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GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (1957) (***)

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The title tells you straight out what historical episode this Western deals with. The film is quintessential 1950s Hollywood — bright colors, high melodrama and such a squeaky clean Wyatt Earp that you’d think he was visiting from the cast of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. What makes the film fun and not something to laugh at from a 21st Century perspective is the performance of Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday and his interaction with Burt Lancaster’s Earp.

The film develops the unexpected friendship between moral lawman Earp and killing gambler Holliday. The film emphasizes a Western moral code that probably only existed in the movies. Earp kicks off the friendship when he rescues Holliday from a lynch mob. Throughout the film Holliday struggles with his raging desire for revenge and his promise to Earp to not kill anybody.

Douglas’ performance is highly dramatic, but entirely engaging. Once you come to grips with the film’s emotional rollercoaster, you just get swept along for the ride. Lancaster is perfectly cast as the solidly moral marshal, however I could not get out of my head his more provocative and emotionally engaging performance in the later and much more thoughtful Western, ULZANA’S RAID. Yet, the odd couple pairing of Earp and Holliday works. Plus, the film is really Holliday’s story anyway.

Two interesting supporting players may be of interest as well. Dennis Hopper (EASY RIDER) plays the youngest Clanton brother. Earp’s fatherly talks with the wanna-be outlaw Billy are the most cheesy ‘50ish scenes in the film. Also DeForest Kelley — Bones from STAR TREK — plays Wyatt’s brother Morgan.

This version of the historical icons is more accurate than John Ford’s MY DARLING CLEMENTINE, but not nearly as interesting or engaging. GUNFIGHT isn’t as slick or as fun as the most recent version of the tale, TOMBSTONE, either. As a whole though, the film is a fun adventure with charismatic leads. It’s an interesting time capsule of its day and age as well.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks