Tombstone (1993)

Having served time as a lawman, Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) heads to Tombstone determined not to wear a badge, determined instead to focus on making money.

He quickly uproots a drunken bully from the faro table at the Oriental Saloon, negotiating a 25 percent share of the house profits to run the gambling there.

And with that, the Earp brothers — Virgil (Sam Elliott) and Morgan (Bill Paxton) — are on their way to becoming business tycoons in the booming silver town.

Ah, but Tombstone also has its problems. Seems a band of ruffians known as the cowboys rule a very rowdy roost and wear red sashes to show their affiliation with the gang.

Tired of seeing innocents cowering and hurt by the cowboys’ wicked ways, Virgil caves and becomes town marshal. Morgan accepts a deputy’s badge.

Add the opium hazed killing of an elderly lawman, and it all leads to a showdown at the OK Corral.

But the blood-letting doesn’t end there. First, the cowboys want retribution. Followed by Wyatt and his old friend Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer).

Meanwhile, a pretty actress (Dana Delany as Josephine Marcus) arrives in town, turning Wyatt’s head though he’s already married, at least considers himself married, to the increasing jealous, increasing addicted Mattie.

Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, sensing trouble’s about to start at the OK Corral in Tombstone (1993)

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, who counts Wyatt among his few friends in Tombstone (1993)

Review:

A superior Western, complete with plenty of action, a touch of humor and a love story to boot.

Okay, the aftermath of the OK Corral is probably a bit more bloody and large-scale than it was in real life. And events are condensed for the sake of suspence.

You’re even likely to groan when one bad guy throws away his red sash late in the film, leading to a celebratory handshake between heroes on horseback late in the film.

But it’s impossible not to compare this movie to Wyatt Earp (1994), the bigger-budget Kevin Costner epic that arrived a year later covering much of the same ground.

This film scores better in every possible way, from story to acting to cinematography. And it certainly helps that we get to know the villains a bit in this film, a major flaw in Wyatt Earp (1994).

Oh, and the diverse cast includes some old-time Western stars, including Charlton Heston, Buck Taylor and Harry Carey Jr.

Robert Mitchum was supposed to have a role too, as old man Clanton. A back injury prevented his participation, so he became the narrator instead.

Sam Elliott as Virgil Earp, ready to face down the cowboys in Tombstone (1993)

Bill Paxton as Morgan Earp, having just killed a man at the OK Corral in Tombstone (1993)

Directed by:
George P. Cosmatos

Cast:
Kurt Russell … Wyatt Earp
Val Kilmer … Doc Holliday
Sam Elliott … Virgil Earp
Bill Paxton … Morgan Erp
Powers Boothe … Curly Bill Brocius
Michael Biehn … Johnny Ringo
Charlton Heston … Henry Hooker
Jason Priestley … Billy Breckinridge
Jon Tenney … Behan
Stephan Lang … Ike Clanton
Thomas Haden Church … Billy Clanton
Dana Delany … Josephine Marcus
Paula Malcomson … Allie Earp
Lisa Collins … Louisa Earp
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson … Mattie Earp
Joanna Pacula … Kate
Michael Rooker… Sherman McMasters
Harry Carey Jr. … Marshal Fred White
Billy Bob Thornton … Johnny Tyler
Tomas Arana … Frank Stillwell
John Philbin … Tom McLaury
Robert John Burke … Frank McLaury

Runtime: 134 min.

Michael Biehn as Johnny Ringo, facing an unexpected showdown in Tombstone (1993)

Powers Booth as Curly Bill Brocius, always ready to spar with the law in Tombstone (1993)

Memorable lines:

Mexican groom, when the cowboys attack: “You go to hell.”
Curly Bill Brocius, drawing his gun: “You first.”

Marshal, offering Wyatt a lawman’s job as he arrives in Tombstone: “I never saw a rich man who didn’t wind up with a guilty conscience.”
Wyatt Earp: “I already got a guilty conscience. Might as well have the money too.”

Doc Holliday, as he and Kate flee another town: “My sweet, soft Hungarian devil.”

Wyatt Earp, confronting Johnny Tyler: “Skin that smoke wagon and see what happens.”

Wyatt Earp: “You gonna do something, or just stand there and bleed.”

Dana Delany as Josephine Marcus, the actress who catches Wyatt’s eye in Tombstone (1993)

Dana Wheeler-Nicholson as Mattie Earp, suspicious of Wyatt’s intentions in Tombstone (1993)

Josephine Marcus, having laid eyes on Wyatt upon arriving in Tombstone: “I want one.”

Wyatt Earp: “You’d die for fun?”
Josephine Marcus: “Wouldn’t you?”

Cowboy: “You’re so drunk, you’re probably seeing double.”
Doc Holliday, drawing a second pistol: “I have two guns, one for each of ya.”

Johnny Ringo: “Don’t any of ya have the guts to play for blood?”
Doc Holliday: “I’m your huckleberry.”

Morgan Earp: “Remember what I said about seein’ a light when you’re dyin’?”
Wyatt Earp: “Yeah.”
Morgan: “Ain’t true. I can’t see a damned thing.”

Jon Tenney as lawman John Behan, trying to appeal to Josephine’s desire for comfort in Tombstone (1993)

Harry Carey Jr. as Marshal Fred White, Tombstone’s old-time law in Tombstone (1993)

Wyatt Earp, to Ike Clanton: “You tell them I’m comin’. And hell’s comin’ with me. Hell’s comin’ with me!”

Doc Holliday: “Make no mistake. It’s no revenge he’s after. It’s a reckoning.”

Wyatt Earp, facing a showdown with Johnny Ringo: “I spent my whole life not knowin’ what I wanted out of life. Just chasin’ my tail. Now, for the first time, I know exactly what I want. And who. That’s the damnable misery of it.”

Wyatt Earp, about Ringo: “What does he need?”
Doc Holliday: “Revenge.”
Wyatt: “For what?”
Doc: “Being born.”

Thomas Haden Church as Billy Clanton, under the gun in Tombstone (1993)

Stephen Lang as Ike Clanton, wondering if he’s getting a fair shake at faro in Tombstone (1993)

Michael Booker as Sherman McMasters, a cowboy turned Earp man in Tombstone (1993)

Peter Sherayko as Texas Jack Vermillion and Buck Taylor as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson in Tombstone (1993)

Joanna Pacula as Kate, helping Doc Holliday flees another town in Tombstone (1993)

Jason Priestley as Billy Breckinridge, Behan’s deputy in Tombstone (1993)

Charlton Heston as Henry Hooker, assuring Wyatt an ill Doc Holliday is in good hands in Tombstone (1993)

Billy Bob Thornton as Johnny Tyler, the faro dealer Wyatt replaces in Tombstone (1993)

Billy Zane as Mr. Fabian, leader of the acting troupe in Tombstone (1993)

Dana Delany as Josephine Marcus, playing the devil on stage in Tombstone (1993)

Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday, ready to face death at any time, in Tombstone (1993)

Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp, hoping for a quiet existence in Tombstone in Tombstone (1993)