John Ford, who in his youth had known the real Wyatt Earp, claimed the way the OK Corral gunfight was staged in this film was the way it was explained to him by Earp himself, with a few exceptions. Ford met Earp through Harry Carey.

Who were the famous friends of Wyatt Earp?

McLean, Bat Masterson, and Neal Brown. Masterson was a close friend of Wyatt and spent much time in Tombstone before returning to Kansas in 1882. Luke Short, another friend, and part-time lawman and part-time gambler, spent time in Tombstone and left a victim in Boothill.

Did Wyatt Earp ever go to Hollywood?

His reputation as a scoundrel seemed secure. In 1914, while living in Los Angeles, Earp took a step toward repairing his image by visiting Paramount Studios—the first of what would be many visits to Hollywood. He charmed Raoul Walsh and Charlie Chaplin, regaling them with largely invented tales of his past.

Which movie is more historically accurate Tombstone or Wyatt Earp?

The showdown scenes between Doc Holliday and Johnny Ringo in Tombstone are arguably some of the movie's best moments. But you won't see those in Wyatt Earp — or much of Ringo at all. That's likely more historically accurate than not.

How accurate was the movie Wyatt Earp?

Contrastingly, Costner portrayed Earp with a dedication to historical accuracy. That's not to say he and Kasdan didn't embellish anything (they did, of course), but Costner plays the part like a man conscious this character is a real-life figure rooted in US history.

John Ford on Wyatt Earp

Did John Wayne ever know Wyatt Earp?

Bottom line: Earp and Wayne never met. Anything Wayne knew about the real Earp came to him secondhand from Ford during their 25-year working relationship. Their encounter is only a charming Hollywood fable. Nonetheless, Earp and Wayne did share several qualities.

Did John Wayne and Wyatt Earp know each other?

He was said to have been on the set during the production of the movie, Wild Bill Hickok, in 1923. Five years later, John Wayne apparently met Wyatt Earp on a film set. They got talking and Earp related many of his hair-raising exploits to the actor known as “The Duke”.

Is it true that Wyatt Earp was never shot?

Wyatt, Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, and others formed a federal posse that killed three more Cowboys whom they thought responsible. Wyatt was never wounded in any of the gunfights, unlike his brothers Virgil and Morgan or Doc Holliday, which added to his mystique after his death.

Who is the most accurate portrayal of Doc Holliday?

Many film critics and historians agree the portrayal of Doc Holliday in the 1994 film "Wyatt Earp" is one of the most realistic interpretations of him. He was tall Georgia man with a southern drawl and was very ill.

What actor was the best Wyatt Earp?

Kurt Russell

Great performance as the stoic Earp in the neoclassic Tombstone. Gave us great lines like "are you gonna do something or just stand there and bleed". Val Kilmer steals the show as Doc Holliday, but Russell's performance is the backbone of the film.

Did Wild Bill Hickok ever meet Wyatt Earp?

In the book, "Frontier Marshal," on page 43, the author Stuart Lake quotes Wyatt Earp as saying he met Wild Bill in Kansas City, in 1871.

Did Billy the Kid ever meet Wyatt Earp?

Billy the Kid Meets Wyatt Earp in Jerome, Arizona.

Did Wyatt Earp have any kids?

Earp, who had no children, was the last surviving participant of the OK Corral gunfight. In his later years, he'd consulted on Hollywood westerns and gotten to know various actors and directors. His funeral was attended by such celebrities as Western film star Tom Mix, who served as a pallbearer.

What is a famous quote from Wyatt Earp?

Wyatt Earp Quote: Fast is fine, but accuracy is final. In a gun fight. You need to take your time in a hurry. Wyatt Earp Quote: Fast is fine, but accuracy is final.

What was Wyatt Earp's reputation?

Wyatt Earp the literary character is a Stoic hero to be emulated in many ways. Wyatt Earp the historical figure was a pimp, a cheat, a claim-jumper, probably a horse thief, and a cold-blooded murderer. He was also a low-rent con artist who tried to sell people painted rocks he claimed were gold nuggets.

Who was Wyatt Earp's first wife?

Movies like "Tombstone" have only cemented the legend in our minds, but who was the man behind the legend? A lot of the details are few and far-between, but we do know that Earp's one and only marriage was to Urilla Sutherland, who sadly died just a few months after their wedding.

Was Doc Holliday intelligent?

Young Holliday was considered very intelligent and excelled in his studies. In 1872 at the age of 20, Holliday received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in Philadelphia.

How many confirmed kills does Doc Holliday have?

The only men he is known to have killed are Mike Gordon in 1879; probably Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury in Tombstone; possibly Frank Stilwell in Tucson; and William Allen in Colorado. Some scholars argue that Holliday may have encouraged the stories about his reputation, although there is no evidence he did.

Why was Holliday called Doc?

He died in bed.” This man's real name was John Henry Holliday. He was called “Doc” because he was a doctor of dental surgery, a dentist. But he was best known as a gunfighter and gambler, a person who plays games of chance for money. Many people who knew him considered him the most dangerous man in the Old West.

Who cried at Wyatt Earp's funeral?

In the film Tombstone, starring Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, during the closing credits reference is made to the fact that "Tom Mix wept" at Wyatt Earp's funeral.

Who was considered the fastest gun in the West?

Bob Munden was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as “The Fastest Man with a Gun Who Ever Lived”. One journalist reckoned that if Munden had been at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881, the gunfight would have been over in 5 to 10 seconds. He could whip out his Colt .

Who was the most feared gunslinger in the Old West?

One — John Wesley Hardin

Hardin was one of the most notorious gunslingers of the Wild West. He is said to have killed over 40 men, including his first victim at 15. He was known for his quick draw and his willingness to shoot first and ask questions later.

Was Doc Holliday Wyatt Earp's best friend?

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday Weren't That Close

It's true that Holliday and Earp were friends. The two fought side by side in Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881's famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. But they'd met only four years earlier, while passing through Texas.

Did John Wayne copy Wyatt Earp?

John Wayne later told Hugh O'Brian that he based his Western lawman walk, talk and persona to his acquaintance with Wyatt Earp, who was good friends with Mix. "I knew him ... I often thought of Wyatt Earp when I played a film character.

Was Wyatt Earp respected?

As a Kansas peace officer, Earp was respected more than feared, making him an effective lawman. After the layers of legend and myth are peeled back, the Wyatt Earp of history remains a strong, compelling symbol of America's frontier heritage.