Director John Ford, working without John Wayne this time, instead casts Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp who, in this version, arrives in Tombstone Arizona on a cattle drive with his brothers Morgan(Ward Bond),& Virgil(Tim Holt). When they leave the herd in the care of third brother James, they are dismayed to later discover him murdered, and their herd stolen by ruthless cattle rustler Ike Clanton(Walter Brennan) and his sons. Wyatt becomes town Marshal to seek out the proof he needs to get the Clantons, with the help of old friend Doc Holliday(Victor Mature) which sets up the famous showdown. Along the way, he finds himself romancing the local schoolteacher Clementine...
Strangely dull film has some good direction but moves like molasses and takes far too many liberties with history to even resemble the truth; they may as well have told a whole new(and entirely fictional) story for all the difference it makes. Good cast can't save it, though it is highly regarded by many.
Strangely dull film has some good direction but moves like molasses and takes far too many liberties with history to even resemble the truth; they may as well have told a whole new(and entirely fictional) story for all the difference it makes. Good cast can't save it, though it is highly regarded by many.