Val Kilmer was great, but Tombstone's original Doc Holliday could have been great

Tombstone was such a successful film that it managed to revitalize the Western genre when it needed a significant boost of energy. Although subversive, revisionist westerns like Dances with wolves And Unforgivable Although both won the Oscar for Best Picture, there weren’t very many films in the genre that evoked the populist escapism of the “Golden Age of Hollywood.” Tombstone It featured an incredible cast of some of the greatest living actors, but the film was based on the beautiful friendship between Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) and Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer). While Kilmer’s performance is considered one of his best, Willem Dafoe was almost Cast as Doc Holliday in Tombstone.

Val Kilmer almost didn’t play Doc Holliday

Casting Holliday was paramount Tombstonesince it is a historical figure who has already been seen several times in classics as well as on the screen My dear Clementine, hour of the weapon, And Shootout at the OK Corral. While Earp is intended to be the embodiment of heroism and law enforcement, Holliday is a more complex character who decides to team up with other lawmen to defeat outlaw “Curly” Bill Brocius (Powers Boothe). Despite the enthusiasm of Russell and the director George P. Cosmatos, Dafoe was rejected because he wasn’t a big enough star. In comparison, Kilmer had the success of a number of hits such as Real genius, The Doors, And Top Gunand was considered far more bankable as a leading man. Dafoe had received widespread recognition for his disturbing roles in The Movie Light sleep And Wild at heartso Buena Vista Pictures may have been worried that he would tone down the tone Tombstone.

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Kilmer’s casting had a major influence on the film’s toneas it tried to be a throwback to classic westerns High noon And Rio Bravo. The film certainly had its shocking moments, but the sense of humor Kilmer added took care of that Tombstone much more entertaining than it would have been otherwise. The production of Tombstone was extremely troubled, so it’s safe to assume that Kilmer had some creative control over Holliday’s portrayal. Had he lost the role to Dafoe it would have had a significant impact on his career; Kilmer followed him Tombstone with a short series of hits including True romance, heat, And Batman forever. Dafoe never disappeared from the public eye, but retained his status as a character actor and was rarely offered leading roles.

Would Willem Dafoe have improved “Tombstone”?

Dafoe is an excellent actor who is far more versatile than people give him credit forAnd Tombstone would have given him the opportunity to prove he could play non-villainous roles. As iconic as his terrifying performances in The lighthouse And Sam Raimi‘S Spider-Man In the trilogy, Dafoe has proven in several instances that he can play the embodiment of heroism. He added a deep layer of humanity with his portrayal of Jesus of Nazareth The Last Temptation of Christand played the “good” sergeant Oliver Stoneis the powerful Vietnam War drama Train. Dafoe would certainly have added a darker tone Tombstonebut he was not entirely averse to doing comedies; he was able to play a more eccentric character in the cult classic Streets of fireand subsequently took on many more comedic roles in several films Wes Anderson.

Dafoe might have been a more authentic choice to play Hollidaywho in real life was a gambler, gunfighter and hooligan who rarely chose the side of good. Kilmer is definitely great at chewing the scenery and showcasing Holliday’s intelligence, but he was never entirely believable as the grizzled criminal. Still, it’s great that Kilmer took the role, as his throat cancer diagnosis would make it difficult for him to act in the decades that followed. Dafoe has never failed to find work, but it would be great if he could come full circle and appear in a new Western in the near future. It’s a genre that he would fit in very well.

Tombstone is streaming on Hulu in the US.

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