American History

The movie, being based on a true story tells of what happened before, during and after the gunfight that took place at O.K Corral. There have been western movies that talked about the famous gunfight at the O.K Corral and Wyatt Earp. Films such as My Darling Clementine, Hour of the Gun, and Doc, and The Town Too Tough to Die all shared a certain theme about the gunfights but Tombstone is believed to be one if not the most accurate films that tell of the real historic events. One of the accuracies that can be found in the film is that it really documented how Bill Brosius tried to kill Wyatt from point-blank range but missed three times before Earp, with a shotgun, finally killed him. Another accuracy in the film would be the fact that it showed how McCaurys and Clantons were Earps huge rivals or enemies. The film showed how Wyatt was only present in one real gunfight prior to the events of the story which truthfully happened in history. A surprising accuracy was the shootout at the O.K Corral since it was filmed at the exact location that the courtroom proceedings dictated them.

However, as it may have presented a lot of accuracies, there are still some parts of the film that were different from the actual events in history. An apparent inaccuracy or flaw would be in the beginning of the movie where the Cowboys were dressed in red sashes and crashed a Mexican wedding celebration. In history, no Mexican wedding celebration happened and the Cowboys never wore red sashes. In the movie, Wyatts wife, Mattie was an opium addict which in reality is not. In Tombstone, it was hot during the shootout but in history the ground was actually spotted with snow since it had snowed the day prior to the shootout making the temperature cold. Another flaw is when Sheriff Behan was surprised when Wyatt arrived in Tombstone. In reality, Wyatt was actually invited by the sheriff to take over his job. At the final moments of the movie, another inaccuracy can be seen. Doc was portrayed to have died in a sanitarium and Wyatt visited him in a moment before he died. In real events, Wyatt found out Docs death after eight years and Doc died in a hotel.

Kurt Russell plays the role of a retired peace officer, Wyatt Earp, which has a legendary reputation. Wyatt reunites with his brothers Morgan and Virgil (played by Bill Paxton and Sam Elliott respectively.) explored and then decided settle down to a small mining town called Tombstone. In town, they encountered a longtime friend of Wyatt, Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer). Doc was a gambler, gunslinger, and not to mention a crooked character inflicted with tuberculosis and the desire for relief from the illness from the drier environment of Arizona.

Mattie Blaylock, played by Dana Wheeler-Nicholson, became very reliant on Opium while the brothers gain benefit from gambling emporium and saloon. Then, they encountered in town the feared band of outlaws, the cowboys, led by Curly Bill Brocious (Powers Boothe) and were only a spark away from conflict with Wyatt and others. Wyatt only insisted that he wanted no trouble and that he had retired from law enforcement. Doc also met a competitor as the fastest guns in the west in the character of a psychopathic Johnny Ringo.
Though no longer an active lawman, Wyatt still was pressured to help eradicate the town of the Cowboys as the band emphatically create trouble and tension. When Curly bill visited a Chinese opium house, he loaded himself up with drugs and go on a shooting frenzy. The town Marshal Fred White decided to approach Curly and confiscate the guns after his display of craziness. But Curly decided to shoot the marshal, infuriated and tired of the Cowboys trouble to town, Wyatt decided to take Curly forcibly into custody. The other Cowboys were infuriated as well, only to Wyatt and decided to threaten him and his family.

Probably because of the slipping marriage of Wyatt, he found himself really attracted to Josephine who was straightforward with men. But it was overshadowed by the violence and tension created by the continuing wreckage brought by the bandits. The lack of law enforcement in the town forced Virgil Earp to step up and be the new town marshal. He immediately imposed a weapons ban within the city limits which led to a showdown with the Cowboys. The battle at the O.K. Corral found both Virgil and Morgan injured, but killed three Cowboys in the showdown. They then found out the evil collaboration of Sheriff John Behan (Jon Tenny) with the Cowboys. Thirsty for revenge and retribution, the Cowboys ambushed Wyatts brothers resulting to the death of Morgan and the impairment of Virgils arm for life.

A shocked and disgusted Wyatt decided to leave town via train. But followed by the Cowboys, Wyatt let his family ride the train. To their assassins surprise, Wyatt killed one of the two assassins and let the other live to send the message that he became a U.S. Marshal and is on the hunt for anyone with a red sash. Vengeance was Wyatts overpowering emotion as he joined up with a reformed Cowboy McMasters, friends Texas Jack and Turkey Creek Jack along with Doc to become the justice enforcers of the town.

But Wyatts group was ambushed in a riverside forest by the Cowboys. But Wyatt strides to finally seek out Curly Bill in a single combat. The combat was worse for the latter, as he was killed in the gunfight. As the Cowboys leader died, Johnny Ringo replaced him as the new leader.

But Doc found his condition to be worsening the group was accommodated by Henry Hooker in his ranch. Then they stumble upon Josephine once again, only to give the news that Mr. Fabian (Billy Zane) was shot dead by the Cowboys after trying to steal Josephines watch. Infatuated, Wyatt realizes that he wanted to be with Josephine but to no avail as he was on the midst of a fight against the Cowboys.

Ringo then sends a message to Wyatt as he dragged the dead body of McMasters. He wanted to have a final showdown with Wyatt, obviously on the advantage of Ringo. Realizing his disadvantage but had no choice, he decided to accept the challenge. Doc was a better match to Ringo but was apparently ailing at the time.

Wyatt was on his way to the showdown, without knowing that Doc will beat him to the site. Ringo was surprised to see Doc, and at first didnt want to fight him. Doc says that they wore only finishing their game to play for blood. Ringo finally accepted as his desire to kill overcame him. The showdown began, both men circling the other. But Doc was the winner of the contest as he was the first to pull his gun off and shoot Ringo in the head. As Wyatt approached the place, he was alarmed of the sound of gunshot and afraid that Doc was on the unfortunate end of the bullet. To his surprise, Doc killed Ringo in the showdown.
Doc after not only surviving a showdown, but also killing one of the fastest gunners in the west succumbed to his illness. Dying from an illness and not from a gunshot, the idea made him muttered the humorously. He peacefully passed away after the visit of Wyatt. Wyatt was finally able to pursue Josephine, and the story ends in a narrative to their long marriage and finally Wyatts death in 1929.