Tombstone is widely considered one of the greatest Westerns of the 1990s, taking everything that was so popular in the genre in previous decades and turning it into a completely original, high-intensity drama full of twists and turns. The story follows Wyatt Earp and his band of lawmen as they attempt to drive the notorious cowboys out of Tombstone, Arizona, both to protect the locals and to bring justice for the murder of one of their own. It’s a thrilling adventure through the American West that exemplifies exactly why Westerns have always been so popular.
Tombstone also features some incredible performances, notably from Kurt Russell as famous lawman Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as his charismatic friend Doc Holliday. The pair have incredible on-screen chemistry that makes this story feel consistently believable and authentic, painting both characters in confusing, complicated lights that don’t shy away from the corruption of the American West. Val Kilmer has several iconic moments as Doc Holliday, but an intense shootout at the end of the film takes the crown.
Doctor Holliday vs. Johnny Ringo is Val Kilmer’s best scene in Tombstone
The film’s climax ends Holliday’s arc
Val Kilmer is the featured member of TombstoneThe talented cast, not just because of how complex and intriguing his character is, but simply because of how charming and charismatic he is in the role. The actor fits this character perfectlycapturing the unique blend of humor and severity that made him such a frightening face to encounter in the Old West. He sums this up in Holliday’s final duel against Johnny Ringo, the leader of the cowboys, at the end of Tombstone.
As soon as Holliday steps out of the shadows instead of Earp, the audience is immediately on the edge of their seats. From the beginning of the film, the character is seen as weak and fragile due to his illness, but at this point it is difficult to imagine him being more intimidating. The way he plays with Ringo before killing him is strangely calmproving that despite his advanced tuberculosis, he is able to get into the heads of his enemies and use this to his advantage.
Tombstone is full of iconic Doc Holliday moments
The character gets the most stylish scenes in the film
Doc Holliday has the best catchphrases Tombstone, which certainly says something, given the quality of the writing on display. Each character has their moment to shine, even those who may not seem important at first, but It’s Doc Holliday that the public is constantly drawn to. Much of this comes down to Kilmer’s magnetism on screen, as he delivers his lines in such unique ways that no one else could have pulled off.
Whether it’s his duel against Johnny Ringo, his involvement in the shootout at the OK Corral, or his final conversation with Wyatt at the end of the film, every scene in which Doc Holliday appears manages to exceed expectations. He may not be the protagonist of the film, but he is the emotional core of the story: While Earp is consumed by rage and revenge for his brother’s murder, it is Holliday’s cool head that keeps everyone in check and ensures his victory. He is a perfect foil for Earp’s character; neither would have been fully successful without the other.
Why Doc Holliday vs. Johnny Ringo is one of the best single shootouts in the western genre
Tombstone beats many other Westerns with this scene
One-on-one shootouts have been a staple of the Western genre since its inception at the beginning of the 21st century. There’s something about seeing two men facing each other, fingers hovering over the guns on their hips, that is often even more thrilling than the shootouts that follow. It’s the perfect build-up of tension, and Tombstone does this better than most other westerns that preceded it. It works because the audience really gets to know Holliday and Ringo’s temperaments throughout the film, and this pays off with Ringo’s apprehension at the end.
It’s not just two men fighting because they don’t like each other, it’s the inevitably fatal result of one man’s unbridled ambitions colliding with another man’s unwavering loyalty to his friend.
While films like Unforgivable, Shaneand The good, the bad and the ugly Having some of the most dramatic shootouts in the Western genre, this shootout between Holliday and Ringo is arguably even stronger due to the thematic weight behind it. It’s not just two men fighting because they don’t like each other, it’s the inevitably fatal result of one man’s unbridled ambitions colliding with another man’s unwavering loyalty to his friend – there’s no other way this could happen. Tombstone could have ended, and that is a powerful statement about the futility of violence and male anger.