The most historically correct Doc Holliday in movies

johngross said:
What about Bones? :)

061.jpg


star-trek-the-original-series-deforest-kelley-s-script-for-spectre-of-the-gun-4.jpg
Click to expand...

Bones (DeForest Kelly) played Tom McLaury of the Clanton gang. Doc Holliday was played by Sam Gilman.
 
Wyatt,

Regarding the guns in "Tombstone."
See if you can find a copy of
"Tombstone. The Guns and Gear"
by Peter Sherayko, who was tech
adviser for guns, gear, clothing.
He also appeared in the movie
as Turkey Creek Jack Johnson.

Just a tidbit, Ringo's Colt was
a Frontier Six-Shooter of recent
vintage cut from 7.5 inches
to the 4.75. And Doc's guns
were from the era, a 1897 .45
and a .38 "Lightning." A
double of the .45 didn't have
the cross cylinder pin.

And quite a few of the other
guns were close to the original
time period. Of course, others
were recent Italian made.
 
Wyatt Burp said:
Here’s how nitpickish I get tripping on this stuff. Tombstone was so accurate about guns and holsters. You know that and also about the saddles which I don’t. But there was one ironic gun mistake. when Billy Clanton goes for his Colt at the OK Corral, notice that it has black hard rubber grips. Not available until 1882, a year later, and not without the Eagle on them like his until the 1890s. the irony being he had a real Colt while the other “Colts” were probably Italian. this is the ridiculous stuff I bring up that get’s my wife’s eyes rolling. All in fun as we all love these films, mistakes and all.
Click to expand...

Historically, Wyatt normally carried his pistol in a special leather lined pocket in his overcoat. According to the court transcripts when the Earps were tried after the gunfight when Behan told the Earps that he had disarmed the Clantons /McLaureys Wyatt removed is pistol from his waistband an put it back in the coat pocket indicating that he wasn't expecting or looking for a fight.

If you're paying attention this is depicted in the movie Tombstone.
 
Last edited:
In Allan Barra's book on the Earp/Tombstone affair, his chapter on Doc Holliday is titled: "Putting Clothes On A Ghost." Seems to show how much/far we have to wing it when portraying Doc.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
kaaskop49 said:
In Allan Barra's book on the Earp/Tombstone affair, his chapter on Doc Holliday is titled: "Putting Clothes On A Ghost." Seems to show how much/far we have to wing it when portraying Doc.
Click to expand...

Truth is if we knew more about
the real Doc he might be
dismissed as anything actually
worthy of a portrayal.

Not knowing allows for the
creation of better stories.
 
Chubbs103 said:
Historical correctness means nothing here.

Dana Delaney.

That is all I have to say.
Click to expand...


That’s one place inauthenticity is a good thing.

Imagine having to look at true-to-life 19th century women[emoji43]‍[emoji94]
 
jtcarm said:
That’s one place inauthenticity is a good thing.

Imagine having to look at true-to-life 19th century women[emoji43]‍[emoji94]
Click to expand...

Your grandmother or great grandmother?

Or was your family a miraculous creation
in, say, 1970? :)
 
I remember one Western
writer's critique of the
real Doc as probably a
bit of several portrayals:

Victor Mature's constant use of a handkerchief and his hacking.
Stacey Keach's sordid relations with Kate.
Kirk Douglas' sadistic treatment of Kate and his self pity.
Val Kilmer's display of morbid humor.
Quaid's gaunt on-the-way-out-the-door demeanor.
Jacon Robard's moral tempering logic to Earp's volitility.
 
Last edited:
UncleEd said:
Truth is if we knew more about
the real Doc he might be
dismissed as anything actually
worthy of a portrayal.

Not knowing allows for the
creation of better stories.
Click to expand...

After reading Micheal Wallis' David Crockett, Lion of the West I became convinced that if David Crockett hadn't died at The Alamo we never would have known his name.
 
Smoke said:
After reading Micheal Wallis' David Crockett, Lion of the West I became convinced that if David Crockett hadn't died at The Alamo we never would have known his name.
Click to expand...


Not to hijack the thread, but had Crockett, Travis, or Bowie survived and Texas won independence, you most certainly would have heard of them.

All of those men came to Texas looking for wealth & power (Bowie maybe not so much political) and would have challenged Houston for the presidency.
 
jtcarm said:
Not to hijack the thread, but had Crockett, Travis, or Bowie survived and Texas won independence, you most certainly would have heard of them.

All of those men came to Texas looking for wealth & power (Bowie maybe not so much political) and would have challenged Houston for the presidency.
Click to expand...

I think what Smoke was referring to, and I somewhat agree, is that without the Alamo, David Crockett would have been historically insignificant.
 
As for which one was more historically accurate, not sure, I wasn’t around back then… ;)

That said, Tombstone is my favorite of the Wyatt Earp movies, great cast, good direction, good action, and a nice looking film. Val Kilmer stole the show on that movie.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

FPrice
Bad Westerns
3 4 5
Replies
92
Views
4K
Malpasowildlifer
Malpasowildlifer
D
Wyatt Earp Shares His Experiences
Replies
1
Views
1K
robertrwalsh
robertrwalsh
W
"My Darling Clementine"
2
Replies
20
Views
688
ohiobuckeye
O
PALADIN85020
The Colt Model 1877 double action revolvers
Replies
7
Views
3K
Thuer
T
bettis1
"Doc" Holliday novel
Replies
11
Views
981
sophie
sophie

Latest posts

Back
Top