Wyatt Earp (1994)

Wyatt Earp is a movie about a man and his family. The movie shows us the good times and the bad times of one of the West's most famous individuals.

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers:

Dan Gordon, Lawrence Kasdan

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Wyatt Earp
Dennis Quaid	...	Doc Holliday
Gene Hackman	...	Nicholas Earp
David Andrews	...	James Earp
Linden Ashby	...	Morgan Earp
Jeff Fahey	...	Ike Clanton
Joanna Going	...	Josie Marcus
Mark Harmon	...	Sheriff Johnny Behan
Michael Madsen	...	Virgil Earp
Catherine O'Hara	...	Allie Earp
Bill Pullman	...	Ed Masterson
Isabella Rossellini	...	Big Nose Kate
Tom Sizemore	...	Bat Masterson
JoBeth Williams	...	Bessie Earp
Mare Winningham	...	Mattie Blaylock

Storyline

Wyatt Earp is a movie about a man and his family. The movie shows us the good times and the bad times of one of the West's most famous individuals.

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Plot Keywords:

wyatt earp | marriage | marshal | gunslinger | fistfight | 

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Taglines:

The epic story of love and adventure in a lawless land.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Romance | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for strong gunfights, some language and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Wyatt Earp - Das Leben einer Legende

Filming Locations:

777 Ranch, Hermosa, South Dakota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$63,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$25,052,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Tig Productions, Kasdan Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

191 min 212 min (extended edition)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally conceived as a six-hour mini-series.

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Goofs

When Wyatt is refereeing the boxing fight, there are American flags present that show all fifty stars, which obviously was not around at the time.

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Quotes

Frank Stillwell: No-o-o-o...!
Wyatt Earp: [shoots him] ... yes!

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Connections

Featured in U.S. Marshals: Justice Under the Star (1998)

User Reviews

A very misunderstood and under-appreciated film

"Nothing counts more than blood... the rest are just strangers," speaks Wyatt's father at the beginning of the film--the most important line perhaps in the movie, with the exception of Wyatt's own at the end "Some say it didn't happen that way," commenting upon a flashback recounting his brand of law and justice in the wild cattle town of Dodge City.

I wholeheartedly admit the film is long--but so are many other great films. I also admit that it is not the shoot 'em up Tombstone is, but this film is a far greater one, a character study of a man whose innocence is laid to rest by the harsh wilderness of both the American West and human nature. By the end of this movie, Wyatt is a used up and bitter man, and I would argue that this film was never meant to be a heroic portrayal of an individual, only a dark and complicated one. It reminds me thus of the greatest of character portrayals, Raging Bull--though I'm sure the parallel isn't obvious.

I probably am more forgiving of this film since I like Westerns, dark dramatic stories, and admittedly uneven plots, because the characters usually are so great in them. This one is no different, and was likely made for a viewer like me, and not the mainstream audience.

It's very ambitious, and successful, I believe, on its artistic merits. Whether it's "entertainment" for the masses, well that's another story altogether, and that story's name is probably "Tombstone."