There is no doubt that Ike Clanton was a wild gun-toting outlaw capable of doing the worst. While it may seem likely that he was killed while he was robbing a bank (as we learn in the film’s narration), in reality, he ended his life trying to get away with a different crime. Detective Jonas Brighton who was on Clanton’s trial tried to arrest him for cattle-rustling.
So, as Clanton tried to escape arrest for stealing cows, he was shot and killed. One thing’s true about the narrator’s summary, Ike Clanton lived on the other side of the law and was killed for doing so.
Stephen Lang’s Portrayal of Wild Outlaw Ike Clanton
Director Cosmatos divulged the fact that Stephen Lang occasionally had a little too much to drink during the filming of "Tombstone". In the book "The Making of Tombstone" the author recalls such a moment. Actor Charles Schneider, who played Professor Gillman, told the story. He said Lang was still in costume and appeared to be yet in character, though his shoot was wrapped up.
“So there he was looking like he was red-faced, slightly out of his mind and he was acting like he was a fancy man directing an orchestra.” Schneider detailed Lang’s off-script “conductor performance,” which, he said, was perfectly suited for his crazy character, exactly what Ike Clanton might do. Schneider sums up the story, “Wow, I’m watching Stephen Lang being that guy totally at the moment having fun.”
Kilmer’s Impromptu Whistle
The classic gunfight scene at the O.K. Corral is the climax of the movie, but it lasts only about five minutes. The actual shootout with guns-a-blazing detonated in only 30 seconds.
The historical event is known as the most famous gunfight in American Wild West history. When "Tombstone" portrays it, Wyatt Earp, Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, and Doc Holiday are pictured strutting into town. Val Kilmer, playing Doc Holiday, decided to start whistling in the middle of the filming of the dramatic scene. Just when the tension was so thick you could slice it with a knife, Kilmer broke into a whistle. The director liked it, and Kilmer’s eerie whistling improvisation made it into the film.
An 1880s Star Spangled Banner
Despite the fact that screenwriter and former director Kevin Jarre was adamant about creating a historically accurate setting of an authentic 1880s Tombstone, a couple of minor details got caught by the historical accuracy police.
If you watch the scene that precedes the O.K. Corral gunfight, you’ll see Wyatt is standing on the town marshal’s office porch talking to Doc and his brothers. If you look closely, you’ll notice an American flag flying behind him. In 1881 there were only 38 states in the union and 38 stars on the American flag. The flag in this scene is our current flag with 50 stars. Oops.
The Billy Breckenridge Controversy
In real life, Billy Breckenridge was a soldier, an author, a teamster, a railroader, and a lawman. He was one tough dude. During the legendary gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Breckenridge served as assistant Tombstone City Marshal for the Arizona Territory. (Before Arizona statehood)
In the film, for some reason, Billy Breckenridge’s character was portrayed as effeminate and weak. In actuality, he was a big man, robust in stature, and a strong former railroad worker. Jason Priestly was chosen to play Breckenridge. Though his performance was fantastic, the role he was given showed a man quite different than the historical Breckenridge.