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 the workmen are laying track for the railroad, a rail is dropped into place using rail tongs, then 2 workmen immediately begin hammering in the spikes. No one tries to measure or position the rail properly before attaching it to the tie. Plus, the end of the rail is right at the edge of the tie they are they are nailing it to, meaning the end of the next rail placed would be unsupported.

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Quotes

Doc Holliday: All of you can kiss my rebel dick.

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Connections

Referenced in Knocked Up (2007)

User Reviews

Reassessing an underrated masterpiece.

I have to thank Kevin Costner for taking me West. "Wyatt Earp" led me to pick up a copy of the early Earp bio by Stuart Lake while working in Canada, and I was surprised to find photos of the actual historical people tipped inside. The resemblance of the actors to those they portrayed impressed me.

I continued to research. I went to Tombstone and stayed at a nearby ranch. The town itself declined Costner's office to rebuild it with accuracy, preferring the leave things as they are (very touristy). The gunfight was actually held in the street, etc. My research matched at least striking physical/type casting for 17 characters, from major characters (the Earps and their wives/women) to the Cowboys, Beehan, Doc Holiday, his Kate, and Bat Masterson. Linden Ashby is the most striking doppelganger; indeed, he seems to be a physical reincarnation of Morgan Earp. Dennis Quaid lost some 40 pounds or so for the role of Doc Holiday and his resemblance to the TB-plagued gambler from Valdosta, Georgia is eerie as well.

Costner caught a lot of flack for this film; in fact, few critics noted the historical sense that he achieved. Granted, some cuts are made in time frame/continuity to speed plot along (i.e. timing of attacks on Morgan and Virgil), and the film is lengthy. I learned that the Cowboy/Earp feud was not mere ill-will, but that the strife represented political differences and clashing economic interests, as well as the "theft" of a lover. The old diaries and biographies are fascinating! I learned that Morgan Earp told Allie Earp something like, "I want to leave Tombstone and never come back" moments before he was shot to death.

Of note, Johnny Beehan's partner in the Dexter Corral in Tombstone was a man named "John Dunbar". This was Costner's character's name in "Dances with Wolves". Go figure. Read more about it! Granted Lake embellished Earp's image, but the place, the times and the issues are fascinating.