WICHITA

Legendary Old West lawman Wyatt Earp has been the subject of dozens of movies and television shows over the years. So many, in fact, that a semester long college class could be offered just on depictions of Earp in popular culture.

The actors who have portrayed Earp onscreen include: Henry Fonda in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946), Will Geer in WINCHESTER '73(1950), Burt Lancaster in GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL (1957), James Garner in HOUR OF THE GUN (1967), Kurt Russell in TOMBSTONE (1993) and Kevin Costner in WYATT EARP (1994). And let's not forget the television series THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP (1955-1961), in which Hugh O'Brian played the title character.

There are many more films and while I haven't seen all of the Earp related films, I will go on record that of the ones I have seen, Russell's portrayal in TOMBSTONE is hands down the best.

WICHITA (1955) is yet another Wyatt Earp movie, this time featuring veteran Western actor Joel McCrea in the role. It's a serviceable enough film in which Earp cleans up the wild boom town of Wichita by instituting his no firearms policy.

Sure, it's a seen-it-all-before narrative but there are several interesting things about this film that stand out. First, it's shot in CinemaScope and Technicolor, a format that was introduced in the 1950s to combat the growing threat of television which was stealing audiences away from movie theaters. It's beautifully shot by Harold Lipstein but, like so many other CinemaScope pictures of the era, the widescreen format practically demands that everything be photographed in either long or medium shots. There's not a close up to be seen anywhere in this film.

Another tidbit is the choice of director, none other than Jacques Tourneur. WICHITA was not the only Western film Tourneur made but he's much better known for his horror and noir films including: CAT PEOPLE (1942), I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE (1943), THE LEOPARD MAN (1943), OUT OF THE PAST (1947), BERLIN EXPRESS (1948), NIGHT OF THE DEMON/CURSE OF THE DEMON (1957), THE COMEDY OF TERRORS (1964) and CITY UNDER THE SEA/WAR-GODS OF THE DEEP (1965). Tourneur's direction here is professional enough, it's just that the CinemaScope format locks him into a severely rigid visual style. The score by Hans J. Salter is rousing and adds much to the story.

The supporting cast include many actors who later gained fame in television. One of the villains, a vicious cowboy named Gyp is played by Lloyd Bridges, who later starred in SEA HUNT (1958-1961). Edgar Buchanan, who plays a crooked saloon owner, was the loveable Uncle Joe on PETTICOAT JUNCTION (1963-1970). Big Peter Graves (real life brother of James (GUNSMOKE) Arness), plays Wyatt's brother Morgan. Graves later starred in FURY (1955-1960) and on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1967-1973).

Western regular Jack Elam is on hand as another bad cowboy, Wallace Ford plays the boozy newspaper publisher Arthur Whiteside, and the always lovely Vera Miles is Laurie, Wyatt's love interest. Her mother, Mrs. McCoy, who gets gunned down by the bad guys, is played by Mae Clarke who found fame in FRANKENSTEIN and THE PUBLIC ENEMY (both 1931). Keith Larsen plays Bat Masterson, who starts out as a newspaper reporter and ends up as Earp's deputy. Gene Barry also played Bat Masterson in the television series of the same name that ran from 1958-1961.

WICHITA ends with Earp and his bride, having brought law and order to Wichita, head off for Dodge City where his adventures would continue.

WICHITA is a perfectly fine production with a solid cast and high production values. Heck, there's even a theme song sung by Tex Ritter! There are certainly worse Wyatt Earp films as there are also much better ones. Still, it's an enjoyable way to pass a hot summer day. 

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