Hollywood turned 30 seconds into 30 minutes in some cases all over Tombstone.
The date was Wednesday, October 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona. When at 3 PM local time eight men met in what became the most famous gunfight of the old West.
"The Gunfight at the OK Corral" was the result of an ongoing feud between two factions. On one side of the feud were members of "The Cowboys of Cochise County". The group representing that faction consisted of Billy Claiborne, Brothers Ike and Billy Clanton and Brothers Frank and Tom McLaury. The other side of the feud consisted of Town Marshall Virgil Earp and two of his four Brothers appointed as Deputies Morgan and Wyatt. Along with Dentist turned Gambler and Gunfighter Doctor John H Holliday.
The famous gunfight actually lasted ONLY 30 SECONDS.
Doc Holiday had been given a short double barreled shot gun by Virgil Earp and Virgil carried Doc's cane in trade. While everyone else involved on both sides had different types of revolvers. Two Winchester 73's were still in the scabbards and never used by members of the Cowboys. According to witnesses two shots were initially heard and then both sides went into a frenzied fire fight. The question as to the source of those first two shots is still debated today. As the survivors at the hearing claimed they, or anyone associated with themselves did not fire those first two shots. However, the gunfight could only be deadly as the two group of opponents were standing approximately 8 to 10 feet from each other also according to witness testimony.
For those of my readers unfamiliar with the actual event. "The Gunfight at the OK Corral" did not take place in the famous corral, but in a very narrow lot next to "Fly's Photography Gallery" SIX DOORS WEST of the rear entrance to that infamous site.
Fly's today as an historical site!
Obviously a 30 Second Gunfight does not make for good motion picture action. This article is not about how Hollywood portrayed the people involved, or about the events that lead up to, or followed the gunfight. It is a look at how Hollywood "RE-IMAGINED" and "EXPANDED" those 30 seconds for the motion picture audience. Likewise the movie and television companies added, or subtracted participants and I will discuss them when they apply to the version I am writing about.
The first motion picture to tell the events based upon"The Gunfight at the OK Corral" did not use the actual names as its source was a novel entitled "Saint Johnson". It was written by novelist and screenwriter W.R. Burnett. The Great Depression Era motion picture had the appropriate title of "Law and Order" and was released on February 28, 1932 by Universal Pictures. The film starred Walter Huston as Marshal Frame "Saint" Johnson. The nickname "Saint" comes from his strong "Law and Order" stance. The screenplay was written by Walter's son John Huston which makes it interesting to film historians on another level. The movie also featured Harry Carey, Sr., Andy Devine and without screen credit Walter Brennan in his 10th movie appearance.
TCM describes the film's plot:
Traveling west, former peace officer Frame Johnson and his three friends arrive in Tombstone, a lawless town controlled by the three Northrup brothers. Preceded by his reputation, the town Council tries to get him to take the job of Marshal. He says he will not wear a badge again but seeing the ruthless Northrup murders he accepts. After a killing on both sides, although outnumbered, Johnson and his two remaining friends head to the OK Corral for a shoot out with the two remaining Northrups and their men.
Here is a link to the full length film "Law and Order".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YN6A-oZy4Y
The "Legend" of the events at the "OK Corral" and of "Wyatt Earp" himself were created in 1931 by author Stuart Lake two years after Wyatt had died. Unlike W.R. Burnett's "Saint Johnson" which was presented as a work of fiction. Stuart Lake claimed his book "Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshall" was a biography of the famed lawman and the complete truth. Lake further stated he had used both research and interviews with Earp's. His claims were truthful to a point as Stuart Lake added his own flourishes to the story. It should be understood that during the Depression years publishers did not have the staff, or time to verify everything submitted to them. Lake's work would spawn three motion pictures, a 1950's television show and create events that became accepted as fact. "Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal" is still the most popular biography (?) of Earp ever written.
Just a few short days prior to Wyatt Earp's death at the age of 80 on January 13, 1929. Both Wyatt and his "wife" Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp signed a contract with Stuart Lake to write this biography. Part of the contract would give Josephine and Wyatt's heirs residual income from the book sales forever. That contract would be voided by the courts in 1945 the year following Josephine Earp's death on December 19, 1944.
Everything should have gone smoothly on the biography, but apparently Josephine wanted the work to be a white washed version of Wyatt's and her own past lives. Josephine started making demands on Stuart Lake including eliminating any mention of the Prostitute Cella Ann "Mattie" Blaylock Wyatt's previous common law wife from approximately either 1871 or 1873 until 1882.
Josephine Earp was herself actually a common law wife of Wyatt's and researchers now further believe was also a prostitute like Baylock. In fact Josephine was doing everything possible to conceal her own history and certain details of her "marriage" to Wyatt from Stuart Lake and other researchers.
In 1973 the second most popular book on Wyatt Earp was published. The popularity came from its title "I Married Wyatt Earp: The Recollections of Josephine Sarah Marcus Earp". The book was alleged to be a combination of actual written material by Josephine edited together to form a complete narrative. An narrative that not only changed her martial relationship with Wyatt, but stated she was an opera singer when she first met him. The book was found to be a fraud and a hoax by it's editor Glenn G. Boyer in 1994. The photo below was on the cover of the book and Boyer claimed it was a semi-nude photograph of Josephine Earp. However, he could never prove it and picture is considered to be just another part of his hoax.
This is not to say that Stuart Lake was telling the true story either as I mentioned.
In his book Lake would invent stories about gunfights Wyatt Earp was in were he was never touched by a single bullet. Some of these thrilling gunfights took place when it was documented Wyatt was in another city, or even State at the time.
Another fabrication created by Stuart Lake appears to be the famous "Buntline Special". Lake wrote that one of those revolvers was given to Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and some other famous lawmen by Ned Buntline and the image of Earp with the weapon has remained.
All of these revolves in the above photograph are :Colt Buntline's", but it is always the 12 inch barrel version at the bottom that is associated in the movies and television with Wyatt Earp.
The problem here is that Ned Buntline was actually dime novelist Edward Zane Carroll Judson, Sr. Judson only wrote four stories about the American West and all of them were about "Buffalo Bill" Cody and not one of them even mention Wyatt Earp, or Bat Masterson. Also according to Wyatt's family and historians Wyatt never owned such a weapon. They have stated he did own a "Colt Peacemaker" though. Obvious Stuart Lake mixed up the two weapons and part of the "Legend of Wyatt Earp" was permanently created and became associated for ever with the OK Corral shoot out.
The first motion picture studio to use Stuart Lake's book was 20th Century Fox who would use it a total of three times. They acquired the rights and began pre-production on a film starring actor George O'Brien in the part. However, Josephine Earp took the studio to court charging their's was an "unauthorized portrayal" of her husband. Even though she was collecting residuals on the sale of Lake's book.
Josephine sued for $50,000 and was awarded $5,000 and the studio was instructed to remove Wyatt's Earp name from the film. So instead of Wyatt Earp we have "Michael Wyatt", instead of Doc Holiday we have "Doc Warren". Then as the girl in love with Wyatt actress Irene Bentley played Mary Reid while playing the Dance Hall Singer Queenie LaVerne was Ruth Gillette.
As to the plot for this first Hollywood version of the Stuart Lake's work. It is apparent that Josephine Earp's lawsuit worked a little to well as the following actual review by Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times for January 31, 1934 would indicate there was no resemblance left to it:
The same story of the lawsuit by Josephine Earp reappears in articles about the 1939 movie version of Stuart Lake's book also by 20th Century Fox, but it is obvious that it was the 1934 motion picture it applied too only. In 1939 the new screenplay leaves the names of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday's intact. This then is also the first actual Hollywood version of "The Gunfight of the OK Corral" and it goes to a more heroic Wyatt Earp than actual events as Lake painted him.
Playing Wyatt Earp was Randolph Scott, playing Doc Halliday, not Holliday was Cesar Romero. The film retains the idea of the two women in the script with slight changes. Sarah Allen played by Nancy Kelly falls for Wyatt and Jerry played by Binnie Barns is in love with Doc Holliday. In any case Nancy Kelly character is in no way a prostitute or common law wife as was Josephine and Mattie, but within the Hayes Office guidelines you would not say the same about Jerry. Of course you can't have the heroic Wyatt Earp mixed up with a lady of Jerry's profession.
At the film's climax Doc is killed outside of the Saloon by "Curly Bill" and his Gang. Curly than tells Wyatt to meet him at the OK Corral. Wyatt goes inside the saloon, checks his revolver for cartridges, borrowers another and a shot gun. Then leaving the saloon he walks in the dark past the fronts of a couple of stores and at the end of the walkway is the OK Corral> Whose entrance is even with the wooden sidewalk Wyatt is on. He turns into it and by himself fights and kills the entire Gang.
I would point out that the character of "Jerry" was meant to be Mary Katherine Horoney Cummings aka: Big Nose Kate, aka: Kate Elder and the prostitute girlfriend of Doc Holliday. At the time of her relationship with Holliday her last name was just Horney, or spelled Harony, Haroney, and Horoney.
After the death of Doc Holliday in 1887 she married a blacksmith named George Cummings in Aspen, Colorado on March 2, 1890. She would die at the age of 89 on November 2, 1940.
Also it should be noted that William Brocius aka: "Curly Bill" Brocius aka possibly as: William "Curly Bill" Bresnaham was killed on March 24, 1882 at Iron Springs, Arizona territory by Wyatt Earp for being involved in the assassination of his brother Morgan. Contrary to the movie "Curly Bill" was not at the OK Corral.
The problem here is that Ned Buntline was actually dime novelist Edward Zane Carroll Judson, Sr. Judson only wrote four stories about the American West and all of them were about "Buffalo Bill" Cody and not one of them even mention Wyatt Earp, or Bat Masterson. Also according to Wyatt's family and historians Wyatt never owned such a weapon. They have stated he did own a "Colt Peacemaker" though. Obvious Stuart Lake mixed up the two weapons and part of the "Legend of Wyatt Earp" was permanently created and became associated for ever with the OK Corral shoot out.
The first motion picture studio to use Stuart Lake's book was 20th Century Fox who would use it a total of three times. They acquired the rights and began pre-production on a film starring actor George O'Brien in the part. However, Josephine Earp took the studio to court charging their's was an "unauthorized portrayal" of her husband. Even though she was collecting residuals on the sale of Lake's book.
Josephine sued for $50,000 and was awarded $5,000 and the studio was instructed to remove Wyatt's Earp name from the film. So instead of Wyatt Earp we have "Michael Wyatt", instead of Doc Holiday we have "Doc Warren". Then as the girl in love with Wyatt actress Irene Bentley played Mary Reid while playing the Dance Hall Singer Queenie LaVerne was Ruth Gillette.
As to the plot for this first Hollywood version of the Stuart Lake's work. It is apparent that Josephine Earp's lawsuit worked a little to well as the following actual review by Mordaunt Hall in the New York Times for January 31, 1934 would indicate there was no resemblance left to it:
They are a hard-riding, quick-shooting lot in "Frontier Marshal," the present incumbent of the Mayfair screen. This offering owes its story to a novel by Stuart N. Lake and as it comes to the screen it is as ingenuous as though it had been made many years ago. It has, however, the modern advantage of dialogue, which gives the producers a chance to slip in occasional lines of up-to-date vernacular with the parlance of the good old days of the West—in this case, Tombstone, Ariz. It will be rather interesting to hear what Tombstone thinks of this film, for even though the murders and shootings may be overlooked, there will assuredly be some citizen of that sun-scorched spot who will object to the silk hat worn by the Mayor and the gray topper adopted by the hero, who, in spite of his attire, proves he is a bit of a sleuth and a crackerjack marshal.
Berton Churchill appears as Mayor Hiram Melton and George O'Brien portrays the stalwart Michael Wyatt, the Mayor's nemesis. Melton makes quite a good income in one way or another, especially by engineering stage-coach hold-ups and also from his gambling den and dance hall. His banking partner, Oscar Reid, exasperates him, so the Mayor takes a pot shot at him from a window and Reid is killed. Everything goes well then until Wyatt enters the town. Queenie LaVerne, the Mayor's attractive golden-haired singer, who walks, talks, dresses and does her hair very much like Mae West, dubs Wyatt "Good-looking," and she has the audacity to use some of Mae West's lines from "She Done Him Wrong."
It may interest Arizona, if not New York, to know that Queenie, who is acted by Ruth Gillette, in these stage-coach days goes around in an attractive little vehicle attached to two spirited horses and driven by a coachman in an immaculate uniform. In the end this dizzy, undulating blonde emulates Cigarette of Ouida's "Under Two Flags" by springing in front of Wyatt just as Mayor Melton pulls the trigger of his revolver.
"Frontier Marshal," being a frank melodrama, does not bother about plausibility, and one gathers that it was produced with the adapter and the director having their tongues in their cheeks. There is the bad man who gets up a thirst by killing a couple of men. Wyatt might have been one of his victims, but the author decided to have the desperado look upon him as a harmless tenderfoot, a dude in fact. Mary Reid, daughter of the murdered banker, is the bright-eyed brunette in whom Wyatt becomes romantically interested. George E. Stone plays a Jewish store owner and Alan Edwards interprets the rôle of a Western Robin Hood, who, while he delights in robbing and doing a periodical murder, is keen for fair play at one point of the proceedings. Russell Simpson handles the part of a Tombstone newspaper editor who loves the sound of his own voice while reading his own articles.
The same story of the lawsuit by Josephine Earp reappears in articles about the 1939 movie version of Stuart Lake's book also by 20th Century Fox, but it is obvious that it was the 1934 motion picture it applied too only. In 1939 the new screenplay leaves the names of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday's intact. This then is also the first actual Hollywood version of "The Gunfight of the OK Corral" and it goes to a more heroic Wyatt Earp than actual events as Lake painted him.
Playing Wyatt Earp was Randolph Scott, playing Doc Halliday, not Holliday was Cesar Romero. The film retains the idea of the two women in the script with slight changes. Sarah Allen played by Nancy Kelly falls for Wyatt and Jerry played by Binnie Barns is in love with Doc Holliday. In any case Nancy Kelly character is in no way a prostitute or common law wife as was Josephine and Mattie, but within the Hayes Office guidelines you would not say the same about Jerry. Of course you can't have the heroic Wyatt Earp mixed up with a lady of Jerry's profession.
At the film's climax Doc is killed outside of the Saloon by "Curly Bill" and his Gang. Curly than tells Wyatt to meet him at the OK Corral. Wyatt goes inside the saloon, checks his revolver for cartridges, borrowers another and a shot gun. Then leaving the saloon he walks in the dark past the fronts of a couple of stores and at the end of the walkway is the OK Corral> Whose entrance is even with the wooden sidewalk Wyatt is on. He turns into it and by himself fights and kills the entire Gang.
I would point out that the character of "Jerry" was meant to be Mary Katherine Horoney Cummings aka: Big Nose Kate, aka: Kate Elder and the prostitute girlfriend of Doc Holliday. At the time of her relationship with Holliday her last name was just Horney, or spelled Harony, Haroney, and Horoney.
After the death of Doc Holliday in 1887 she married a blacksmith named George Cummings in Aspen, Colorado on March 2, 1890. She would die at the age of 89 on November 2, 1940.
Also it should be noted that William Brocius aka: "Curly Bill" Brocius aka possibly as: William "Curly Bill" Bresnaham was killed on March 24, 1882 at Iron Springs, Arizona territory by Wyatt Earp for being involved in the assassination of his brother Morgan. Contrary to the movie "Curly Bill" was not at the OK Corral.
The following link is to the entire 1939 feature film "Frontier Marshal" for your enjoyment.
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBbuPWJUvFE
Moving ahead to October, 16, 1946, the day I was born, 20th Century Fox premiered its third version of Stuart Lake's book as "My Darling Clementine" . The screenplay was co-authored by Sam Hellerman who had written the 1939 "Frontier Marshall" script. He made one critical error placing the story in 1882 one year after the gunfight took place.
The motion picture was directed by John Ford and starred Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp.This was the first movie to bring in Wyatt's brothers Tim Holt as Virgil, Don Garner as James and Ward Bond as Morgan. Bond actually appeared in the other two versions of Lake's book. In 1934 he played a character named Ben Murchinson and in 1939 he was the Town Marshall.
Playing Clementine Carter who eventually falls for Wyatt was Cathy Downs and Linda Darnell played the Saloon girl Chihuahua. A character similar in some respects to the one of "Jerry" in the 1939 movie, but more obviously a prostitute who is having a relationship with Doc Holliday played by Victor Mature. In the plot Clementine Carter comes to Tombstone from the East having search across the county for "THE" Doctor John Henry Holliday she was to marry before he became a gunfighter with tuberculosis. Clementine is definitely the image Josephine Earp wanted people to think of her as, but with the added twist of first having been in love with Doc Holliday.
"My Darling Clementine" is the first film to introduce three of the real life opponents of the Earp's. Walter Brennan plays Old Man Clanton. Grant Withers is Ike Clanton, and John Ireland plays Billy Clanton.
This is a link to AMC's Filmsite Movie Review edited by Tim Dirks about this film:
http://www.filmsite.org/myda4.html
AMC's review of "My Darling Clementine" includes this excellent description of the climatic gunfight from the film as staged and designed by John Ford. As with the previous films the gunfight is in the OK Corral which is a lot larger than it was. Although this is the first filmed version not to have the Gunfight at night, but during the day as it really took place.
The climax of the film is a version of the shootout at the O.K. Corral against the Clantons. The confrontation pits the efficient and calculated Earps (representing civilization) against the ragged Clantons (representing primitive natures). The five men leave the office and slowly start marching down the main street of town (in a long-shot) toward the O.K. Corral. - Wyatt, Morgan, Doc, the Mayor, and the Deacon. As they approach closer, the Mayor and Deacon fall back, Doc and Morg circle to the side through a back alley and behind fences, and Wyatt is left alone in the street. Then he too circles to the other side in a semi-military maneuver. [The O.K. Corral gunfight is not fought as a face-to-face confrontation in the middle of the main street.]
Before any shooting commences, Earp explains how he has warrants charging Old Man Clanton and his sons for the murder of James and Virgil Earp - including a charge of cattle rustling:
Wyatt: I'm givin' you a chance to submit to proper authorities.Old Man Clanton: Well, you come on right in here Marshal and serve your warrant.Wyatt: Which one of ya killed James?Old Man Clanton: I did, and the other one too.Ike: I'm gonna kill ya.
The town stagecoach riding between Earp and Ike billows up clouds of dust as the oldest Clanton son kicks open the corral gate and walks toward Earp. Using the dust as camouflage, Earp moves closer and fires a shot at Ike, killing him. Morgan kills a second Clanton. Next to him, Doc suffers a coughing fit and is shot by one of the Clantons. [Doc's physical infirmity causes him to become vulnerable during the gunfire - his disease tragically afflicts him.] Using horses in the corral as cover, Earp gets closer and kills another Clanton in front of a horse trough. Just before he collapses, Doc kills the fourth Clanton son. Old Man Clanton surrenders to Earp and is banished from town:
Old Man Clanton: My boys, Ike, Sam, Phin. Billy.Wyatt: They're dead. I ain't gonna kill you. I hope you live a hundred years, feel just a little what my Pa's gonna feel. Now get out of town. Start wanderin'.
Old Man Clanton is allowed to ride out of the O.K. Corral - his punishment is to live and feel what Earp's father will soon feel. Suicidally avenging the deaths of his sons, he turns with gun in hand to shoot Wyatt. To defend his brother, Morgan (from the hip) shoots Clanton from his saddle. Morgan informs Wyatt that Doc has been killed in the gun battle.
This is a link to the original trailer for the motion picture for what is still considered the "Classic version of the Gunfight" even with all its inaccuracies of the story. Owed more to it being directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSyXO44O7cI
On June 13, 1942 Paramount Pictures first filmed version was "Tombstone the Town Too Tough to Die". Richard Dix was Wyatt, Kent Taylor was Doc Holliday, Edgar Buchanan was "Curly Bill" Brocious and Victor Jory played Ike Clanton.
Once more I turn to an actual movie review for the Richard Dix movie. I would point out that as the leader of the gang is again Edgar Buchanan as "Curly Bill". Once more the historical accuracy of the piece is lost. Along with the description of what was another lone man gun battle.
From the New York Time July 27, 1942:
On the basis of the amount of ammunition expended and the footage devoted to posses swinging full tilt across the sagebrush—the most accurate criteria by which a rootin'-tootin' film can be judged — "Tombstone, the Town Too Tough to Die," now at the Rialto, stacks up as a tidy little Western. That it is supposed to be based upon the life of Wyatt Earp, famous frontier marshal, doesn't matter greatly. What does matter is that Harry Sherman, who specializes in outdoor dramas of strong silent men, has produced another lickety-split yarn of frontier laws vs. the bad hombres, and that the bad hombres die like dogs in the last reel. Mr. Sherman has a strong sense of justice and he likes it to happen fast.
Being an old hand at Westerns, Mr. Sherman hasn't varied the usual formula a bit; anything else would be artistic treason. Richard Dix, as the man who's out to collect the taxes and clean up the town, faces—and even turns his back upon—the most snake-eyed villains with all the sweet and humble assurance of a man who definitely has the angels on his side. The rustlers and thieves, craven souls, just cringe for the most part, but they do pull themselves together long enough for at least a couple of brisk six-gun battles, preferably in the local saloon or on a boulder-strewn hillside. Edgar Buchanan, being the ruffian leader, naturally is the last to die—an act which he performs with considerable flair. Don Castle, as the kid with a conscience, looks easy on a horse and Mr. Dix—he doesn't turn a hair. After all these years it would take more than a silver bullet to do him in. But as an epidemic of lead-poisoning "Tombstone" takes a heavy toll among the rest of the cast.
Premiering on television on September 6, 1955 and running for 229 episodes through June 27, 1961 was one of my favorite shows starring Hugh O'Brien "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp".
Note that the shows title include the word "Legend" as once more Stuart Lake's book was one of the main sources. The series started out in Dodge City, Kansas and eventually moved to Tombstone, Arizona over its six seasons. The program always included a shorten version of this Wyatt Earp theme song which also was influenced by Lake's book:
One of the episodes has Wyatt being presented with his "Buntline Special" revolver and it becomes a trademark piece of his costume throughout the rest of the series. As I have already written both researchers and Wyatt's relatives stated he never had such a weapon and it was one of Stuart Lake's fictions that has become fact.
I am concerned on;y with the last five episodes of Season Six. Within the framework of these programs the story of the Gunfight at the OK Corral is told and its aftermath.
Note that the shows title include the word "Legend" as once more Stuart Lake's book was one of the main sources. The series started out in Dodge City, Kansas and eventually moved to Tombstone, Arizona over its six seasons. The program always included a shorten version of this Wyatt Earp theme song which also was influenced by Lake's book:
I'll tell you a story a real true life story
A tale of the Western frontier.
The West, it was lawless,
but one man was flawless
and his is the story you'll hear.
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told.
Well he cleaned up the country
The old wild west country
He made law and order prevail.
And none can deny it
The legend of Wyatt
Forever will live on the trail.
Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp,
Brave courageous and bold.
Long live his fame and long life his glory
and long may his story be told
One of the episodes has Wyatt being presented with his "Buntline Special" revolver and it becomes a trademark piece of his costume throughout the rest of the series. As I have already written both researchers and Wyatt's relatives stated he never had such a weapon and it was one of Stuart Lake's fictions that has become fact.
I am concerned on;y with the last five episodes of Season Six. Within the framework of these programs the story of the Gunfight at the OK Corral is told and its aftermath.
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