Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (film)
| Gunfight at the O.K. Corral | |
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 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral/Last Train from Gun Hill film poster |
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| Directed by | John Sturges |
| Produced by | Hal B. Wallis |
| Written by | Leon Uris from a story by George Scullin |
| Starring | Burt Lancaster Kirk Douglas Rhonda Fleming Jo Van Fleet John Ireland |
| Music by | Dimitri Tiomkin |
| Cinematography | Charles B. Lang Jr. |
| Editing by | Warren Low |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | May 30, 1957 |
| Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) is a film based on a real event which took place on October 26, 1881. It was directed by John Sturges and featuring a screenplay written by novelist Leon Uris, and the movie's supporting cast included Rhonda Fleming, John Ireland, Jo Van Fleet, Martin Milner, Dennis Hopper, Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef, DeForest Kelley, Earl Holliman and Charles Herbert.
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[edit] Historical inaccuracies
The film is a loose Hollywood retelling of the gunfight and makes no pretense at historical accuracy. Virgil Earp was already a deputy U.S. Marshal when he arrived in Tombstone, while Wyatt had little, if any, legal authority. Wyatt came to Tombstone with a common-law wife, whom he later sent away to stay with his family—in order to get her away from opiates. His brothers were also married at the time. The fight bears no resemblance to the actual battle, which was a 30 second long, face to face affair. Johnny Ringo (John Ireland) was not present at the OK Corral gunfight. He later killed himself. Ike Clanton brought murder charges against the Earps and Doc Holliday. The Cowboys claimed the Earps had killed the outlaws as they attempted to surrender. During the Spicer hearing the coroner and witnesses presented conflicting evidence about whether the Cowboys had their hands in the air or guns in their hands or were trying to draw their weapon when the fighting started. Morgan and Virgil Earp were wounded and Holliday was grazed by a bullet. Wyatt was unhurt. Judge Wells Spicer ruled that the lawmen acted within their authority.
[edit] Cast
- Burt Lancaster as Marshal Wyatt Earp
- Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday
- Rhonda Fleming as Laura Denbow
- Jo Van Fleet as Kate Fisher (Doc's woman)
- John Ireland as Johnny Ringo (Clanton's hired gun)
- Lyle Bettger as Ike Clanton
- Frank Faylen as Cotton Wilson (county sheriff, Griffin, Texas)
- Earl Holliman as Deputy Sheriff Charlie Bassett
- Ted de Corsia as Shanghai Pierce (cattleman)
- Dennis Hopper as Billy Clanton
- Whit Bissell as John P. Clum (editor, 'Tombstone Epitaph' / Head of Citizens Council)
- George Mathews as John Shanssey (Griffin saloon owner)
- John Hudson as Virgil Earp
- DeForest Kelley as Morgan Earp
- Martin Milner as James 'Jimmy' Earp
- Lee Van Cleef as Ed Bailey
- Jack Elam as Tom McLowery
[edit] Awards
The film was nominated for two Academy Awards.[1]
- Film Editing
- Sound Recording (George Dutton)
[edit] References
- ^ "The 30th Academy Awards (1958) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/30th-winners.html. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (film) |
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral at the Internet Movie Database
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral at AllRovi
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral at the TCM Movie Database
