Tombstone was released on December 25th, 1993. It has since become a cult classic as more and more people watch the western film loosely based on the events in Tombstone, including the gunfight and the Earp Vendetta Ride, during the 1880s. The film is directed by George P. Cosmatos and written by Kevin Jarre. The film was a commercial success grossing 73.2 million dollars worldwide.
Tombstone is known for its drama and western vibe making it number 16 in the highest-grossing western films since 1979. It is no different than the other movies on the list and definitely deserves the praise it receives. Since the film’s release, many have been curious about its filming locations. Hence, here we have, Where was Tombstone filmed?
A book about the film called, The Making Of Tombstone was published in 2018. The film stars Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer, with Sam Elliot, Bill Paxton, Powers Boothe, Michael Biehn, and Dana Delaney in supporting roles, as well as narration by Robert Mitchum. The movie received a positive critical response.
Plot
Tombstone’s storyline revolves around a retired lawman named Wyatt Earp, played by Kurt Russell. In the year 1879, members of an outlaw gang, who wear red sashes, known as the Cowboys, are led by “Curly Bill” Brocius, played by Powers Boothe, crashed a police officer’s wedding and massacred the people present. They do this as revenge for killing two members of their gang.
Before being shot, the priest warns them that their acts of murder will be avenged, and he references the biblical fourth horseman. Meanwhile, Wyatt reunites with his brothers Virgil and Morgan, played by Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton, respectively, and the trio venture onto Tombstone to settle down. There, they meet Wyatt’s old friend, Doc Holliday, played by Val Kilmer, who is seeking relief from his worsening tuberculosis. While Josephine Marcus and Mr. Fabian, played by Dana Delaney and Billy Zane, respectively, arrive in town with a traveling theatre troupe.
All the while, Wyatt’s wife Mattie Blaylock, played by Dana Wheeler Nicholson, is becoming dependent on laudanum. After Wyatt encounters the cowboys, he decides to rid the town of them. Later Curly Bill begins shooting at the sky after visiting an opium den and is told by Marshal Fred White, played by Harry Carey Jr., to put down his weapon. This backfires, and Curly Bill kills him and gets arrested instead.
Ike Clanton, played by Stephen Lang, and the other cowboys are infuriated by the arrest. However, Curly Bill is not found guilty due to a lack of witnesses, and Virgil, who becomes the new Marshal, imposes a weapons band within city limits. This leads to a gunfight in which Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers, played by Thomas Hayden Church, John Philbin, and Robert John Burke, are killed.
Virgil and Morgan are wounded as well, and they learn of the allegiance between the county sheriff Johnny Behan, played by Jon Tenney, and the cowboys. As revenge for the cowboy deaths, the gang kills Morgan and handicaps Virgil. While being pursued, Wyatt reaches his family to safety and surprises the assassins. After this, Wyatt and Doc, along with a reformed cowboy named Sherman McMasters, Texas Jack Vermillion, and Turkey Creek Jack Johnson, played by Michael Rooker, Peter Sherayko, and Buck Taylor, respectively, form a posse to seek revenge.
After Wyatt and his posse are ambushed by the cowboys, he finally kills Curly Bill. When Doc’s health worsens, they are taken in by Henry Hooker, played by Charlton Heston, at his ranch. They are ultimately successful in ridding the town of the cowboys, after which Doc is sent to a sanatorium where he dies of his illness, and Wyatt pursues Josephine to begin a new life. Due to the amazing storyline and the locations to go along with it, fans of the movie have often asked: Where was Tombstone filmed?
Where is Tombstone filmed?
Tombstone was mainly filmed in the state of Arizona. To be specific, it was mainly carried out in the Old Tuscan Studios in Mescal. Apart from the studios, it was also filmed in Babocomarri Ranch and Empire Ranch in Sonoita. Filming was also carried out in Texas Canyon, Little Dragoon Mountains, Skeleton Canyon, Elgin Sonoran Desert, Las Cienegas National Conservation area, Patagonia, Whetstone Mountains, Tucson Mountains, Fort Crittenden, Turkey Creek, Mt. Lemmon, Harshaw, St. David, Sierrita Mountains, and Benson. The movie was filmed from May 17th, 1993, till August 28th, 1993. Some of the scenes were shot in actual locations.
A grave marker can be seen in the cemetery when the Earps first enter Tombstone, which reads, “Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from 44, no less no more.” There is a real tombstone that has this epitaph in Arizona. To make the town of Tombstone, Arizona, look more prominent, two locations were joined together. A lot of snow can be seen towards the end of the film. The snow in the ending is a contrast to all the desert seen in the film.