There’s a historical inaccuracy in Kurt Russell’sTombstonethat actually helped it win the battle against Kevin Costner’s more faithfulWyatt Earp. Released just a year apart from one another, in 1993 and 1994,TombstoneandWyatt Earphave had a rivalryfor years. Since they both deal with the same true story of Wyatt Earp’s time in the Arizona Territory in the 1880s, they’re often compared. While each film has its own merits and drawbacks, there’s one area thatWyatt EarpdefeatedTombstonein, yet it didn’t make it a better film: historical accuracy.
Tombstone Cast & Character Guide
The cast of Tombstone was a key element in bringing the iconic Western to life and featured many famous actors. Here’s who played who in the movie.
Much ofWyatt Earp’s advantage overTombstonein terms of historical accuracy comes from how much it depicts.Wyatt Earpfollows Wyatt’s life from the time he was a teenager until he was nearly at death’s door, whileTombstoneonly shows about two years in the famous lawman’s life.The key historical inaccuracy that gaveTombstonethe advantage, however, is from a scene both films included: the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The detail thatTombstonelargely ignored made it a much more interesting scene, and proved that sometimes creative liberties do result in a more engaging story.
Tombstone’s Gunfight At The O.K. Corral Wasn’t As Accurate As Wyatt Earp’s In One Big Way
ThoughTombstoneis based on a true story, and it largely stays faithful to the history of the Earp brothers' fight against the Cowboys, it had one major inconsistency thatWyatt Earpdidn’t.During the historic gunfight at the O.K. Corral,Tombstonedepicted the corral as a very large lot, whileWyatt Earphad a more realistic representation of a very small and cramped area. A historian explained thatWyatt Earp’s gunfight at the O.K. Corral was more accurate, as the real area was only about 15 feet across. Though it was more accurate,Wyatt Earp’s shootout wasn’t nearly as good.
Tombstone’s Gunfight Scene Is Much Better Than Wyatt Earp’s
The gunfight at the O.K. Corral may have been more accurate inWyatt Earp, but it was much more entertaining inTombstone, and the historical inaccuracy was a big reason why.The larger scale ofTombstone’s shootout makes it feel more exciting and grand, like a set piece in a classic Western movie.Wyatt Earp’s shootout, on the other hand, was claustrophobic and somewhat anti-climactic. The effects of each movie’s scale can best be seen in the duration of the fights: the actual shooting inTombstonelasted over 90 seconds, whileWyatt Earpwas less than a minute from the first draw to the last shot.
There are other reasons whyTombstone’s shootout is better thanWyatt Earp’s in addition to the size of the Corral itself. For example, the buildup and suspense inTombstonewas much more exciting.From the shots of everyone looking each other over to Wyatt’s realization that Doc Holliday had started the fight with a wink,Tombstoneperfectly set up the bloodshed that was to come.Tombstonealso had more memorable dialogue thanWyatt Earp, such asDoc Holliday saying “You’re a daisy if you do,“which is actually a historical fact thatWyatt Earpdidn’t include.
Wyatt Earp definitely has its virtues, but Tombstone still cemented itself as the more iconic Western, historical inaccuracies and all.
WhileTombstone’s gunfight at the O.K. Corral was a more entertaining scene,Wyatt Earp’s also accomplished some things that its predecessor didn’t.Wyatt Earpis a more grounded and realistic portrayal of the same events thatTombstonefocuses on, including the gunfight. It also delves deeper into the context of both the Earps and the aftermath of the O.K. Corral thanTombstonehad time for. In short,Wyatt Earpdefinitely has its virtues, butTombstonestill cemented itself as the more iconic Western, historical inaccuracies and all.
Tombstone
Cast
Tombstone chronicles legendary marshal Wyatt Earp and his brothers as they seek fortune in a prosperous mining town. Forced to confront a gang threatening the community, Earp joins forces with the infamous Doc Holliday, highlighting a tense battle between lawmen and outlaws in the American West.
