In Fort Griffin, Texas, Ed Bailey comes looking to avenge the death of his brother at the hands of gunslinger John H. "Doc" Holliday. Seeing him in a bar, Holliday's girl, Kate Fisher, returns to Holliday's room, where the two argue while Holliday throws knives at the door - near her once she brings up Holliday's once-prominent family. Well-known marshal Wyatt Earp arrives in Fort Griffin thinking he will take outlaws Ike Clanton and Johnny Ringo into custody, but instead finds out that the local sheriff, Cotton Wilson, released them despite the outstanding warrants for their arrest. Holliday refuses to help the lawman, holding a grudge against Wyatt's brother, Morgan. Holliday kills Bailey with a knife-throw when Bailey attempts to shoot him in the back. Holliday is arrested for murder, though Wyatt and Kate allow him to escape from a lynch mob.
In Dodge City, Kansas, Wyatt finds out that Holliday and Kate are in town. Holliday tells him he has no money, so Wyatt allows him to stay if he promises to not fight while he is in town. Meanwhile, gambler Laura Denbow is arrested for playing cards since women are not allowed to gamble. She is released and allowed to play in the side rooms of the saloon. Wyatt is forced to deputize Holliday because a bank robber kills a cashier and Wyatt's other deputies are out in a posse catching another outlaw. The bank robbers attempt to ambush Wyatt outside of town, but are instead killed by Wyatt and Holliday....
Directed by John Sturges
Screenplay by Leon Uris
Based on The Killer
1954 article Holiday Magazine
by George Scullin[1]
Produced by Hal B. Wallis
Starring Burt Lancaster
Kirk Douglas
Rhonda Fleming
Jo Van Fleet
John Ireland
Cinematography Charles B. Lang Jr.
Edited by Warren Low
Music by Dimitri Tiomkin; lyrics by Ned Washington main title: Gunfight at the O.K. Corral sung by Frankie Laine
Burt Lancaster – Marshal Wyatt Earp
Kirk Douglas – Doc Holliday
Rhonda Fleming – Laura Denbow
Jo Van Fleet – Kate Fisher
John Ireland – Johnny Ringo
Lyle Bettger – Ike Clanton
Frank Faylen – Sheriff Cotton Wilson
Earl Holliman – Deputy Sheriff Charlie Bassett
Ted de Corsia – Shanghai Pierce
Dennis Hopper – Billy Clanton
Whit Bissell – John Clum
George Mathews – John Shanssey
John Hudson – Virgil Earp
DeForest Kelley – Morgan Earp
Martin Milner – James 'Jimmy' Earp
Lee Van Cleef – Ed Bailey
Jack Elam – Tom McLowery
Peter Lawman – Jack Morgan
Brian G. Hutton – Rick
Kenneth Tobey – Bat Masterson