Tombstonemay have come out over 30 years ago, but fans of the acclaimed Western should be happy to know thatHollywood hasn’t stopped inventing new ways to enjoy the aging classic. Aside from stars likeKurt Russelloccasionally dropping fascinating insightsaboutTombstone’s creative process, this year also saw a renewed interest in the film’s source material onNetflix.
The streamer’s latest visit to the lawless Arizona territory,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War,is perfect forTombstonefans desperate to learn more about the real events that inspiredone of the greatest westerns of all time.
What Is ‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ About?
Released this past August and narrated byEd Harris,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Waris a six-part documentary miniseries that presents itself as a faithful retelling ofthe true story behind Wyatt Earp and his vendetta ride, but in reality, the project does more than restate the historical record. Balancing expert interviews againsta dramatized re-enactment of events that spans the entire series,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Waralmost feels like its own movie, but the documentary’s adherence to the facts allows these elements to blend nicely into an exciting and enriching viewing experience.
The show’s runtime alsoallows the project to expand on the world ofTombstonein ways the film simply never had the time to do, walking viewers through the cause, consequences, and notorious aftermath ofthe infamous shooting at the O.K. Corral.
‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ Deepens the Story Behind ‘Tombstone’
The greatest benefit of this expanded narrative focus is thatfans of the 1993 film can glean new information about the real lives of their favorite characters. Not only does the docuseries delve into the origins of Wyatt Earp’s (Tim Fellingham) friendship with Doc Holliday (Edward Franklin)— an origin story, which isunfortunately not shown inTombstone— butWyatt Earp and the Cowboy Waralso drastically recontextualizes some ofTombstone’s supporting antagonists, such as Ike Clanton (Jack Gordon). Far from the one-note gunslinger who terrorizes the town of Tombstone in the movie,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Warrevealsthe real Clanton was a cunning, media-savvy mafia typewho swore revenge on the Earp familyafter surviving the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
The miniseries also illuminates the compromising circumstances behind the early days of Wyatt’s relationship with Josephine Marcus (Christina Leonardi), as well asthe Earps' clashes against the corrupt practices of Tombstone’s Sheriff Beehan(Alex Price). The documentary is destined to disappoint those who continue to adoreMichael Biehn’s vicious turn as outlaw Johnny Ringo, however,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’s greatest sin isoverlooking this crucial component of Wyatt’s revenge ride against the cowboys. That said,the miniseries more than compensates for this inaccuracyby exploring how one man’s vendetta managed to impact the world stage.
‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ Expands on Perspective
For fans of the original film, one ofWyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’s most startling revelations has to be thatthe events depicted inTombstonewere much more central to American democracythan they appeared. Betweenmarveling atVal Kilmer’s stellar performanceand observing Tombstone’s barren locale, it’s easy to believe the film’s plot is isolated from the rest of the country. Not so. By linking Tombstone’s silver mining to the international banking schemes of J.P. Morgan (Peter O’Meara), the docuseries exploreshow Wyatt’s fight against the cowboys helped America to get out of debtincurred during the Civil War, as well as how Ike’s grandstanding reignited regional tensions that hadn’t fully abated by the early 1880s.
In terms of characters,Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Warprovides us with additional perspective onTombstone’s leads, with the docuseries also delving into Doc’s history with the tuberculosis thatplagues him throughoutTombstone, but the project’s greatest focus remains its title character. In this regard,the miniseries deserves additional praise for refusing to only portrayEarp as a romanticized, badass action hero.
Just asWyatt Earp and the Cowboy Wargoes to great lengths to dispel popular myths about the cowboys, Netflix’s docuseries portrays Earp with the nuance he deserves,someonewho betrayed everything he stood for and still fought vengefully for everything he lost.The documentary’s conclusion also details the unexpected importance of film to the real Earp’s legacy, making itessential viewing for those interested in honoring the legacyof one of the biggest names of the Old West.
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy Waris available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.Watch on Netflix
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War (2024)
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War is a 2024 TV docudrama series that explores the infamous feud between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton, focusing on the events leading up to the gunfight at the O.K. Corral and its aftermath. The series uses vivid reenactments and features narration by Ed Harris, with Tim Fellingham and Jack Gordon also starring.
