Wyatt Earp

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Wyatt Earp

Webmaster · Senior Member

My name's Marcelle.

I'm still studying Wyatt Earp, but the two books I was recommended and like are Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend by Casey Tefertiller and Inventing Wyatt Earp: His Life and Many Legends by Allan Barra. Just like with Billy the Kid, Wyatt is a very complicated and controversial figure that's going to require a lot of studying, and again, just like with Billy the Kid, he's either loved or hated.

Wyatt Earp starring Kevin Costner was indeed the most accurate film made on Wyatt Earp and Denis Quaid did a great job as Doc. Unfortunately the film came out immediately after Tombstone and didn't get good reviews, I think it was a little over the general public's head and only history and Earp buffs liked the movie. Personally, I feel Costner was miscasted as Wyatt Earp and it spoiled the movie for me, he was like a golden retriever playing a pit bull and as I watched Wyatt Earp I kept seeing him as Lt. John Dunbar in Dances with Wolves. Sorry to any Costner fans out there.

robert1953 · Veteran Member

quote:
Originally posted by: Webmaster
"Personally, I feel Costner was miscasted as Wyatt Earp and it spoiled the movie for me, he was like a golden retriever playing a pit bull and as I watched Wyatt Earp I kept seeing him as Lt. John Dunbar in Dances with Wolves. Sorry to any Costner fans out there."

Do you mean that Costner will always be seen as inherently good, lacking the ruthlessness that the role of Earp required? I think you may well be right. It begs the question though, who would you have cast in his place?

Webmaster · Senior Member

I wouldn't say Wyatt Earp was exactly ruthless in a cold-blooded sense, but he was a tough-&-rough no-nonsense man. If someone pushed him or his family, he pushed right back twice as hard. I couldn't see Costner as that type; no matter how tough he tried to be he still wasn't intimidating. I think Kurt Russell in Tombstone was the best Wyatt Earp ever. Not only did he look like Wyatt, but had the presence and toughness. Of course the Tombstone production got a hold of him first for their movie, but I would’ve loved to have seen him in Wyatt Earp as well.

-- Edited by Webmaster at 11:05, 2004-08-26

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Hey Marcelle, first let me say, my name is Jack Kelly and it is nice to be here and share posts with you.

I was wondering if you know of any big websites and message boards (forums) of some western people ie: Wyatt Earp and or big western events ie: Klondike?

Thank you.

Webmaster · Senior Member

I have a list of good websites that may interest you on my LINKS web page. I'll also add that there's a great book on the Klondike, called Klondike: The Last Great Gold Rush, 1896-1899, by Pierre Berton. It's not only informative and interesting, but wonderfully written.

philamopolis · Veteran Member

Anyone of interest of Wyatt Earp did you know they've made 19 movies of him. (correct me if I'm wrong) most of those obviously Doc Holliday was in the majority.

Over at oldwesthistory, the webmaster there knows a considerable amount of info and he enlightened me with the best Earp books to buy to date. Thank you Marcelle again for posting the link and Earp books I appreciate it. I'm going to repeat abit but also add a few others. Hope this is of help to someone.

1. (1999) Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend (416 pages)

2. (1998) Wyatt Earp Speaks (410 pages)

3. (1995) The Truth About Wyatt Earp (445 pages)

4. (1999) The Real Wyatt Earp (256 pages)

and a great book from: www.wyattearpbook.com

(2002) Wyatt Earp a Biography of the Legend (995 pages)

I guess the report is that The Wyatt Earp Society over at www.oldwesthistory.net/oldwest2.html/

are planning a little re-tooling, including adding a Wyatt Earp & Stuff Message Board.

Great news for the Western folks of the internet!