I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Marie Osmond is Josephine Marcus in this version of the Wyatt Earp story, told from her viewpoint and focusing on how she became his second wife.

She arrives in Tombstone as part of a singing group and immediately attracts two admirers — Wyatt (Bruce Boxleitner) and John Behan (John Bennett Perry).

She’s intrigued enough to stay in Tombstone, taking a job performing in Wyatt’s saloon, The Oriental.

But it’s Behan, a notorious lady’s man, who is the first to proclaim his love for her.

Wyatt’s clearly interested too. But he’s also married to Mattie, who lives in separate quarters and is dying from her addictions.

The two men are also enemies, and their feud goes deeper than their interest in Josie.

The cowboys, Behan’s allies, are suspected of a series of holdups in the area. They also regularly defy Wyatt’s orders that no one wear guns in town.

Josie decides Behan is no good when he presents her with ruby rings that were stolen from her during an earlier stage holdup.

How could he get those rings without being involved, or at least knowing, the outlaw who stole them, she wonders.

She runs crying to Wyatt, who confirms her suspicions. And once Mattie dies, they make plans to marry.

But the grudge between Wyatt, Behan and the cowboys, led by Ike Clanton, has escalated. And it will lead to a showdown at the O.K. Corral.

Marie Osmond as Josie Marcus, upset when an admirer returns stolen rings in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Bruce Boxleitner as Wyatt Earp, springing into action against the cowboys in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Review:

The film begins with Josie leaving flowers by Wyatt’s grave and grousing that another interviewer stopped by to see her, with inaccurate information about the famous gunfight.

She’s inclined, she says, to set the record straight. And since Wyatt’s wife is telling the story, it’s no surprise that he and his brothers are painted as the heroes of the piece.

But we also have a version in which Josie saves the day at the O.K. Corral by grabbing a rifle and confronting a pair of cowboys inside Fly’s Studio. They planned to ambush Wyatt and his brothers.

And a version in which Morgan and Virgil Earp are gunned down in retaliation at the same holiday party, just moments after Wyatt has proposed to Josie.

So much for an accurate version of events.

But the real problem here is Marie Osmond’s wooden performance in the lead role. And the amount of screentime Wyatt and Behan spend fawning over her.

John Bennett Perrry as Sheriff John Behan, assuring Josie he’s serious where she’s concerned in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Charles Benton as Ike Clanton, defying Wyatt’s no-firearms rule in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Directed by:
Michael O’Herlihy

Cast:
Marie Osmond … Josephine “Josie” Marcus
Bruce Boxleitner … Wyatt Earp
John Bennett Perry … John Behan
Jeffrey DeMunn … Doc Holliday
Alison Arngrim … Amy
Ross Martin … Jocob Spiegler
Ron Manning … Virgil Earp
Josef Rainer … Morgan Earp
Charles Benton … Ike Clanton
Earl W. Smith … Frank Stillwell
Ron Chapman … Marsh Williams
Elayne Stein … Mama Speigler
Dee Maaske … Mattie Earp
Linda Rae Jurgens … Louisa Earp
Donna Brown … Allie Earp
Tom Assalone … Billy Clanton
Randy Wells … Frank McLaury
Joe Corcoran … Tom McLaury

Runtime: 96 min.

Jeffrey DeMunn as Doc Holliday, meeting Josie Marcus for the first time in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Dee Maaske as Mattie Earp, assuring Wyatt she has no intention of giving him a divorce in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Memorable lines:

John Behan as Josie catches a glimpse of Wyatt Earp: “He’s married.”
Josie Marcus, clearly used to getting attention from married men: “And you’re not?”

John Behan, of politics and his ambition to become governor of Arizona: “You see, it’s all a game. Except I cut down the odds by knowing what card’s going to come up next.”
Josie Marcus: “In San Francisco, that’s called cheating.”
Behan: “In politics, it’s called smart.”

Wyatt Earp, having just hired Josie Marucs to sing in his saloon: “I’ve never had a woman as a partner before.”
Josie: “What about your wife?”
Wyatt: “Unfortunately, Mattie is in partnership with the devil … She’s a very, very unhappy woman. Drunk. Sick. Dying. She makes herself miserable and everyone else.”
Josie: “But you’re still with her?”
Wyatt: “Indeed.”

Doc Holliday, approaching Wyatt at Mattie’s funeral in the cemetery: “Ike’s here.”
Wyatt Earp: “Let him be. This ain’t no place for a fight.”
Doc, looking around the cemetery: “Well, I can’t think of a better one.”

Alison Arngrim as Amy (left), marveling over how quickly best friend Josie has picked up two new admirers in Tombstone in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)

Marie Osmond as Josie Marcus, holding a gun on two cowboys when intended to ambush Wyatt at the O.K. Corral in I Married Wyatt Earp (1983)