstone, the marshals, the Mayor?
7. Josephine, attractive, making Wyatt uncomfortable, his relationship with his wife, her jealousy? Performance in the saloon, sultry, yet shocked at the killings, supporting Wyatt?
8. Curley Bill, drunk, shooting, killings, the death of the Sheriff in the street? Vergil and his decision to become law enforcement? Morgan following?
9. Doc Holliday, his reputation, gambler, skill, witty, angry opponents, his staying calm, quick on the draw, his girlfriend and support, the clash with Ringo, his juggling his gun, Doc juggling the cup? Suffering from consumption and its effect on him? The friendship with Wyatt?
10. The Clintons, the rivalry, in league with the Cowboys, the guns, some of the shooters and their changing sides, leaving the Cowboys? Building up an alliance, leading up to the Gunfight at the OK Corral? The shootout? Ike and his surviving? The later confrontation and his death?
11. The characters in the town, in the saloon, amongst the Cowboys, the drinking, the violence? The buildup of the Cowboys, Ringo and his cruelty?
12. Injuries to Vergil, the death of Morgan? Wyatt, the policies, the pursuit, the barrage of killings? The decision to destroy the Cowboys? Doc and his participation in the killings, the confrontation with Ringo and Doc and his smart deception?
13. Josephine, the relationship with Wyatt? His alienation from his wife?
14. The establishment of law and order, Wyatt and Josephine leaving, going to California, time in Hollywood?
15. Information about the relationship for 47 years? Wyatt and his death, Tom Mix and the other cowboy stars attending his funeral? His place in American western mythology?
