Wyatt Earp (1994)

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers (WGA):

Dan Gordon (written by) and
Lawrence Kasdan (written by)

Release Date:

24 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Romance | Western

Tagline:

The epic story of love and adventure in a lawless land.

Plot:

Wyatt Earp is a movie about a man and his family. More of a documentary than Hollywood tinsel, this...

Plot Keywords:

Wyatt Earp | Box Office Flop | Character Says "piss" | Gunslinger | Pistol

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Wyatt Earp
Dennis Quaid	...	Doc Holliday
Gene Hackman	...	Nicholas Earp
David Andrews	...	James Earp
Linden Ashby	...	Morgan Earp
Jeff Fahey	...	Ike Clanton
Joanna Going	...	Josie Marcus
Mark Harmon	...	Sheriff Johnny Behan
Michael Madsen	...	Virgil Earp
Catherine O'Hara	...	Allie Earp
Bill Pullman	...	Ed Masterson
Isabella Rossellini	...	Big Nose Kate
Tom Sizemore	...	Bat Masterson
JoBeth Williams	...	Bessie Earp
Mare Winningham	...	Mattie Blaylock

Runtime:

191 min | USA:212 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

777 Ranch, Hermosa, South Dakota, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Tombstone (1993) was being filmed at the same time nearby, and bought up most of the period clothing in the region. Clothing had to be imported from Europe, delaying production.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Wyatt, Ed, and Bat Masterson are shooting buffalo near the beginning of the movie, the buffalo are clearly dummies. When the last buffalo tumbles to the ground, its horns bounce up and down, indicating they're made from rubber.

Quotes:

Virgil Earp: We're gonna disarm them and take 'em in. You understand, Doc?
Doc Holliday: Oh, I understand Virgil. But
[taps shotgun]
Doc Holliday: do you think they will?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of Lawrence Kasdan" (????)

An excellent script, beautifully visualized

As epics go, this film ranks high on my list. I attribute this mainly to the screenplay, which is compelling, visual, and rich. The film follows the life of Wyatt Earp, from his boyhood, through the fight at the O.K. Corrall, and beyond.

Unlike other adaptations of the same subject (namely, Kurt Russell's Earp in 'Tombstone'), this film deals with the famous gunfight as merely a step in Earp's life. Rather, the film focuses on the man behind the legend. To do this, it looks at Earp's life in two stages: his life before, and after, a major transition.

Contrary to what some may think, Kevin Costner does a very good job portraying the lawman. His character experiences a wealth of emotion, but the script is so well written that Costner does not need to stretch himself to portray Earp effectively.

The film comes together so well because of an excellent musical score, visually stunning cinematography, and strong acting by the supporting characters. It draws the viewer in, so much so that you do not feel you are watching a film, but are experiencing a moment in history. The direction by Kasdan is quite low-key, allowing the viewer to be drawn into the story, rather than simply showing it to us.

I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys epic stories, wonderful acting (particularly Dennis Quaid, although Tom Sizemore and Michael Madsen are excellent as well), and visually compelling shots. Do not let the length dissuade you: Kasdan's film is well worth the three hours.