Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp III

Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp: A Comparison of Actors

For the third and final time: Two movies were released six months apart during the western boom of the 1990s about the real-life and legendary Wyatt Earp. The makers of the first to be released, Tombstone, focus their story on the events leading up to the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the aftermath. Wyatt Earp, on the other hand, tells a more complete story, still centered around that historic event, but provides much more detail before he ever arrived in the Arizona mining town. Undeniably, Tombstone is a tighter and also more factually accurate film (for some elaboration on this, please see its entry in each SEVENSES: Westerns and SEVENSES: Biopics). Aside from the larger span of its figure's life, Wyatt Earp is yet a very good film on its own merit, much of which is due to its ensemble cast, also a part of what makes Tombstone so engaging. That is the concluded subject for today. Again, the goal is not to negatively criticize but merely to express what the actors bring to their roles. Part I, two weeks ago, was on prominent figures in both films which both actors are notable. Last week's Part II was prominent figures in both films, but only one of the actors is notable. This final Part III is regarding notable actors in a role exclusive to one of the films. I am keeping with the format and will note up to three other roles I liked each of the actors in or respect them for.

Before the actors, here is some basic information about each film. For the list that follows, I maintain this release order.

• Tombstone, 1993, 130 mins (Director's Cut: 134 mins), Directed by George P. Cosmatos, Written by Kevin Jarre, Music by Bruce Broughton
• Wyatt Earp, 1994, 190 mins, Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, Written by Dan Gordon and Lawrence Kasdan, Music by James Newton Howard

Part III: Prominent Figure (Exclusive to One Film)

Henry Hooker: Charlton Heston (Tombstone)

Henry Hooker was a rancher friendly to the Earps, who allows the party to rest up on his ranch in the midst of the Vendetta Ride. Charlton Heston is well known for playing George Taylor in the first two Planet of the Apes films, Robert Neville in The Omega Man, and Good Actor in Wayne's World 2.

Billy Breckinridge: Jason Priestley (Tombstone)

William Breakenridge, alternately spelled as "Breckinridge", was deputy sheriff to Behan at the time of the gunfight and its aftermath. Jason Priestley is of course best known as Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, though I am not overly familiar with it.

Johnny Tyler: Billy Bob Thornton (Tombstone)

Johnny Tyler was a rival to the Earps, acquainted with Doc Holliday before arriving in Tombstone. Billy Bob Thornton excellently played Karl Childers in Sling Blade.

Mr. Fabian: Billy Zane (Tombstone)

Mr. Fabian is a fictional character created for the film and is part of the same theatre troupe as Josephine Marcus. Billy Zane is known for playing "Match" in the first two Back to the Future films and Cal Hockley in Titanic.

Barnes: John Corbett (Tombstone)

Johnny Barnes reportedly was involved in the attempted murder and maiming of Virgil Earp. I mostly know John Corbett from God's Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness, in which his role is Pearce Hill.

Nicholas Earp: Gene Hackman (Wyatt Earp)
Nicholas Earp was the patriarch of the family. Many of his children were likely influenced to careers in law enforcement by his service as a town constable and later Justice of the Peace. Gene Hackman turns in a great performance, as always, as he did as Lex Luthor in three of the four Christopher Reeves Superman films, Little Bill Daggett in Unforgiven, and Herod in The Quick and the Dead.

James Earp: David Andrews (Wyatt Earp)

James Earp was the oldest brother, aside from Newton, a half-brother from their father's first marriage. After serving the Union in the Civil War, he was less involved in matters as a lawman than his brothers and owned a saloon at the time of the gunfight. David Andrews portrayed Robert Brewster in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Ed Masterson: Bill Pullman (Wyatt Earp)

Ed Masterson was the older and is portrayed as the more diplomatic of the Masterson brothers, leading to a post as marshal of Dodge City, Kansas after Wyatt. Bill Pullman had main roles in Spaceballs as Lone Starr and in Independence Day as President Whitmore.

Bat Masterson: Tom Sizemore (Wyatt Earp)

Bat Masterson was first a gunfighter and later sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, of which Dodge City is the county seat. He is shown to have a demeanor more akin to Wyatt, and thus they are friends over this commonality. Tom Sizemore has a large body of work, often portraying law enforcement, but I primarily know him from the title character in the Justice League episode "Metamorpho".

Bessie Earp: JoBeth Williams (Wyatt Earp)

Bessie was James Earp's wife. JoBeth Williams is best known as Diane Freeling in Poltergeist.

Warren Earp: Jim Caviezel (Wyatt Earp)

Warren Earp was the youngest of the Earp brothers, present in Tombstone after the gunfight. Jim Caviezel is best known for his portrayal of Jesus in The Passion of the Christ.

Sally: Téa Leoni (Wyatt Earp)
Presumedly, this character is based on Wyatt's common law wife prior to Mattie, Sally Heckel. Téa Leoni is best known to me as Amanda Kirby in Jurassic Park III.

Ed Ross: Martin Kove (Wyatt Earp)

Ed Ross is a fictional character created for the film to serve as a minor antagonist for the purpose of showing that Wyatt would prefer a non-lethal solution to conflict. Martin Kove is best known for his role as John Kreese in the first three The Karate Kid films, one he reprised in the Cobra Kai series, and is an actual martial artist.

Next up...Star Wars: Parallels!