MovieChat Forums > The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) Discussion > Wyatt's somewhat of a stiff with the lad...

Wyatt's somewhat of a stiff with the ladies

posted 11 years ago by corriganville
7 replies | jump to latest

And not in a good way! I think Hugh O'Brian does a great job playing the tough lawman, but he seems pretty awkward in the clinches during the "love scenes" which thankfully aren't many.

[–] Henry_Framus_Valentine 11 years ago

I think Wyatt is supposed to be reserved with the ladies. He doesn`t want to get involved because a romance would get in the way with his law enforcement duties. Also remember that Marshall Earp is a widower and may still hold a big place in his heart for his late wife Urilla.

Promise her anything, but give her a Pez!

[–] neo71665 11 years ago

While real history tells us he was no stranger to any lady's bed that would have him. Didn't matter if he or she was or wasn't married at the time.

[–] Bilwick1 9 years ago

"Also remember that Marshall Earp is a widower and may still hold a big place in his heart for his late wife Urilla."

Do you know if they referred to Wyatt being a widower in the series? Watching the episodes on CoziTV these days I'm always surprised, given the show's high fictional content, how much actual history they managed to slip in. They even managed to slip in a veiled, much disquised version of the Behan-Josephine Marcus-Wyatt triangle.

I also find Hugh O'Brian's performance as Wyatt interesting. Although I always assumed he portrayed Wyatt as (using a word in the theme song) "flawless," I often spot an edgy undertone. His Wyatt is often more admirable and heroic than actually likeable, and he clearly has a temper that he manages to keep a tight lid on, mostly.

[–] gayspiritwarrior 8 years ago

The series was based on the biography of the same title by Arthur Lake, who knew Wyatt for the last four years of his life, and who was the technical adviser for the series.

The value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it.-Oscar Wilde

[–] jndailey33 8 years ago

There is a reference in the intro to the episode Woman Trouble in season 3. It talks about the women in town being after Marshal Earp but remains true to a youthful wife who died.

If something were to happen to my mee-maw, I would be one sad little moonpie

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 9 years ago

Wyatt was "married" during his time in Tombstone. Celia Ann Blaylock, who used the name Mattie Earp, was his common-law wife. He met Josephine Sarah Marcus (former fiance of Johnny Behan) while in Tombstone, and his relationship with Mattie began to fall apart. He was with Josephine for 47 years. As for his being indiscriminately promiscuous, as suggested above, please cite a source for that allegation, neo71665, if you can. Wyatt was legally married once, and had two common-law wives in his lifetime, not an outrageous situation. The above description sounds more like Johnny Behan than Wyatt. FYI, Morgan and Virgil Earp were also both married during their time in Tombstone.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

[–] willjohn 8 years ago

The real life Earp owned a brothel, so it depends what you mean by stiff.