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DON COLLIER'S MOVIES Tombstone
Unfortunately for Don Collier fans, the above
photo is all we get to see of him, but there is no mistaking his voice. He
plays the part of a gambler, or high roller, who comes to the Oriental Saloon
and looses his shirt to Wyatt Earp at the gaming table. We only get to see his
back, as he complains about losing everything, but his voice is beautifully
resonant, nice and deep. This movie is the classic story of Wyatt Earp and his two brothers, Virgil and Morgan, who, along with Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday, have a run-in with the Cowboys, the notorious group of outlaws who controlled the booming mining town of Tombstone back in its heyday. It is told from the perspective of Wyatt, who attempts to leave his lawman days behind by starting anew in Tombstone with his brothers. The murderous Cowboys, however, give him no end of trouble, and when Virgil and Morgan take up the shield to protect the citizens of the town, Wyatt reluctantly joins in. With Wyatt in the fracas, Doc does not hesitate, and soon it is the three Earp brother and Doc against members of the Cowboys at the showdown at the OK Corral. The action does not end with the gunfight. It continues on with Virgil's maiming, Morgan's death, and the ultimate posse from hell led by Wyatt and Doc to avenge Wyatt's brothers and bring justice to the untamed Southwest. Val Kilmer is the scene stealer as the sickly Doc Holliday. Not only does he play Chopin on the piano, he is incredibly intuitive and eccentrically logic-minded, even when drunk. When another man points out that he himself has lots of friends, Doc say simply, "Well, I don't." It answers completely why he is so loyal to Wyatt to the bitter end. There have been lots of stories told of Wyatt Earp, his brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Cowboys, but this one appears to be more historically accurate than most. Throughout, it pulls no punches. It is a great movie.
Doc Holliday Historical Person
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Wyatt
Earp: Kurt Russell