The Wild West is cherished by many people today as a period that remains distinctly American. With its sweeping landscapes, lonesome atmosphere, and adventurous pioneers, much can be appreciated about this period. However, the West has become saturated by stylized retellings and conflicting accounts of what really happened. By referencing multiple sources, a true telling of the American West should form, and beginning with a popular depiction of the period would help show just how flawed or accurate the public's perception is about it. Tombstone follows Wyatt Earp and his brothers, most of them being former lawmen, and their attempt to live amongst a powerful gang of outlaws. Outlaws, law men, adventurers, pioneers, diversity, honor, and violence
…show more content…
In order to begin determining how well Tombstone portrays the Wild West, the base accuracy of its events must be taken into account, or else the story becomes historical fiction, not a retelling. Surprisingly, many parts of Tombstone reflect the time period with great accuracy. Complacency of the law in Tombstone prior to the Earps' arrival is something that history backs up in multiple places. Until the Earps tried to get a hold of the situation in Tombstone, the elderly local sheriff and the corrupt county sheriff practically yielded control to the Cowboy gang. Even when the leader manslaughters the local sheriff, the judge blows off the affair so that no tensions rise. This type of situation was common in multiple parts of the Wild West when some gang was too powerful or a people group was so deplorable that one scholar in particular was led to write, "I'm sure there were crimes never investigated, never reported, and soon forgotten-whether because they were covered up, or simply because no one cared." Something very surprising in this movie is the use of many lines reportedly said during the real-life event. Lines such as Holliday's …show more content…
1993 was Tombstone's release year, but 1957 birthed its predecessor Gunfight at the OK Corral. Some differences between these movies are due to the time periods in which they were made. 1957 falls into the time in American history known for being the period where the civil rights movement began to take hold. In the older movie, the cast was "white washed" with no race diversity. Racial diversity in Tombstone, however, was very inclusive. Many characters had either Spanish roots or a good understanding of the language and culture. An example of this is when Ringo corrects one of the Cowboy's Mexican member's translation of a pueblo's priest and attests that said priest was quoting the Bible. The Chinese representation, although Chinamen were only featured in one scene, deserves applause for its subtlety and accuracy. One expert researcher found in his study of a group of Chinamen that they had a standard living area in Western towns. He said, "Chinese men lived in clusters of ramshackle dwellings on the fringes of the white community's cities and towns." At the OK Corral gunfight, the corral appears to be on the outskirts of town, and this is when Chinese extras run from the background towards the commotion. This subtle background action shows that the filmmakers put in the extra effort in trying to make their film
In order to begin determining how well Tombstone portrays the Wild West, the base accuracy of its events must be taken into account, or else the story becomes historical fiction, not a retelling. Surprisingly, many parts of Tombstone reflect the time period with great accuracy. Complacency of the law in Tombstone prior to the Earps' arrival is something that history backs up in multiple places. Until the Earps tried to get a hold of the situation in Tombstone, the elderly local sheriff and the corrupt county sheriff practically yielded control to the Cowboy gang. Even when the leader manslaughters the local sheriff, the judge blows off the affair so that no tensions rise. This type of situation was common in multiple parts of the Wild West when some gang was too powerful or a people group was so deplorable that one scholar in particular was led to write, "I'm sure there were crimes never investigated, never reported, and soon forgotten-whether because they were covered up, or simply because no one cared." Something very surprising in this movie is the use of many lines reportedly said during the real-life event. Lines such as Holliday's …show more content…
1993 was Tombstone's release year, but 1957 birthed its predecessor Gunfight at the OK Corral. Some differences between these movies are due to the time periods in which they were made. 1957 falls into the time in American history known for being the period where the civil rights movement began to take hold. In the older movie, the cast was "white washed" with no race diversity. Racial diversity in Tombstone, however, was very inclusive. Many characters had either Spanish roots or a good understanding of the language and culture. An example of this is when Ringo corrects one of the Cowboy's Mexican member's translation of a pueblo's priest and attests that said priest was quoting the Bible. The Chinese representation, although Chinamen were only featured in one scene, deserves applause for its subtlety and accuracy. One expert researcher found in his study of a group of Chinamen that they had a standard living area in Western towns. He said, "Chinese men lived in clusters of ramshackle dwellings on the fringes of the white community's cities and towns." At the OK Corral gunfight, the corral appears to be on the outskirts of town, and this is when Chinese extras run from the background towards the commotion. This subtle background action shows that the filmmakers put in the extra effort in trying to make their film