This is the truth about wyatt earps role in the movie industry. The truth about wyatt earp is the result of extensive research done by the author, richard e. Aug 10, 2016 but when the hagiography is stripped away, some hard nuggets of truth remain. The life and legend of wyatt earp the truth about old man. Tombstone and wyatt earp were two bigbudget western biopics released within six months of each other, but which movie is the best. Kevin costners wyatt earp came out 20 years ago today, just six months after tombstone, and hollywood was barely big enough for both of them. As is the case with earp, there is a mound of evidence that the real doc holliday wasnt nearly so squeaky clean. The emergence of josephine sarah marcus in the tombstone story was the real impetus for a revival of interest in the wyatt earp saga. In fact, the tombstone shoot would prove a troubled one. But what i considered the weakest part of this movie and tombstone as well. The dreaded buscadero sinks costners wyatt earp true west.
All of this being said, i think wyatt earp with kevin costner, alongside tombstone with kurt russell, are the two classics and pure fun movies when it comes to trying to capture the legend of wyatt earp. On reaching fremont street i saw virgil earp, wyatt earp, morgan earp and doc holliday, in the center of the street, all armed. Mar 30, 2020 wyatt earp was a lawman and and alleged horse thief. Wyatt earp is too long, too boring, too true, but in fact it is the only earp movie that tries to do justice to time, place, and historical facts. This is the truth about wyatt earp s role in the movie industry. Wyatt berry stapp earp was born on march 19, 1848, the fourth child of nicholas porter earp and his second wife, virginia ann cooksey. Feb 27, 2020 thanks in no small part to his enduring pop culture value and the way that cowboy guns look super cool, wyatt earp s legacy as a lawman and stonecold, pistolwhipping, american badass continues. The legend becomes fact in new wyatt earp documentary.
The movies, too, emphasize and ignore certain aspects of earps life, embellishing the details for the sake of entertainment. Dec 15, 2014 in the 1993 movie tombstone, doc holliday portrayed by actor val kilmer is depicted as a good guy at heart, helping wyatt earp to keep order and law in the dangerous old west town of tombstone, arizona. It is true that she died the following year, though the film shows her at a. Some evidence supports wyatt earp s birthplace as 406 s.
Wyatt and doc actually parted ways only months after the events in tombstone. After retiring from his career as a criminal defense lawyer, he took up the task of ferreting out the truth surrounding the life and times of wyatt earp. Why tombstone and wyatt earp were released six months apart. Jun 24, 2014 kevin costners wyatt earp came out 20 years ago today, just six months after tombstone, and hollywood was barely big enough for both of them. Frontier marshal, an adoration and ed bartholomews selfpublished twovolume work an attempt to debunk the whole earp legend. Logically, 1946s my darling clementine should be the most accurate telling of the gunfight behind the o. Its a cliche of wyatt earp movies that doc holliday played here by. Opening narration the ballad of tex mckay, acclaimed in song as the drivingest hogger of the old santa fe railroad, was like most of the fables about cowhand and railroad heroes had not much poetry and very little truth. Not only was he the stuff of movies, but he shaped the stuff that occurred in movies as a hollywood consultant. One excellent account of earps life that includes a detailed, very balanced view of the man and whatever truth about wyatt earp we will find, is wyatt earp. Wyatt did marry josephine marcus in later life and they moved to hollywood where earp became friends with early cowboy actors. The absolute best historically accurate westerns true west. Americas most famous vigilante wasnt american myths wyatt earp famously delivered justice the american wayexcept its all a lie, says biographer andrew isenberg. He and his waspy, east coast cronies controlled the fledgling movie.
Wyatt earp was a prostituteloving con man and not the. However, in the real earp family there were quite a few more siblings. The truth about wyatt earps role in the movie industry. Why have earp chroniclers pursued private agendas that promote their own point of view rather than exploring the truth of earps life. Most historically accurate film about ok corral gunfight at. The lawrence kasdandirected wyatt earp boasted a similarly impressive cast. Nov 21, 2017 well, imho for what its worth, tombstone was the better movie.
He presents here solid evidence, based on old newspaper accounts, public records, documents buried in museums, state and national archives and. The earps and the cowboys continued their vendetta, of course, and the 1993 film does a pretty good job of staying true to the story of wyatt earp as avenger. Most wyatt earp films are pretty much straightforward. And it could hardly be farther from the truth, writes historian andrew c.
Directed by lawrence kasdan, this epic version of the legendary western sheriffgunslingers life story stars kevin costner as earp, who lived from 1848 to 1929. Wyatt earp was born march 19th, 1848 in monmouth, illinois, a city which today is mostly known for being in the same state as chicago, and relocated with his family a year later to pella, iowa, a town not famous for being in the same state as anything. Laughlin only wyatt earp could tell the story that so many people think they know. Wyatt earp was a prostituteloving con man and not the hero. So, in choosing the absolute best historically accurate westerns. After the 30second shootout, the gun smoke cleared the empty lot, but there would be more. It is a fictionalized account of an actual old west event, the slaying of beautiful singer dora hand in dodge city, kansas, when earp was a deputy there. Aug 25, 2017 in most of the 25plus movies that depict earp, the story begins on that day when our hero accepted his first job as a trail town deputy. Written by jimmy anderson plot summary add synopsis. Youd be doing me a favor if you called me wyatt or.
Wyatt earp tells the truth behind the legend the laughlin. Earp did not leave his family in illinois to seek excitement on the fabled frontier. Wyatt earp is a 1994 american biographical western film directed, produced, and cowritten by. Interestingly enough, costner was involved in both wyatt earp movies. Thanks in no small part to his enduring pop culture value and the way that cowboy guns look super cool, wyatt earps legacy as a lawman and stonecold. A few tell the story from points of view different from earps but this movie concentrates on the location of the whole story. Its a rambling, unfocused biography of wyatt earp kevin costner, starting when hes a kid and following his development from an awkward wouldbe lawyer into a slick gunslinger.
Its obvious that the movie s intentions are serious. Only wyatt earp 1994, starring kevin costner and directed by lawrence kasdan, reveals the truth, the whole truth. Jan 22, 2018 logically, 1946s my darling clementine should be the most accurate telling of the gunfight behind the o. But since dodge city was both a cow town and a railroad town, marshal wyatt earp occasionally became entangled. It wasnt until wyatt earps death that the world recognized him as one of the last, great frontier lawman. The abiding influence of wyatt earp on john wayne american. Reviews reel american history films list lehigh university. The movie shows us the good times and the bad times of one of the wests most famous individuals. Mar 31, 2015 mary doria russell digs for truth in the american myth of wyatt earp and doc holliday. For entertainment value, it may be the best film on the subject, but it aint history.
The story of wyatt earp as he interacts and battles other famous figures of. In the movie we meet three earp brothers, wyatt played by kurt russell, virgil played by sam elliott, and morgan played by bill paxton. It turns out the shootout didnt even happen at a corral. Wyatt earp raises an eyebrow as he reads details from an unbelievable account of his life in a newspaper. But when the hagiography is stripped away, some hard nuggets of truth remain. Earp, the great nephew of the famous lawman, portrays his uncle in a twoact play around. I then met billy allen, and we walked through the o. Wyatt earp is an old west lawman who became immortalized after the firefight at the o. Wyatt never had any fears that the film might lose out to kasdans movie. Elements of the wyatt earptombstone legend took years to align, like.
The book helped spawn movies and tv series about earp, starring. Mary doria russell digs for truth in the american myth of wyatt earp and doc holliday. Corral, since wyatt earp shared his memories with friend and director john ford. To exert control over this movies look, costner and director lawrence kasdan insisted that the outlaws in wyatt earp wear drab browns, like in. He did not learn of hollidays death until seven years later. The life and legend of wyatt earp ballad and truth tv. The 10 best movies about wyatt earp and doc holliday taste. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by movie quotes. In one of its many instances of dramatic license, the movie depicts hand as earps sweetheart. In the battle of the western biopics, does tombstone or wyatt earp emerge victorious.
Wyatt earp was a prostituteloving con man and not the hero vigilante as he is portrayed in movies, new book claims. Meeting wyatt earp leaves a lasting impression on john wayne. Wyatt earp 18481929 was a wild west frontiersmen best known for his participation in a notorious gunfight at the o. Wyatt earp is a 1994 american biographical western film directed, produced, and cowritten by lawrence kasdan, with dan gordon. Attention was paid to the little things, like holsters for one. Published in 1997, tefertillers book is extremely well researched and makes fascinating reading. Dec 10, 2019 chronic cystitis, according to history. The legend becomes fact in new wyatt earp documentary and with him came the west explores the truth behind hollywoods favorite cowboy by sam russek, fri.
He was named after his fathers commanding officer in the mexicanamerican war, captain wyatt berry stapp, of the 2th company illinois mounted volunteers. Virgil earp was ambushed and morgan earp assassinated. It stars kevin costner in the title role as the lawman of the same name, and features an ensemble cast that includes gene hackman, mark harmon, michael madsen, bill pullman, dennis quaid, isabella rossellini, tom. Opening narration so long as old man clanton confined his rustling and outlawing to the empire in southeast arizona, he had only wyatt earp and the tombstone vigilantes to oppose him. The small screen also embraced the heroic version of earp, most notably in the series the life and legend of wyatt earp, which ran from 1955 to 1961. Impressive but uninviting, wyatt earp is easier to admire from a distance than pull up a chair and enjoy closeup. Why tombstone and wyatt earp were released six months. But when the gang started raiding mexico for cattle and silver, it became an international matter for washington to deal with. The story of wyatt earp as he interacts and battles other famous figures of the wild west era. Earp practically had hollywood scripts coursing through his veins.
Wyatt earp was a lawman and and alleged horse thief. Things like that bother me when seeing a supposedly historically accurate film. Oct 21, 2019 tombstone and wyatt earp were two bigbudget western biopics released within six months of each other, but which movie is the best. Wyatt berry stapp earp was born in monmouth, illinois, on march 19. The absolute best historically accurate westerns true. Wyatt was there, and orourke never got lynched by that angry mob. This is a long journey, in a threehour film that needs better pacing. Earp went on to live in alaska, idaho, colorado, and california among other places.