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.
Wanted for Cattle Rustling
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.
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.
Why Was the Building on Fire in the Middle of the O.K. Corral Gunfight Scene
Some people have wondered why a building burned as the four lawmen headed through town to the O.K. Corral. In the movie, no explanation for the fire’s source is given. And, while it is historically accurate that many fires devastated the town of Tombstone in the early 1880s, a factor leading to its ghost town status, it seemed a bit random that one building was burning with no one tending to it.
In the movie, a building on fire is part of the dramatic buildup to the shoot-out scene. It represents some serious fire and brimstone biblical symbolism. And it’s a great background to the shot of the four horsemen on their way in. The coming of life's end and mayhem is officially introduced.
Where Did the O.K. Corral Gunfight Really Go Down?
In the movie, the dramatic scene takes place in the O.K. Corral. In actuality, it took place in a nearby area. The first shots were fired six doors down in a narrow back alleyway. It measured 1,520-feet wide and it was located just west of 312 Fremont Street near a 12-room boarding house. After several shots were fired, the fight spilled out into the street.
In the movie, cowboy Clanton runs inside the gallery and shoots at the Earps from a window. Actually, Ike Clanton ran inside and escaped out a back door. And Billy Claiborne took off before shooting commenced. The flare-up was diffused by town marshals.