Tombstone (1993)
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In the lawless Arizona Territory of the 1880s, a retired peace officer and his allies must confront a violent outlaw gang.
The story
In 1879, the outlaw gang known as the Cowboys, led by "Curly Bill" Brocius, causes chaos in a Mexican town. In the nearby town of Tombstone, Arizona, retired peace officer Wyatt Earp reunites with his brothers, Virgil and Morgan, and their friend Doc Holliday. As they attempt to establish a presence in the booming territory, they encounter the lawless Cowboys. Tensions escalate following a series of violent encounters, forcing Wyatt to decide whether to intervene in the local lawlessness. The film follows the escalating conflict between the lawmen and the outlaws in a high-stakes environment where the line between justice and survival becomes increasingly blurred.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1879, the outlaw gang known as the Cowboys, led by "Curly Bill" Brocius, causes chaos in a Mexican town. In Tombstone, Arizona, retired peace officer Wyatt Earp reunites with his brothers, Virgil and Morgan, and their friend Doc Holliday. They soon face the Cowboys, leading to a tense standoff. After a series of skirmishes, including a gunfight at the O.K. Corral where several Cowboys are killed, the situation escalates. Wyatt's brother Morgan is killed, and Virgil is left injured. Wyatt eventually forms a posse to hunt down the remaining Cowboys. After a bloody confrontation in a riverside forest, Wyatt and his allies eliminate most of the gang, though some escape. Doc Holliday, whose health is failing, eventually dies of his illness. The film concludes with the fate of the remaining characters: the Cowboy Gang is destroyed, and Wyatt and his love interest, Josephine, begin a new life together.
- First release year
- 1993
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- George P. Cosmatos
- Writers
- Kevin Jarre · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kurt Russell · Wyatt Earp; Val Kilmer · Doc Holliday; Michael Biehn · none; Powers Boothe · none; Dana Delany · Josephine; Sam Elliott · none; Bill Paxton · none; Charlton Heston · none
- Genres
- Western; Action; Drama
- Themes
- Justice; Loyalty; Survival
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Dramatic
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Historical; Action
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on real events including the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride.
- Reception
- The film was a financial success and received generally positive critical reception, becoming a cult classic. It was praised for its action, direction, and particularly Val Kilmer's performance.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 76% · scale: percentage · review count: 51
- Awards and nominations
- Best Male Performance · MTV Movie Awards · Nomination; Most Desirable Male · MTV Movie Awards · Nomination; Best Classic Film Home Media Release · Saturn Awards · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot primarily on location in Arizona.; All mustaches in the movie were real except for one.; Val Kilmer practiced for a long time on his quick-draw speed.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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