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John Sturges revisits a subject that he had explored a decade earlier with GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL, and this more melancholy version reflects the troubled period in which it was made. Set in 1888 in the aftermath of the historic gunfight, it stars James Garner as legendary sheriff Wyatt Earp. The surviving Clanton, Ike, has Wyatt and his brothers, Virgil (Frank Converse) and Morgan (Sam Melville), and their alcoholic, gunslinger friend, Doc Holiday (Jason Robards Jr.) arrested for murder. The charges are quickly dismissed, and Virgil accepts an offer to run for marshal of Tombstone. But he's trapped by some of Clanton's men and is so seriously injured that he has to step down. After Morgan offers to take his brother's place on the ballot, he's killed. Wyatt is appointed as federal marshal, and he and Doc round up a posse to go after Ike Clanton. Wyatt now displays a grim ruthlessness that disturbs even his hard-bitten friend, while Doc suddenly begins hemorrhaging and realizes that he has to go to a sanatorium or die. This inspired look at Western vengeance features a terrific cast, including Garner, Robards, Robert Ryan, Albert Salmi, and a young Jon Voight, in his film debut.
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