The Only Wyatt Earp Scene Kevin Costner Did Better Than Kurt Russell’s Tombstone Character

Kurt Russell Tombstone may be the best film, but there is a moment when Kevin Costner Wyatt Earp does much better than its rival. THE Tombstone against Wyatt Earp film The battle was well documented in the early 1990s, with both biopics chronicling the legendary lawman’s life. Even though Costner tried to sabotage Tombstone before and During its production, the film was released first to rave reviews and a healthy box office. A fundamental problem with Costner’s film was that it tried to cover Earp’s entire life, resulting in a story that felt both meandering. and hurried.

The film is arguably the worst of Kevin Costner’s western films, but it shouldn’t be considered a total loss. Wyatt Earp has a great cast (Gene Hackman, Dennis Quaid, Catherine O’Hara, etc) and looks amazing, but lacks the intelligence or warmth of Tombstone. It’s also fascinating to watch the two films back to back and see how they cover the same historical events differently. The most mythical moment of Earp’s battle with the Cowboys and their leader “Curly” Bill also results in the 1994 film’s best scene.

Curly Bill’s death in Kevin Costner’s Wyatt Earp is better staged than Tombstone

Tombstone fumbled the ball in this key sequence

Tombstone overshadows Wyatt Earp in most departments, from Kurt Russell’s Wyatt being a much more engaging character, to the shootout at the OK Corral. One of the most disappointing sequences involves the final confrontation between Earp and the Cowboys’ leader, Curly Bill (Powers Boothe). This sequence shows Earp and his men exchanging fire with the Cowboys before Earp plays across the river – somehow dodging every shot fired at him – before unloading his shotgun at Bill. It’s not a terrible scene by any means, but the mise-en-scène looks sloppy, while Russell’s slow motion “Nooooo!“Before filming, Bill is very cheesy.

Costner Wyatt Earp stages Curly Bill’s death in a more epic waywhere the lawman is ambushed but calmly stands his ground as he fires back. The use of slow motion during the shootout brings the audience into Earp’s perspective while also highlighting how his coat is being destroyed by bullets. The moment when Earp retrieves his double barrel and almost casually walks up to a panicked Curly Bill (Lewis Smith) only underscores the surreality of the entire moment.

While Tombstone fumbles the ball a bit with its Curly Bill sequel, Costner’s version fully captures what has become a key part of Wyatt Earp lore. By all accounts, the vengeful lawman should have been shot dead during the encounter, only to emerge without a scratch. Naturally, the biopic adds gloss to the real event and is intended to be a big movie star moment for its protagonist – but it still totally works.

Curly Bill’s death by Wyatt Earp is close to reality

Wyatt Earp needed a new coat after this battle

It is important to note that the account of William Brocius/”Curly Bill’s” death came largely from Earp and his men, and was disputed by some of the surviving Cowboys (via True West Magazine). There were even claims that Bill escaped the shooting and lived out his days in Mexico – but a lack of evidence suggests that he actually died at Earp’s hands. Both Tombstone and Wyatt Earp take creative liberties with Curly Bill’s battle too; It wasn’t an ambush, with Earp and his people accidentally meeting Bill in a bar.

Instead of standing by his side, members of Earp’s group, like McMaster, tried to retreat, only to be shot for their trouble. However, Earp’s killing of Curly Bill was taken directly from real-life accounts, with the Cowboys’ leader somehow missing Earp up close before he was shot down. by a shotgun. Earp even claimed that Bill was practically cut in half by the force of the explosions. After exchanging more fire with the other Cowboys, Wyatt and his men retreated, with Earp’s coat riddled with bullet holes in the aftermath.

Why Tombstone is so superior to Wyatt Earp

Costner probably should have stayed with Tombstone

It’s a well-known curiosity that Costner was originally linked to Tombstone. The star left the project because he wanted a film that covered Earp’s entire life and not just his time in Tombstone. He may have regretted that call when the Russell biopic received rave reviews while his film was a critical success. and financial bomb. The thing is, Kevin Jarre Tombstone the script was an exceptional work, full of great dialogues and sequences.

This is how the film attracted such an incredible cast, and although it suffered behind-the-scenes issues and budget issues, the quality of the writing and acting shone through. Focusing on Earp’s time in the lawless town and his conflict with the Cowboys also gave the Western a narrative focus; in contrast, Wyatt Earp it was very long and heavy, although it was quite serious and serious.

For all its excellent lines and settings, this is a fundamental warmth and humanity to Tombstone (especially thanks to Earp’s friendship with Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday) while Wyatt Earp it never makes viewers fully care about its main characters. It’s a shame, because Costner’s film hardly lacks ambition or passion – it simply didn’t stand a chance against Jarre’s stellar writing.

Source: Rotten tomatoes, Rotten tomatoes, Mojo Box Office, Mojo Box Office, True West Magazine