"Tombstone," directed by George P. Cosmatos and released in 1993, is a quintessential Western film that seamlessly blends elements of genre, intricate mise en scène, and a rich historical context. In this blog post, we will embark on a captivating exploration of how these components converge to create an immersive cinematic experience that captures the essence of the Wild West.
Genre Authenticity and Evolution: "Tombstone" pays homage to the Western genre while infusing it with a fresh perspective. Drawing inspiration from real events and historical figures, the film transports audiences to the lawless town of Tombstone, Arizona. By delving into themes of justice, friendship, and personal integrity, "Tombstone" adheres to the conventions of the classic Western while embracing a more character-driven narrative. The film's exploration of morality and its characters' complexities reflect the genre's evolution over time.
Mise en Scène and Cinematic Atmosphere: The mise en scène of "Tombstone" is a masterclass in recreating the rugged authenticity of the Old West. From the bustling streets of Tombstone to the sweeping landscapes that surround it, the film's set design and location choices immerse viewers in a meticulously crafted historical environment. The costumes, weapons, and architecture further contribute to the film's immersive atmosphere, transporting audiences to a time of lawlessness and conflict. The use of lighting and framing accentuates the tension and drama, intensifying the emotional impact of pivotal scenes.
Historical Context and Character Dynamics: "Tombstone" is steeped in the historical context of the late 19th century, capturing the tumultuous era of frontier expansion and territorial disputes. The film draws upon the real-life events of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the rivalry between the Earp brothers and the Cowboys gang. By intertwining historical accuracy with cinematic storytelling, "Tombstone" offers a nuanced depiction of characters' motivations and interpersonal dynamics, while also shedding light on the challenges and conflicts of the time.
Discussion Questions:
- How does "Tombstone" both adhere to and subvert the conventions of the Western genre? In what ways do the film's characters and narrative choices reflect the evolving nature of the genre?
- Analyze the film's mise en scène, including set design, costumes, and cinematography. How do these visual elements contribute to the film's immersive depiction of the Old West and enhance the overall viewing experience?
- "Tombstone" is rooted in historical events, yet it also engages with themes of personal honor and justice. How does the film's portrayal of real-life figures and conflicts illuminate broader societal dynamics and values of the time? How does this historical context resonate with contemporary audiences?
- Lastly, Did you like the film? Why/Why Not?
1. Tombstone is unique in the genre, making the characters both familiar and complex. Take our heroes, on the one hand, we have Vergle and Morgan, two characters more characteristic of the old kind of Western: the justice for the sake of justice types that represent the beginnings of a hero and a seasoned veteran. Vergle particularly reminds me of Eastwood in Fistful of Dollars, a capable fighter who steps up when he sees people in danger. Wyatt and Doc are very different from the traditional. Wyatt is a man of action like most Western heroes but doesn’t want to fight. Now, many are reluctant at first, but Wyatt is more so, in a certain way, he is much less seeking justice and more looking to protect his brothers. His being driven by revenge over justice is explored even more so at the end of the film, Wyatt is bent on justice for his dead brother, not for justice's sake as is the norm. Finally, Doc is a sickly degenerate gambler and a thief, he is far from the traditional hero, not looking for justice but, like Wyatt, looking out for those he loves. Thus, the film shows the evolution of the genre into more grey characters. Characteristic of this is the character of McMasters, a member of the Cowboy gang until he has a change of heart, rather different from the clear-cut good vs. evil of films past. Yet another example is the Sherif, he is in league with the Cowboys because they’re good for business and have made him a rich man. Also, the presence of a strong female is rather different than the Westerns of old where often women were getting captured and were the center of Machisom conflict, I think back to Fistful of Dollars and how they fought over a woman. There are most likely more, but I feel I have sufficiently answered the question, and don’t wish to babel on.
ReplyDelete2. The opening puts the viewer right in frontier Arizona, with the mission as the backdrop for the introduction of our villains. It is well-lit lighting-wise, characteristic of an old western town in the middle of the Arizona desert. That is but the first step in audience immersion… The town is rather important also, right as we enter it we see the graveyard (foreshadowing). We also see a plethora of hotels, a dirt road, and very many people going about their business. All dressed in the garb of the time but well suited to their character. The Sherif wears a rather nice suit inducting wealth, the Cowboys all wear the garb of gunfighters and, well, cowboys (also the iconic red sash), and the Earps wear suits becoming the modern middle class. Another aspect of the costume that was prominent was hair: very few men in this story are clean-shaven, and those that stand out like the actor fellow. Conversely, all the women have long hair and wear dresses characteristic of the time. And like the male actor this makes the female actor stand out, with her wearing pants and having her hair down. Going back to the scenery, a funny detail I liked was the precursor to a parking lot, that being the place to tie up one’s horse (just a funny thought I had). Touching on cinematography the action in this film puts you right there as though you are on a horse next to it as the camera follows the action or in the gunfight. The dramatization of the gunfighting is rather well-edited showing the many things happening at once with many jump cuts as the fighting shifts between the two sides. Also, the use of the thunderstorm being the foreshadowing for the major death in the film was some very good visual foreshadowing. Also, the lighting of the night feels characteristic of the time.
3. This movie is about the “Showdown at the O.K. Coral” this being the major historical event this is based around, but acts as much more of a period piece. We see real figures such as the Earps, Doc Holiday, Wyatt’s wife, and Wyatt’s other lover, all real people with real problems. Their actions are characteristic of the broader time in American history. Wyatt Earp represents the dreams of many men who went west, who wanted to score a big fortune, settle down, and raise a family (live a quiet life). We see these characters have issues also, Wyatt’s original wife is a drug addict. Doc Holiday has tuberculosis, which hadn’t yet been cured and he was deteriorating rapidly because of the lack of modern medical knowledge, he also is a degenerate gambler a problem that persists today. Personal honor and justice are major aspects of this film in that they drive every action committed by our characters. Wyatt is driven by pure rage at the film’s end as he defends the honor of his family by getting justice for Morgan. But the most important moment for highlighting the struggle between honor and justice is when the Marshal is murdered by a high Currly Bill, and Wyatt is the one who takes charge and curtails the townspeople from hanging to give Bill a fair trial. But after the death of Morgan and the attempted murder of Vergle Wyatt takes justice into his own hands, highlighting how personal honor changes Justice.
Delete4. I really enjoyed this film. I was able to watch this movie with my Sister it being her first time and it was a lot of fun. There a certain gripes I have, for instance, Wyatt’s infidelity, and that whole romantic subplot in general, I am a firm believer in the sanctity of marriage and the fact that the film actively wants us to root for Wyatt to get together with the woman he isn’t married to bothers me a little. Also, some of the action near the end is a little far-fetched, like at the river, when Wyatt and his posse are cornered he just starts saying “No, No…NO” and doesn’t get hit once, but hey I can look past it. Where this movie shines is the characters. Wyatt has a very compelling, arch, that is only made better by Kurt Russell being a total professional. But he isn’t even the best part, that being the amazingly nuanced and hard-to-explain charm of Doc Holiday. Doc is a walking contradiction, he hangs out with the filth of society while being a very well-educated fellow. What makes him enduring is his wit as well as his loyalty to his friends, not to mention this is Kilmer’s best role (the man is just spectacular in every role). Not a big fan of the drinking, smoking, and the fact that his one true love was his cousin, but no character is perfect (save maybe Captain America).
1. Tombstone both adheres to and subverts conventional Western tropes in that genre. One way that the film adheres to the typical tropes from the Western genre is through its iconic setting and characters. Tombstone is one of the oldest cities in Arizona where many stories are based on and came out of; the movie is about a retelling of a real story from that city. Also, the type of characters from the films are shown in normal western films, ie., gunslinging outlaws, a sheriff / law bringer, gamblers, etc. The movie also shows the typical idea from a western of a good lawman vs the lawless outlaws. Gunfights, standoffs, and violence are also staples in the Western genre. But the film also subverts many of the tropes from western genres too. A typical trope of Western films is that the Sheriffs are more one note and not complex; he is always a good guy and there really isn’t any more to it. However, in Tombstone, Wyatt Earp is more complex and shows more to him. He didn’t want to kill anymore because he didn;t like the way that it felt. He said it felt a lot worse than what people thought it would feel like. But once the Outlaws started to challenge and threaten him, as well as having harmed his loved ones, he felt the need to go back to violence to stop them. Also, we get to see into the more personal aspects and relationships of the characters. We get to see how they interact with one another, how they love their spouses through the film, and how they care about each other’s issues deeply. Also, the characters are able to point out flaws or contradictions that they make throughout the film. These show the shift in the audience's expectations from a film where they expect more complex characters rather than one-noted characters and shows how the genre is willing to evolve and change to fit that.
ReplyDelete2. The mise en scene of the film enhances the viewing experience for the audience. This is because it helps to get you immersed into the world of the story that they are telling. The set design is an integral part of the movie and helps to establish the mood and understanding of what the film is going to be. The town is recreated to look very similar to what the real town of Tombstone looked like in the 1880’s. The architecture is very accurate, as well as the insides of the houses and saloons, and even smaller things like the lighting in buildings or the dusty streets. The costumes are also very accurate to the time period as well as the personalities and social statuses of the characters. The lawmen, aka, the Earps, wear more sophisticated looking clothes that reflect their status as lawmen, and that shows that they are looking for respect. However, to contrast that, the Cowboys wear more informal clothing that is rougher and more dirty. This shows that they are not looking for respect, and just want to disrupt the town; act on their lawless desires. Someone like Doc Holliday’s clothing reflects his individuality. He wears things that could be considered a little more flamboyant; he doesn't dress how the others dress. This shows his unapologetic individuality throughout the film. The cinematography in the film helps to convey the vastness of the Western world, but also the beauty of the city. Wide shots are often used to show the lovely Arizona landscape; there are many shots of the mountains, open skies, desert, woods, ect. This helps the audience to fall in love with the setting, as well as getting immersed into what is going on. Then they use close-up shots and medium shots to show moments of tension or give you a time of emotional depth. They are also used to show off the expressions and reactions of characters to certain situations, as well as to give a better connection between the characters as they interact.
3. The film’s portrayal of real-life figures such as the Earps, Doc Holliday, or Wyatt’s lover, and the conflicts of that time sheds light on the societal dynamics and conflicts of the Wild West period. The film is mainly based on two events; the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and the Earp Vendetta Ride. At this time, many people were moving westward to places like Arizona or California. There were many reasons for this such as wanting to escape urbanization, skipping town because of legal trouble, trying to find wealth and money, people looking for a fresh start, etc. Wanting to settle down and start fresh is true for Wyatt. He didn’t want to have to continue his life of law enforcement with violence, so he moved to Tombstone. The film also sheds light on things like lawlessness vs the law. Back then, it was understood that the cowboys could do just about anything they wanted because they are dangerous. A lot of people just had to take what they did without being allowed to fight back. But people like the Earps and Doc were not going to take that. So they made it their mission to try and stop as much of the lawlessness as they could to make the city a better place. This also plays into the idea of honor or social codes that were common back then. The shift of Wyatt from not wanting to use violence to wanting to kill all the Cowboys after an attack on him shows that honor of that time. He couldn’t let people who dishonored and hurt his family get away without punishment; they had to play. Also, even though Doc was sick, he chose to continue fighting alongside Wyatt and his brothers, even to the detriment of himself. This is because loyalty and unwavering support to someone you value was a very important and common thing back in that time. All of this resonates with the modern audience because it makes the audience think about what they could do in situations like that. How would they respond to someone when they hurt their family? Would they stand with their family and friends despite the possibility of facing legal trouble? What are the morals of doing something like what Wyatt and his gang did? It also sticks with the audience because even though we see the changes that have happened in the last 140 years, there are still some truths and themes that relate universally despite time. The ideas of waiting to stand up for something bigger than yourself, wanting to help loved ones in need, feeling the need for revenge or vengeance on those who’ve wronged you, and so on.
Delete4. Yes, I liked the film. I missed the first 10-15 minutes because I was watching it with my family, and then right as it was starting I walked off to do something, and they didn’t pause it haha. So I was a little confused at first when I came back, but I was able to catch on and understand the rest of the film. I liked that there was more character development and fleshing out of character rather than just having black and white morals and justice. The pacing seemed pretty good throughout the film. There were definitely parts that made me laugh, feel sad, feel bad for characters, and question myself on how I would respond to certain situations. I enjoyed watching it with my family because we were able to laugh and joke and talk about what was happening during it. But like Moese said, even though it may have been true, and it probably was a common occurrence back then, I didn’t like how Doc talked about loving his first cousin who was 15. It just made me feel gross. But other than that, it was a fairly good movie.