Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
On Quartile, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral scores 7/10 across five categories — strongest on Plot (Above Average), weakest on Novelty (Below Average).
Lawman Wyatt Earp and outlaw Doc Holliday form an unlikely alliance which culminates in their participation in the legendary Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
A solid, handsomely mounted Western with strong performances from Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas as Earp and Holliday respectively. The plot follows the well-trodden historical legend faithfully but without particular depth or surprise. Cinematography is competent and colorful in the VistaVision format typical of the era. Novelty is limited — this is a straightforward retelling of one of the most-filmed events in Western history, and while the Lancaster-Douglas chemistry elevates it, the film doesn't find a fresh angle on the material. The climactic gunfight delivers satisfying genre payoff but the buildup telegraphs outcomes clearly.