History Buffs: Tombstone

Val Kilmer is to doc holiday, what Heath ledger was to the joker

I think the fear revolving around Doc Holliday was the fact that he didn’t care if he died, not so much his death count.

Wyatt Earp was never wounded by gunfire. Through all his adventures, bullets and buckshot flying everywhere, friends and family dropping all around him, he was never hit, never wounded, totally unscathed. Interesting. That fact contributes to his mystique.

I like how they actually made Doc look ill

You’ve forgotten to include the part where Doc Holiday dies in his bed, looks down at his bare feet and says “Well I’ll be damned” the reason for this is never given. But true history buffs will know, that this was said in the movie because the real Doc Holiday always preached that he would “die with his boots on”.

Sure, Val got robbed of an Oscar and there's no denying that, but honestly with the massive recognition he still gets for this role, I'd say that's even better.

love the scene when ringo shows off his guns skills and doc does then same with a mug. Also when whilst drunk doc is told that his seeing double, doc pulls out both guns and says its ok got one for each.

Using Sam Elliot's voice from The Big Lebowski was brilliant. I had almost forgotten how he was also in Tombstone until I saw this 20 years later.

Another 'true fact' was what Doc said on his deathbed, overheard by a nurse at the bed next to his, "This is funny", in reference to his being barefoot as opposed to 'dying with his boots on'.

The TB makeup on Val Kilmer is amazing. Especially how he looks progressively sicker as the movie goes on.

17:27 I like how the actors stay in-character during the commentary. It’s like hearing the real life historical figures express their opinions on a modern camera.

I remember learning about this in school about 2 years before the movie came out. The one small detail that I liked the most that they got correct was Doc’s death scene. He always said he’d die with his boots on, which is why when he looked at his bare feet his last words were “I’ll be damned. This is funny.” It was reported by a nurse that those were his final words.

I've been to Tombstone and there are bullet holes in the ceiling of the Birdcage theater.

I can't believe after all they went through, name calling is what split Doc and Wyatt

A "misfire" is when a firearm fails. Now "negligent discharge" on the other hand is more representative of the actions taken by old curly. Most likely it was done on purpose though (during the actual event).

Plot twist: when Doc looks down at his feet and says “I’ll be damned” before he dies, he’s actually admiring his ballsack one last time in respect for all the ballsy moves he made in his life

Val Kilmer should have won an Oscar for his role!

Concerning Earp not being a hero. I read an interview from the 1900’s. He said something like, “ one thing the reporters who say I was a bad guy never mention, after I got rid of the cowboys, the crime in Tombstone stopped.”

Wyatt was a human making his way in a very tough time. I see him as a good guy pushed to make survival decisions whether bad or good. He survived so whether you think he's bad or good he survived.

My great-great-grandfather was Colonel William Herring, a prominent attorney in Tombstone. He represented Wyatt Earp in court after the gunfight. Virgil Earp was deputy US Marshall, giving him access to Federal Troops, but in reality very little day-to-day authority. Johnny Behan was Cochise County Sherriff which gave him significant authority and financial backing of ranchers. It was only until Virgil was appointed town Marshall (backed by local business) that his combined authority with his federal position that he "boxed" in Behan.