Today’s quick review: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster), the marshal of Dodge City, makes an unlikely friend when he saves the life of Doc Holliday (Kirk Douglas), an alcoholic gambler suffering from tuberculosis. Accompanied by Holliday, Earp travels to Tombstone, Arizona, to help his brother Virgil (John Hudson) deal with Ike Clanton (Lyle Bettger), a cattle rustler causing trouble in the town.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral is a Western drama based on a true story. Burt Lancaster stars as Wyatt Earp, a devoted lawman who always pursues justice, even at great personal cost. Kirk Douglas co-stars as Doc Holliday, a gambler living on the edge of the law who nevertheless becomes Earp’s closest friend. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral augments a naturally dramatic plot with skillful storytellinng, but its particular style will not suit everyone.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral has a knack for establishing conflict. The movie takes liberties with the historical record to maneuver its characters into place for the climax it wants. Along the way, it carves out several worthwhile character arcs, including Hollidiay’s tumultuous relationship with Kate (Jo Van Fleet), Earp’s conflict between his desires and his duty, and the hesitation Billy Clanton (Dennis Hopper) has over following his brother Ike.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral has solid craftsmanship, but several aspects of it are hit or miss. Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas suit their roles well, but viewers who are not already fans may not get as much out of their performances. The movie can be heavy-handed in the way it streamlines events and injects artificial drama. The tone may also feel strange to modern audiences, a sober story offset by a few fanciful touches.
Fans of classic Westerns should give Gunfight at the O.K. Corral a shot. How it compares to other entries into its genre will come down to taste, but you will get the most out of it if you enjoy heavy drama but not moral ambiguity. Anyone looking for a lighter, more adventurous Western should try elsewhere.
For a somewhat more factual account of the gunfight and its aftermath, check out Hour of the Gun. For a more expansive rendition of the same events, try Tombstone.
[7.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050468/). I give it a 7.0 for well-orchestrated conflict.