Mikel3 I just watched this on TCM free on-demand. The story starts with the famous Gun Fight at the OK corral as Wyatt Earp (James Garner), Doc Holliday (Jason Robards) and the other Earp brothers confront Ike Clanton's gang (Robert Ryan). The story is in some ways a sequel to John Sturges previous film 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral'(1957) with different actors. The plot here deals with the aftermath of the famous gun battle, the court trials, and the revenge killings that followed. I felt that Jason Robards' was the standout performance here by far. His fine depiction of hard drinking seriously ill Doc Holliday is both memorable and believable. One standout scene is after Doc has an argument with Wyatt Earp and gets punched for what he says, his reaction to that punch is one only a man of Mr. Robards' talents could express so well; he was hurt both physically and emotionally at the same time by the punch. The punch also revealed just how sick he was in spite of his hiding it. Mr. Robards is, in my opinion, one of the greatest screen actors and often underrated as such. James Garner was competent, yet only had to act like a tougher less good-natured version of his Bret Maverick TV persona, there really wasn't much range to his Wyatt Earp. Robert Ryan was also in the film, unfortunately he had very little screen time or decent scenes to show off his usually impressive talents; any decent actor could have played his role. Overall it was a good if formula western with no real surprises to brag about. The reason it's worth watching is for Jason Robards' stand out performance, some excellent dialog, and fine music by Jerry Goldsmith. At the end the TCM host said this was considered John Sturges finest western, I have to disagree, a few of his other works 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'Last Train From Gun Hill' were at least as good or better. Don't get me wrong, this is a good western, just nothing special or different like some of his others works were. I give this film a 6 out of 10 stars.

Richie-67-485852 A true Western for western fans is what we got here. Down to earth and believable this movie has grit and realism in several parts that when put together bring credibility to the well told tale of the gunfight at OK corral and then some. James Garner pulls it off nicely along with a splendid supporting cast that all relish their roles and hold nothing back. Decent musical score that helps us stay tuned in too. Enjoy the whiskey drinking, horses, saloons, dust, threats, good and bad guys and notice how the law worked but really didn't. Its like they were between trusting it and not trusting it and this grey zone is where this films spends its time. Law and order was necessary or total chaos would reign. However, the law was in its beginning stages and was not mature enough or strong enough to stand on its own. Furthermore, it could be bought and manipulated of which this movie shows well. The movie is a must see again which is the true test of a good flick and worthy of being in ones library. Get a snack, tasty drink and begin the...

jacobs-greenwood Producer-director John Sturges decided to revisit his much better directed Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) ten years later with a different cast of characters playing the historical figures - Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clantons et al. Whereas the famous shootout has been told and retold countless times throughout cinema's history, writer Edward Anhalt picks up the story where the others have left off to relate what happened between Earp (James Garner), Holliday (Jason Robards), and (specifically) Ike Clanton (Robert Ryan) after the dust had settled in Tombstone, Arizona. Ironically, Sturges had shown a fictional six minute long version of the gun battle in his original telling; he directs a more accurate 30 second version of it in this one, whose opening credits claim "this is how it really happened".After the gunfight, city marshal come U.S. marshal Earp and gambler Holliday are accused of being cold blooded killers by Ike Clanton, who'd lost his son Billy in the exchange, and his paid for county sheriff Jimmy Bryan (Bill Fletcher). But Judge Spicer (William Schallert) finds them not guilty. However, the personal feud continues as Earp's lawmen brothers - Morgan and Virgil - are gunned down one by one by Clanton's hired hands (including Jon Voight in only his second film and an uncredited Ben Johnson) while the new city marshal (Michael Tolan) watches from the shadows. Assisted by Holliday, who's gotten remarkably healthier since suffering a near collapse from his fight with tuberculosis in Sturges's earlier film, and the Tucson Sheriff (Monte Markham) among others, Earp pursues each of the perpetrators under federal orders to bring them in for prosecution. But of course, circumstances prevent this so that each of the accused can be eliminated by various means which are more dramatically pleasing to the director and Western movie audiences. But it's not over yet! Finally, evidence of Holliday's condition is revealed and Earp still has to track down Ike in Mexico; whether historically accurate or not, I think both of these story lines could have been cut or better incorporated in the final release. Also absent in this Sturges film is any reference to the stigma attached to Earp for his association with his gambling gunfighter friend Holliday.

lee1888 Most people know about the GUN fight at the O. K. Corral, but very few knew what happen after the gunfight before this movie was made. That is where this movie begins.James Garner plays Wyatt much like Burt Lancaster did in Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, tight lipped and straight faced. Garner is a great actor but in my opinion he play this just a little to grim. I think I counted Garner smiling twice in the entire movie.Jason Robards plays Doc Holliday in a very cynical way. Reminding Wyatt and hoping that he wont throw all his principles of being a upstanding lawman away. He stays with Wyatt on his vengeful task at getting even with the men responsible for killing Morgan and shooting Virgil.The movie is filled with plenty of action and gun play, what is missing, is a female lead and just a touch of humor, two things that every great movie has and needs. Why these two important ingredients were left out is anyone's guess. I enjoyed this movie, but I do must westerns. The acting was very good and so was the script. But this is not a date movie or one the kids now days would like. It is however a great kick back good old boys shoot um up. So grab a pizza and a beer and set back and enjoy.