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: