When long-brewing conflict between feuding clans in Tombstone, Arizona finally reached its culmination on 24 October 1881, the resulting gun violence did not last more than a few dozen seconds. Hardly anyone at that time could have predicted that the incident, known as the ‘Showdown at the O.K. Corral’, would gradually assume epic proportions and become a crucial part of American folklore. The myth of the O.K. Corral was later perpetuated by Hollywood, whose filmmakers made a multitude of films covering those events, some of them later hailed as classics. One such film is Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a popular Western directed in 1957 by John Sturges.
The plot of this film deals less with the showdown itself and more with the relationship between two of its most famous participants. The first is Wyatt Earp (played by Burt Lancaster), sheriff of Dodge City whose successes in bringing law and order to the numerous wild towns of the Old West had already made him a legend. The other is Dr. John ‘Doc’ Holliday (played by Kirk Douglas), a former dentist who traded his profession for a gambling career and whose notorious reputation as a gunslinger caused many aspiring thugs to attempt his life. Holliday proved too good for them, but tuberculosis was going to succeed where numerous gunslingers had failed. Earp, being a man of high moral principle, does not like Holliday’s way of life, but he nevertheless saves him from a lynch mob. Holliday later returns the favour by helping Earp to keep the peace in Dodge City. The two men gradually learn not only to tolerate and respect each other, but also become very good friends. After a while, Earp decides to quit the law‑enforcement business for the sake of a new, peaceful life with the beautiful Laura Denbow (played by Rhonda Fleming). However, before their marriage, news from Tombstone, Arizona would make him reconsider. Wyatt’s brothers, who work as local lawmen, have got into a feud with the Clantons, a local clan of thugs and cattle thieves, so Wyatt goes to Tombstone in order to help them. Doc Holliday follows him, but when they arrive in Tombstone, the Earps are not happy to see their brother in the company of such a notorious gunslinger.
Most films that covered the events at the O.K. Corral took a very liberal approach to historical facts, sacrificing accuracy for the sake of simplicity or additional spectacle. The script for Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, written by Leon Uris, was no exception, but this time the emphasis was given more to the characters than to the action itself. The result is a somewhat overlong film, with at least a few scenes that would have been better left on the cutting‑room floor (like the quite unnecessary episode with Laura Denbow). But the slower rhythm is compensated by top acting performances. The most memorable are, of course, those by the two leads. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas again make a terrific team. Lancaster, although he plays Earp closer to the American myth than the version used in future, more revisionist films, allows his character to show some vulnerability and the occasional slip into the dark side. Douglas, on the other hand, plays his character splendidly – his portrayal of a boozing and terminally ill gunslinger, although it lacks Douglas’s trademark charm, is quite sympathetic, and the audience would forgive Doc everything, even the hints of abuse in his relationship with his long‑suffering girlfriend Kate Fisher, splendidly played by Jo Van Fleet. Both Lancaster and Douglas excel in their mutual scenes, creating a buddy‑buddy chemistry that would become legendary in future years. The supporting cast is also splendid, but among the many names stands young Dennis Hopper, whose portrayal of the young, troubled yet hot‑headed Bill Clanton provides one of the most powerful scenes not only in this film, but also in 1950s Westerns.
Director John Sturges, whose speciality was action, had little opportunity to show his talents in this predominantly character‑driven piece. But even the low volume of action allowed him to stage a few really interesting scenes, including the spectacular, albeit unhistorical, showdown at the end of the film. The movie benefited a lot from the talents of musical composer Dimitri Tiomkin, who actually repeated the technique used in High Noon. The title song, which is sung by Frankie Laine, works as a sort of Greek chorus and helps maintain the mythical atmosphere of the film. The overall result is a professionally made and interesting film which, although below the standards of a true masterpiece, deserves its rightful place among the Western classics.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on May 1st 2000)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/22201-gunfight-at-the-o-k-corral Critic: AA
