Released on May 30, 1957, the star-driven Western Gunfight at the O.K. Corral was one of that year’s top 10 commercial hits, grossing $4.7 million at the box-office. (It was then re-released several times, always successfully, see below).
Grade: B+
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Gunfight at the O.K. Corral/Last Trai from Gun Hill 1963 film poster
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Of the many versions of the October 26, 1881, O.K. Corral shootout in Tombstone, Arizona, this may be the most impressive one.
Burt Lancaster plays Wyatt Earp, the renowned lawman, while Kirk Douglas is the gambler and gunfighter Doc Holliday.
The two men meet when Earp discovers that Holiday is being held on a murder charge and set up for a lynching.
After saving him, the action shifts to Dodge City, Kansas, where Earp is marshal and Holiday on his side. Later, in Tombstone, Arizona, Wyatt’s brother Virgil is city marshal, and Wyatt confronts the Clanton-McLowery outlaw gang
The film concerns the tensions lasting through the many months leading up to the famous battle, which n actuality lasted less than two minutes.
Scripted by novelist Leon Uris, from a magazine story by George Scullin, the story involves two parallel plot-lines: The vendetta against Holliday and the efforts of Earp to bring the Clanton-McLowery gang to justice.
Woven into the proceedings are Earp’s and Holliday’s romantic dalliances with lady gambler Laura Denbow (Rhonda Fleming) and Kate Fisher (Jo Van Fleet), whose switch in affections from Holiday to outlaw Johnny Ringo (John Ireland) helps bring the bloody climax.
Director John Sturges takes some dramatic license with various events and characters, including the ultimate confrontation. The actual gunfight, October 26, 1881, did not take place in open space like the corral, but in adjacent little street. It lasted less than 30 seconds, while in the film it stretches to over 10 minutes.
The cast includes Earl Holliman as Charles Bassett, Dennis Hopper as Billy Clanton, Kenneth Tobey as Bat Masterson, Lee Van Cleef as Ed Bailey, Jack Elam as Tom McLowery, and John Hudson, DeForest Kelley and Martin Milner as Virgil, Morgan, and James Earp, respectively.
Sturges would produce and direct a more factual account of the story a decade later, entitled Hour of the Gun, starring James Garner, Jason Robards, Jr., and Robert Ryan.
Dimitri Tiomkin’s melodic score and a song sung by Frankie Laine provide the transitions of scenes.
Oscar Nominations: 2
Sound Recording: George Dutton
Film Editing: Warren Low
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
Sayonara won the Sound Oscar and The Bridge on the River Kwai the Editing.
Credits:
Directed by John Sturges
Screenplay by Leon Uris, based on “The Killer,” 1954 article Holiday Magazine
by George Scullin
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Cinematography Charles B. Lang Jr. (color)
Edited by Warren Low
Music by Dimitri Tiomkin; lyrics by Ned Washington main title: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral sung by Frankie Laine
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date: May 29, 1957 (NYC)
Running time: 122 minutes
Budget $2 million
Box office $10.7 million (including re-rleases)
