GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL. Paramount, 1957. Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming, Jo Van Fleet, John Ireland, Lyle Bettger, Frank Faylen, Earl Holliman. Vocals: Frankie Laine. Screenwriter: Leon Uris; director: John Sturges.

   As a technicolor movie running just over two hours in length, this was a true western epic at the time it was released, and if it isn’t considered one now, it isn’t the fault of either of the two leading stars.

   Burt Lancaster plays Wyatt Earp, straight and narrow to the core, and Kirk Douglas is in fine boisterous mettle as Doc Holliday, dying of TB and therefore unafraid of any man with a gun, and (as they say) untameable by any woman (Jo Van Fleet, as the much-abused Kate Fisher). And here lies an early cinematic revelation, perhaps, that a western hero’s deeds need not always be heroic.

   But the events of the O. K. Corral are what everyone who watches this movie is going to be waiting for. Don’t expect either historical accuracy or intelligence on part of the Clantons and their gang, including Johnny Ringo (the always menacing John Ireland). Along the way we get a bit of romance between Wyatt and a gambler lady named Laura Denbow (the beautiful redheaded Rhonda Fleming) but I noticed no particular sparks flying.

   No sir or ma’am, Kirk Douglas is the star of this show, tagging along as he does with Wyatt as the latter takes his lawmaking abilities from town to town, and a rough craggy friendship, even respect, gradually develops. And that’s the story as far as I was concerned. Friendships, even craggy ones, are never to be shunned. (Getting up from a sick bed to face the Clantons with me, as does Doc, that’s a bonus I wouldn’t ask of anyone.)