Tombstone (1993)

	Directed by: George P. Cosmatos	COUNTRY USA GENRE Western NORWEGIAN TITLE Tombstone RUNNING TIME 130 minutes
	Produced by: James Jacks Sean Daniel Bob Misiorowski
	Written by: Kevin Jarre

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Wyatt Earp	Kurt Russell
Doc Holliday	Val Kilmer	½
Virgil Earp	Sam Elliott	½
Morgan Earp	Bill Paxton	½
"Curly Bill" Brocius	Powers Boothe
Johnny Ringo	Michael Biehn
Henry Hooker	Charlton Heston	-
Billy Breakenridge	Jason Priestly	-
Sheriff Johnny Behan	Jon Tenney	-
Ike Clanton	Stephen Lang
Billy Clanton	Thomas Haden Church
Josephine Marcus	Dana Delany	½
Allie Earp	Paula Malcomson	-
Louisa Earp	Lisa Collins	-
Tom McLaury	John Philbin	-
Mattie Blaylock	Dana Wheeler-Nicholson	-
Big Nose Kate	Joanna Pacula	-
Sherman McMasters	Michael Rooker
Marshal Fred White	Harry Carey Jr.	-
Johnny Tyler	Billy Bob Thornton	-
Frank Stilwell	Tomas Arana	-
Frank McLaury	Robert John Burke	-
Mr. Fabian	Billy Zane	-
Mayor John Clum	Terry O'Quinn	-
Narrator	Robert Mitchum	-

Review

Of the two films released within six months of each other about the life and times of American West legend Wyatt Earp, this star-studded, classically told version is an easy pick. It is a much less sprawling, much less indulgent, and much better proportioned film than Kevin Costner's critical and box-office failure Wyatt Earp. In this version directed by George P. Cosmatos, we jump into the action as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (played by Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer) reunite just before going to the boomtown of Tombstone in 1879, a year or two before that famous shootout at O.K. Corral. Tombstone succeeds quite well at the tough task of introducing its plethora of historical characters, many of whom play a secondary or inconsequential role in the story that unfolds, but for whom the filmmakers still manage to give some sort of elbowroom. And for most of its running time, Tombstone recreates that bustling, disorderly feel this world is thought to have had. Granted, the film never leaves its Hollywood roots, and you're always aware that you're watching a movie, but it's an entertaining and economical viewing experience which never tries to be something it isn't. The film is arguably better cast than acted, although that might just be the trick when you're including as many characters as this. Kurt Russell is a solid Wyatt Earp and does among his best work here, but it is Val Kilmer who steals the show with his performance as a sickly, condescending Doc Holliday.