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Tombstone (1993)

Incredible as it may seem, much of Tombstone is based on historical fact. The film does take liberties in telling the story, many of which are themselves based on legend. However, the overall structure of the film is a reasonably accurate portrayal of the events in and around Tombstone.

The following is a list of some of the most important historical elements the film depicts are. This is not intended to be an all encompassing account of the accuracy of Tombstone, but a collection of facts that are depicted in the film

Wyatt Earp was well-known for his work as a lawman in Dodge City and other areas when he arrived in Tombstone.

Wyatt Earp was highly recruited by federal and local officials to work as a lawman in Arizona (a few positions of which he accepted, unlike depicted in the film).

The Cowboys were a group of ill-reputable characters operating in the region, though they were much less organized and affiliated than depicted in the film.

Josephine Marcus and Wyatt Earp met in Tombstone and did marry and spend the rest of their lives together after both had left Tombstone. Likewise, Behan and Wyatt had a rivalry over Josephine (which was much more dramatic than depicted in the film) and Mattie and Josephine likewise had a rivalry over Wyatt.

Johnny Tyler was hired by a rival gambling operator to cause trouble at the Oriental and drive away customers. Wyatt confronted Tyler and dragged him out of the salon by the ear.

Wyatt became part owner of the Oriental saloon after driving out Tyler.

Curly Bill Brocius shot Fred White while intoxicated as he was being disarmed. Fred White was trying to stop a group of individuals (including Brocious) who was shooting at the moon. Wyatt pistol whipped Brocius and prevented an immediate lynching by angered citizens. Curly Bill was later acquitted of the crime.

As depicted in the film, the tension between the Cowboys (particularly the Clantons and McLaurys) and the Earps gradually escalated through a number of confrontations, which ultimately led up to the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

Tombstone enacted a law forbidding the carrying of firearms in town.

Wyatt and Doc were deputized after Virgil requested they back he and Morgan in confronting the McLaurys and Clantons.

Ike Clanton was unarmed during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and escaped unharmed.

Wyatt Earp had only been involved in one deadly shooting prior to the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Morgan Earp had no gun fighting or lawman experience.

Virgil and Morgan (as well as Doc) were injured during the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were both beaten by the Earps within 24 hours prior to the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

The Clantons and Cowboys made a large public spectacle to damage the reputation of the Earp party after the shooting at the O.K. Corral.

Though not following the shootout at the O.K. Corral, Wyatt did once refuse to allow Behan to arrest him.

The reputation of the Earps and Doc were tarnished after the shootout at the O.K. Corral.

Virgil Earp was shot in the arm and lost complete function of its use. Also, Virgil has been historically quoted as saying to his wife, Allie, Dont worry darling, I still got one good arm to hold you with.

Morgan Earp was shot in the back through a window while playing pool and died an hour later.

The Earps and Doc left Tombstone shortly after the death of Morgan Earp, taking most of their party to a train station and away from Arizona.

Before leaving Tombstone, Wyatt offered reconciliation to Ike Clanton, who refused.

Ike Clanton and Frank Stillwell followed the Earp party to the train station, where Wyatt Earp killed Stillwell.

Sherman McMasters was a member of the Cowboy affiliation, but changed opinion and sided with the Earps.

Turkey Creek Jack Johnson and Texas Jack Vermillion were both in Dodge City at the same time as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday in Dodge City and most likely knew one another prior to Tombstone

The Earp Vendetta Ride pitted Behan's county posse against Wyatt Earp's federal posse.

Behan deputized Johnny Ringo and other members of the Cowboys to join his county posse in pursuit of the Earps.

Sherman McMasters was killed by a group of Cowboys after teaming with the Earp party.

Wyatt Earp killed Curly Bill with a shotgun in a stream near Iron Springs, Arizona. Wyatt charged headlong into the gun battle with multiple Cowboys firing upon him, several bullets passing through his clothes without harm.

Multiple homicides were committed by Earp Vendetta Ride posse, officially documented as 4 deaths, but possibly as many as 10 - 15 victims (still much less than the body count in the film). Wyatt Earp himself would later insinuate that many more had died during the Vendetta Ride than local coroner records indicated.

The Earp Vendetta Ride was largely responsible for breaking the Clantons' power and the association of the Cowboys.

Mattie Blaylock died a few years later in 1888 from a drug overdose (thought to be suicide).

Wyatt Earp lost most of his assets due to his abandonment of Tombstone, where most of his property was sold to pay taxes.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday received a Degree of Dental Surgery from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery (now part of the University of Pennsylvania) in 1872 at the age of 20. Doc Holliday had dental offices in Atlanta, Dallas, and often practiced less formally on the side in his travels, most notably in Dodge City where he began his association with Wyatt Earp.

Doc Holliday suffered from tuberculosis. Historically, Doc is believed to have contracted the illness a decade before succumbing to it. One of the reasons Doc moved west and eventually to Arizona is because of the belief the dry air would ease his symptoms.

Doc is repeatedly referred to as a "lunger" in the film. "Lunger" was a slang term used during the era for someone suffering from tuberculosis.

Wyatt is a faro dealer. Faro is a card game that enjoyed its greatest popularity during the 19th century, particularly in the Old West. It is most similar to the contemporary game of mini-baccarat. Faro had a notorious reputation for cheating among dealers and creating poverty among gamblers. Faro rapidly lost popularity during the first half of the 20th century and today is usually only played by Civil War and Old West re-enactors.

Mattie is addicted to laudanum. Laudanum is an opiate tincture, in other words, opium extracted into alcohol. Laudanum was a common pain reliever and analgesic, widely prescribed for a variety of conditions. Additionally, laudanum, like other opiates, was legal to purchase without prescription in the United States during the 19th century.

Laudanum was often prescribed to patients to induce sleep, which explains why Mattie spends most of her days lying in bed.

Curly Bill visits the local opium den before shooting up a portion of town, ending with the death of Fred White. Opium dens were common and legal in the United States in the 19th century, stereotypically operated by Asian immigrants.

Curly Bill was in a highly altered state of mind when he shot Fred White, and it is difficult to discern his intentions at the time. However, after the shooting, Curly Bill seems noticeably concerned that Fred has been shot, which suggests the shooting was an accidental discharge.

However, any person who is skilled with firearms will tell you a gun won't go off unless you pull the trigger. And with a single-action revolver you have to cock the hammer before it will fire. As you hear Curly Bill doing just as he raised to Fred White's chest. This suggests he fired it on purpose, but as previously stated; Curly Bill showed concern for Fred, so it could be said that because he was highly intoxicated he may have meant to fire the gun just to scare Fred but wound up shooting him. Also when Wyatt was hauling Curly Bill away, Curly Bill was laughing. Perhaps laughing that he got away with shooting Fred, or just because he was high and found everything amusing.

Historically, the incident happened very much as it occurs in the movie. Fred White (though only 31 at the time, much younger than the older man depicted in the film) was accidentally shot while disarming Curly Bill. Curly Bill allegedly regretted the shooting and personally liked Fred White.

As depicted in the film, the real Wyatt Earp pistol whipped Curly Bill and helped prevent a possible lynching by escorting Curly Bill out of the county to Tucson the next day. However, in reality, Wyatt Earp testified on behalf of Curly Bill at his trial, stating he too believed the shooting was an accident.

Wyatt Earp is shown with other handguns earlier in the film, but after being sworn in by Virgil, he goes back to his room to change his coat and retrieve a boxed revolver from a dresser drawer. The camera scrolls slowly across the weapon (this attention is not given to other firearms in the movie) and the music sounds triumphantly. There is a custom engraved shield with Wyatt Earp's name on the handle of the firearm.

The boxed handgun is a Colt Revolver-Carbine, popularly known as the "Buntline Special"; it is a rare, extra-long barreled version of the classic Colt Single Action Army "Peacemaker" .45 Long Colt revolver, the firearm most closely associated with the Old West. Only 31 of these revolvers were produced by Colt at the time, though the company began producing the firearm again before WWII. The revolver was intended to be used with a skeletonized shoulder stock attached to the handle, creating a small, multi-shot carbine.

According to legend and controversial Earp biographer, Stuart N. Lake, the popular dime novelist Ned Buntline presented five Buntline Specials to Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and other lawmen in Dodge City. Ned Buntline gave the revolvers to the lawmen because he had received inspiration for his western novels from their escapades. While Masterson and others sawed the 12" barrel down to more reasonable lengths for carry, Wyatt kept his barrel at the stock length. The shield on the handle is presumably a custom addition Buntline had added to the handle for presentation purposes.

In the film, Wyatt does not regularly carry the Buntline Special until the fight at the O.K. Corral, after which he uses the gun for the entirety of the Earp Vendetta Ride. Wyatt likely does not carry the handgun earlier in the film because of the bulkiness of the 12" barrel.

While considerable controversy exists if Wyatt Earp was ever presented the firearm by Ned Buntline, or owned the gun at all, the Buntline Special is engrained in the Wyatt Earp mystique. All 19th century Colt Single Action Army revolvers are among the most sought after firearms by collectors and command high prices, but the Buntline Special, due to its rarity and association with Wyatt Earp, is the most coveted version of the revolver.

Though unlikely, if Wyatt Earp did in fact own a Buntline Special and this revolver were found, it would undoubtedly be the most valuable firearm in the world.

It is not explained how the building caught fire. However, the burning building was likely included in the scene to symbolize a number of devastating fires that took place in Tombstone in June 1881 and May 1882. Wooden construction, combined with lack of water, resulted in considerable fire damage, one factor leading to Tombstone's decline to near-ghost town status.

The fire could also be symbolism for the biblical theme of Death coming, and hell following.

Doc leaves Kate in Tombstone to join Wyatt, Turkey Creek, Texas Jack and McMasters in what history calls the "Earp Vendetta Ride" against the Cowboys. The film gives no explanation as to why Doc abandons his partner in Tombstone.

However, a deleted scene from the film shows an argument between the couple as Doc is preparing to follow the Earp caravan to the train station. Kate is upset that Doc is leaving to join Wyatt and asks what will happen to her without Doc.

Doc responds, Well I guess it means you are without a meal ticket. After a few more words, Doc rides off, leaving an hysterical Kate behind.

Doc may have been planning to leave Kate, who he met while she was working as a prostitute, well before the attack on Virgil and murder of Morgan. Following his doctors appointment, Doc tells Kate that it may be time to redefine the nature of their association. When Kate says, Ive always been a good woman to you, Doc responds 'True, you are a good woman, then again, you may be the Anti-Christ'. This scene suggests Doc had been thinking about leaving Kate even before the showdown at the O.K. Corral.

Some believe he felt he was going to die on this ride with Wyatt, or shortly after, so he thought it better for her to cut ties now.

In a book on Doc Holliday's life written by a family member of Doc's, whose members are still around today, it is stated that Kate was actually with Doc when he died, in Colorado, not Wyatt. She wrote a letter that was sent with his belongings to his cousin. So he did in fact die with Kate by his side.

The film shows a rider for the Cowboys dragging McMaster's corpse on a rope, leaving him behind as an incentive for Wyatt to accept Ringo's challenge to a duel. No explanation is given as to how the Cowboys got to McMasters.

However, a deleted scene from the film depicts McMasters riding to a gathering of several Cowboys to respond to a request from Ringo that the two talk. Ringo asks McMasters to rejoin the Cowboys, which McMasters refuses. After refusing, Ike Clanton approaches McMasters, places a shotgun on his cheek and asks how McMasters now intends to get back. At this point, the scene ends, followed immediately by the scene in which McMasters body is being dragged. It remains unclear what the Cowboys did to McMasters before killing him, or how they killed him.

Well it is ambiguous in a sense, the fact that McMasters' face is intact when they see the body, this suggests that Ike didn't shoot him with the shotgun. And when asking "How are you gonna get back to them?" with a smile on his face, this suggests that they tied him to the back of the horse and dragged him back to the Hooker ranch. That was what killed him.

History refers to the Earp posse that seeks revenge against the Cowboys following Morgan's death as the "Earp Vendetta Ride". In the film, 27 cowboys are seen being killed. In reality, 4 cowboy deaths were officially recorded, with the actual number likely being between 8-15 total. Since homicides are not something one regularly boasts to the newspapers about, much of the violence was never noted or seen.

Historically, Johnny Ringo was found dead under a large oak tree with a single gunshot wound to the head, and his revolver having a single fired cartridge in the cylinder. The majority opinion today is Ringo committed suicide (Theory 1).

Other than suicide, the second most popular theory (Theory 2) is Wyatt Earp killed Ringo, either in a duel or an ambush. A far less credible theory (Theory 3) that is still popular is Doc Holliday killed Ringo.

The film makes an interesting play on the death of Johnny Ringo and pays homage to all three theories. The film suggests Wyatt was scheduled to duel Ringo, but Doc arrived and killed him first. Thus, the film portrays Theory 3 as being truth, where as Theory 2 (Wyatt kills Ringo) as being the one that will be popularly believed (Wyatt was the one everyone thought was going to duel Ringo). It should also be noted that Doc never says to Wyatt that he killed Ringo, only saying things like "Poor soul, you were just too high strung." and "The pressure was more than he could bear", which is Doc's way of joking and playing with the idea that Ringo actually committed suicide (Theory 1).

It should also be noted that Ringo does fire one bullet from his revolver while stumbling after being shot in the head by Doc, the film's way of explaining the spent cartridge in Ringo's gun.

After Ringo's death, no mention of him is made the rest of the movie. Considering Ringo died with no witnesses other than Doc, and Wyatt shortly afterwards, it can be inferred the legend of Johnny Ringo's death grew rapidly after being discovered, with no real explanation available.