Review of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) by Tonypolito — 03 Jun 2010

Good acting, good viewing, good fibbing.

Good acting because when Lee Van Cleef ('Bad' in "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly") and Dennis Hopper are filling out third-tier bit parts, you know the boat's loaded with talented craftsmanship. Watching Bert Lancaster (as Earp) and Kirk Douglas (as Holliday) deliver strong is the best reason to see this film. Even the no-names and the "oh-I-remember-him" players are on-point.

Good viewing because Vistavision's used well here on a fairly consistently basis - and (like many mid-Century films) the Technicolor's still looking lovely and lush. When the Earp clan pow-wows at the dinner table, you simultaneously see every person, every reaction, close-up. When the stagecoach turns onto Main Street, you see the coach and all its six galloping horses. Not much in the way of Monument Valley here, but plenty of blue sky. Above average quality set-pieces and the Technicolor brings out the best in them.

Good fibbing because Leon Uris' screenplay is a work of total fiction, except for basics such as people and places. Funny, Uris was quite historical when writing "Exodus.".

Acts I & II are a 75-minute fabrication of Earp & Holliday's uneasy camaraderie, first in Fort Griffin (Texas) then in Dodge City, where Earp's the town sheriff (not really). Act III rides 'em down to Tombstone where the viewer is shown entirely inaccurate reasons as to why the Earps and Clantons have their 10-minute sunrise showdown. (Actually, it was 3pm and 30 seconds.) Even the list of Corral Gunfight participants is not historically correct.

But hey, why should a mid-Century Saturday matinee oater be bothered by truth and accuracy anyway? No DVD extras.

RECOMMENDATION: As an-above average 1950s Western, worth viewing, but not anywhere near close to a history lesson.