Tombstone is a historical western film directed by George P. Cosmatos, which was released in 1993. The film is a retelling of the Earp brothers, particularly Wyatt Earp, and their interactions with John “Doc” Holliday, the Cochise County Cowboys, the Shootout at the O.K. Corral, and the Earp Vendetta Ride. All of these took place in the early 1880s in the Southeastern Arizona Territory. This film is one of the many cinematic iterations of the events, and while it features real people and depicts real events, the 1993 film doesn’t get some of the events, or even the people in question, right. Some things that were also incorrect in the film, including the Cowboys wearing Red Sashes, the Boot Hill Cemetery, and even Marshal Fred White. This article will look over the historical inaccuracies present in the 1993 cult classic. 

One historical inaccuracy that is present in the movie is the scene where the Earp brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Cowboys enter the Birdcage Theater. The Cowboys cause a ruckus in the Birdcage Theater, by shooting at the performers and being loud. When Mr. Fabian is done reciting the Crispin’s day speech from Henry V, the Cowboys not only give a standing ovation, they also shoot up at the ceiling, much to everyone else’s indifference. Furthermore, during Faust, or the Devil’s bargain (also known as Faust, a tragedy) by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Curly Bill, a member of the Cowboys, makes a joke about the the tragedy, making all the Cowboys present in the Birdcage Theater laugh pretty loudly. While the Cowboys, the Earp brothers, their wives, and Doc Holliday and his wife, might all have been at the Birdcage Theater coincidentally, firing up at the ceiling was illegal in Tombstone. Furthermore, Mr. Fabian wasn’t a real person, though his fellow performer Josephine Marcus was real. Also, the Birdcage Theater appears to be huge, but it’s a typical small 19th century theater.  

Another historical inaccuracy that is present in the movie is the scene where Curly Bill stumbles out of an opium den in the dead of night, high from the stuff. Stumbling around, he shoots his pistols erratically in the air as he laughs & shouts crazily before howling like a wolf & shooting at the full moon, but it ends up waking up most of the town. Marshal White attempts to disarm Curly Bill, but the latter misfires, shooting Marshall White dead with his pistols. Wyatt pistol whips Curly Bill to the ground, rendering the latter unconscious. As Wyatt begins to apprehend him, some of the Cowboys rush over to Earp, demanding that Curly Bill be released, or else. Wyatt ultimately ignores the threats, and townsfolk’ support for a lynching for the death of Marshal Fred White. Curly Bill was later tried in Tucson, but acquitted, as an accidental shooting. At this point in the movie, Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan are private citizens; and this incident motivated the brothers to re-enter law enforcement. While this did happen on October 30th, 1880, Curly Bill was actually drunk not high on opium. Furthermore, Virgil and Wyatt were already in law enforcement; only Morgan got involved as a lawman after Marshall White’s death. Not to mention, the Birdcage Theater was actually built after this event. Marshall White didn’t die on the spot, he died a few days later from the wounds. 

Another historical inaccuracy that is present in the movie is the sequence of the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. All three brothers confront Holliday, who insists he’d tag along, saying to Wyatt, “That is a hell of a thing for you to say to me.” Realizing that Doc is too involved to not be involved, Wyatt tells Virgil to swap his shotgun for Holliday’s walking cane, and Virgil does. Virgil, Wyatt, Morgan, and Doc walk down Fremont Street to confront Ike Clanton, his little brother Billy, Tom McLaury, and his older brother Frank. The townsfolk run off the street for safety. When they arrive at the Corral, Ike, Billy, Tom, & Frank, as well as a few Cowboys, are ready and armed. As they reach for their guns, everyone freezes, with Doc cocking the shotgun. One cowboy, Billy Claiborne, books it out of the situation immediately. Everyone pulls out their pistols and the shootout begins. As Morgan shoots Billy, Ike runs to his little brother; meanwhile, Doc shoots in the air to scare the horse before shooting the horse’s owner. Ike throws his hands in the air and screams that he’s unarmed before he runs to Wyatt, who tells him to, “get to fightin’ or get away.” And Ike does, running into a house by breaking in. Meanwhile, Virgil gets shot in the calf and Morgan sustains a bullet in the right shoulder. Only Wyatt & Doc haven’t been hit yet, both shooting Billy multiple times. Meanwhile, Ike grabs a gun and shoots through the window point blank at Doc. The latter shoots at Ike with two guns. After a few more rounds, Ike runs away. As a Cowboy taunts Holliday, the latter gives into it before the Cowboy is shot dead. While the gunfight did happen on October 26th, 1881, the gunfight actually happened at a back alley near the Corral. Furthermore, Ike didn’t grab a gun and use it through a window. In the film, even though County Sheriff Johnny Behan says that the Earps & Doc are under arrest, Wyatt says, “I don’t think I’ll let you arrest us today, Behan.”However, following the events, Wyatt and Doc were on trial for a month. But they were acquitted, as Wyatt was a Lawman and thus, did what he had to do. 

One last historical inaccuracy that is present in the film is the scene where Curly Bill & a few associates of his set up a trap for Wyatt and Doc, as well as their 2 associates, Texas Jack Vermillion & Sherman McMasters, in a riverside forest. After a long thought of consideration, Wyatt makes the decision to face Curly Bill face-to-face. He shoots Burly Bill dead in the water before shooting the other Cowboys. Holliday, Vermillion, & McMasters help Earp take the other Cowboys out in the forest. However, two Cowboys manage to escape. Even though this possibly happened, Curly Bill didn’t trap them; the Cowboys and the Earp Posse bumped into each other. Curly Bill & his men were camped and Wyatt & his men were looking for a place to water their horses. Furthermore, Holliday, Vermillion, & McMasters rode away while Wyatt was being shot at. 

Despite all of this, history is long and complex, even for those who know the topic in question. The director wanted to compile the events in Wyatt Earp’s life with his family and friend into a single film. So, it would make sense to cut certain events out, or even put events at the same time, as well maybe switching around events here and there. This also includes changing up the historical figures in question, such as Marshal Fred White, who was actually around 35 years old at the time of his death by Curly Bill. Also, there were few other Earps, like James and Warren Earp, but It would make sense to feature only the brothers that have a significant role in the events featured in the film (Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan). Not to mention, Josephine Marcus claimed to have been an actress, but she might have actually been just a prostitute, at the Birdcage Theater.  Despite all of these inaccuracies & contradictions, the film is still able to tell a major part of the history of the American Southwest in an entertaining and engaging way. If you want to see the film for yourself, you can watch it on Amazon, and have a look at the daring interactions in the Arizona town of Tombstone for yourself.