Tombstone (1993)
-
73% of critics liked it
(44 reviews) -
93% of users liked it
(172,458 ratings)
A high-energy action adventure based on legend rather than historical fact finds Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) desiring to retire from law enforcement. With brothers Virgil (Sam Elliot) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), he arrives in Tombstone, Arizona intending to build his fortune. He discovers that long-time… More A high-energy action adventure based on legend rather than historical fact finds Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) desiring to retire from law enforcement. With brothers Virgil (Sam Elliot) and Morgan (Bill Paxton), he arrives in Tombstone, Arizona intending to build his fortune. He discovers that long-time friend Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) is there and that the town is run by a group of brutal outlaws called the Cowboys. Earp, frustrated with his laudanum-addicted wife, begins a romance with traveling stage actress Josephine Marcus (Dana Delany). Meanwhile, the Cowboys terrorize the citizens of Tombstone unchecked. When the town marshal is killed by a Cowboy, Earp steps in to prevent a lynching by an angry mob. He also refuses to hand the killer over to his fellows, beginning the enmity between the Cowboys and the Earp brothers. Virgil, overcome with guilt at doing nothing to help the Tombstone citizens, accepts the position of town marshal. With Wyatt and Morgan as his deputies, and the help of Doc, Virgil attempts to arrest several Cowboys, resulting in the famous OK Corral shoot-out. The Cowboys take revenge by ambushing two of the brothers and injuring Virgil and killing Morgan. The Earps leave town, apparently cowed. Wyatt returns, wearing the badge of a U.S. marshal, vowing to destroy every last Cowboy. He hunts them mercilessly, until the leader, Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) challenges Wyatt to a duel. While not regarded as an artistic masterpiece, "Tombstone" is considered the best of director George P. Cosmatos' prolific films. The all-star cast (including Thomas Haden Church and Billy Bob Thornton in small roles) delivers solid performances. Both William A. Fraker's cinematography and Bruce Broughton's stirring musical score are expertly designed for dramatic effect. Blood is shown liberally in several key scenes, but seems intended to show that there is nothing glorious in Wyatt Earp's actions, only necessity. He and his deputies take on the symbolism of the horsemen of the apocalypse -- dispensing judgement, and the Biblical references form a symmetry at the beginning and end of the film. ~ Lucinda Ramsey, Rovi
- Directed By
- George P. Cosmatos
- Genres
- Western, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Dec 25, 1993 Wide
- On DVD
- Dec 2, 1997
- Studio
- Buena Vista
Critic Reviews
-
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A lot of care and attention were obviously devoted to selecting locations, designing sets, and grooming handlebar mustaches. Much less attention went to making one believe that any of the events took place circa 1879.
-
Emanuel Levy, Variety
A tough-talking but soft-hearted tale that is entertaining in a sprawling, old-fashioned manner.
-
, Time Out
There's a misguided romantic subplot and the ending rather sprawls, but mostly this is rootin', tootin' entertainment.
-
Stephen Holden, New York Times
It wants to be at once traditional and morally ambiguous. The two visions don't quite harmonize.
-
Richard Harrington, Washington Post
Highly stylized fashion-wise but awkwardly unfocused in its plotlines, it aims for the western iconography of Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone but never gets past its own directorial hurdles.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Kurt Russell
as Wyatt Earp
-
Val Kilmer
as Doc Holliday
-
Michael Biehn
as Johnny Ringo
-
Powers Boothe
as Curly Bill Brocius
-
Robert John Burke
as Frank McLaury
-
Dana Delany
as Josephine Marcus
-
Sam Elliott
as Virgil Earp
-
Terry O'Quinn
as Mayor Clum
-
Bill Paxton
as Morgan Earp
-
Jason Priestley
as Deputy Sheriff Billy Breakenridge
-
Michael Rooker
as Sherman McMasters
-
Jon Tenney
as Behan
-
Dana Wheeler-Nicholson
as Mattie Earp
-
Billy Zane
as Mr. Fabian
-
Buck Taylor
as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson
-
Harry Carey Jr.
as Marshall Fred White
-
Pedro Armendariz Jr.
as The Priest
-
Charlton Heston
as Henry Hooker
-
Tomas Arana
as Frank Stillwell
-
Paul Ben-Victor
as Florentino
-
Gary Clark
as Crawley Dake
-
Don Collier
as High Roller
-
John Corbett
as Barnes
-
Christopher Mitchum
as Ranch Hand
-
Robert Mitchum
as Narration
- Hugh O'Brian
-
Joanna Pacula
as Kate
-
John Philbin
as Tom McLaury
-
Charles Schneider
as Prof. Gillman
-
Peter Sherayko
as Texas Jack Vermillion
-
Billy Bob Thornton
as Johnny Tyler
-
Frank Stallone
as Ed Bailey
-
Grant James
as Dr. Goodfellow
-
Shane McCabe
as Audience Member
- Lora Kennedy
-
Thomas Haden Church
as Bill Clanton
-
Pat Brady
as Milt Joyce
-
Cecil Hoffmann
as Lucinda Hobbs
-
Stephen Lang
as Ike Clanton
-
Lisa Collins
as Louisa Earp
-
Sandy Gibbons
as Father Feeney



