Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John Sturges

Writers:

Leon Uris (writer)
George Scullin (article)

Release Date:

30 May 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Lawman Wyatt Earp and outlaw Doc Holliday form an unlikely alliance which culminates in their participation in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Plot Keywords:

Doc Holliday | Showdown | OK Corral | Gunfight | Blackjack

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Marshal Wyatt Earp
Kirk Douglas	...	Dr. John 'Doc' Holliday
Rhonda Fleming	...	Laura Denbow
Jo Van Fleet	...	Kate Fisher
John Ireland	...	Johnny Ringo
Lyle Bettger	...	Ike Clanton
Frank Faylen	...	Sheriff Cotton Wilson
Earl Holliman	...	Deputy Sheriff Charles 'Charlie' Bassett
Ted de Corsia	...	Shanghai Pierce - Cattleman
Dennis Hopper	...	Billy Clanton
Whit Bissell	...	John P. Clum - 'Tombstone Epitaph' Editor
George Mathews	...	John Shanssey - Griffin Saloonkeeper
John Hudson	...	Virgil Earp
DeForest Kelley	...	Morgan Earp
Martin Milner	...	James 'Jimmy' Earp

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Netherlands:6 | UK:A (original rating) (cut) | USA:Not Rated | UK:PG (1988) (video rating) | Ireland:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | South Korea:12 (2006) | Finland:K-16 | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Agoura Ranch, Agoura, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Much of this film was shot at the famous "Old Tucson" facility, not far from the real Tombstone. However, its "town street" set was used surprisingly as Fort Griffin, Texas, in the opening reels, while later Tombstone street scenes were shot in southern California, on the same Paramount Ranch set that was later used as Virginia City, Nevada, on TV's "Bonanza" (1959).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Doc Holiday is at the bar seemingly empty handed before he kills Ed Bailey with a knife. If you watch his right hand you see him pick up the knife from the bar rail and then raise it to his collar as if that's where he had it concealed.

Quotes:

Wyatt Earp: Look, Holliday, as long as I'm the law here, not one of those cowpokes is going to cross that deadline with a gun. I don't care if his name *is* Shanghai Pierce.
Dr. John 'Doc' Holliday: Well spoken. I'll repeat those words at your funeral.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Monty Python's Flying Circus: Salad Days (#3.7)" (1972)

Soundtrack:

The Fountain in the Park

A Great Cast Is Reason Enough To See This Film

No, this is not the way it really happened at the Ok Corral in Tucson but since when has Hollywood ever been totally accurate and true to history? The chemistry between Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster works extremely well. This movie works because of great stars and a solid cast of great actors. The score is outstanding featuring Frankie Lane singing the title song. The photography is very realistic compared to most westerns of that era. The gunfight at the Ok Corral is worth waiting for. If you like westerns, you will especially like The Gunfight At Ok Corral.