Dedicated Lawman Wyatt Earp (Burt Lancaster) and an infamous outlaw, struggling with a terminal illness, Doc Holliday (Kirk Douglas), form an unlikely alliance which culminates in the pair facing off against the Clanton family in the town of Tombstone, Arizona. The family are the local thugs that are widely known as being responsible for stealing cattle. A well-known American Western released over sixty years ago that tells the story of the legendary gunfight at the OK Corral.

Director: John Sturges
Writers: Leon Uris
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Jo Van Fleet, John Ireland, Lee Van Cleef

Directed by John Sturges and adapted to the big screen by Leon Uris, Gunfight at the OK Corral is loosely based on an actual gunfight that took place in the town of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881. The gunfight pitted lawmen against members of an organised group of cattle rustlers and horse thieves called the Cochise County Cowboys. While lasting less than a minute, the gunfight has been the subject of many books and films over the years, one of which being Gunfight at the OK Corral, aswell as a more historically accurate version named Hour of the Gun (1967), which covers the battle itself, as well as the aftermath.

One aspect of the film that came across as somewhat of a surprise, was the wealth action on display. In many classic American Westerns of this era, the action can often feel limited, taking a backseat to other parts of the story, but this seemed different. The picture delivered several strong action sequences which featured a multitude of fistfights and gun battles. The flick also incorporated one or two elements reminiscent of traditional spaghetti westerns, which began emerging after the release of Gunfight at the OK Corral. It’s easy to imagine that directors within that subgenre would have looked to this as a source of inspiration.

The vast majority of filming was carried out in Arizona, United States, showcasing some beautiful backdrops and striking landscapes, complemented by authentic costume and set design throughout the one-hundred and twenty-two minute runtime. Additionally, the film features a very effective soundtrack, with the song Gunfight at the OK Corral by Ned Washington and Dimitri Tiomkin, sung by Frankie Laine, being used across several key moments.

In terms of the cast, Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas commanded the majority of screentime, adopting the roles of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, respectively, with the pair having a great amount of chemistry from the first minute until the last. Elsewhere, Jo Van Fleet and Rhonda Fleming appeared as Kate Fisher and Laura Denbow, while John Ireland and Lee Van Cleef also featured, albeit in smaller roles.

All in all, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral successfully tells the story of the infamous gunfight that occurred back in 1881, featuring some very impressive pieces of action and cinematography throughout. There could be an argument for a slight reduction in runtime, with the flick lasting over two hours, but this is certainly an American Western worthy of a recommendation.

“If I’m going to die, at least let me die with the only friend I’ve ever had!”

Doc Holliday – Gunfight at the OK Corral