MovieChat Forums > Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) Discussion > Cotton Wilson

Cotton Wilson

posted 8 years ago by mercury4
3 replies | jump to latest

Was Cotton Wilson based on a real person?

[–] Bilwick1 8 years ago

Very loose based on Sheriff John Behan, but without the real-life Behan's charm or good looks.

[–] mercury4 8 years ago

Was Behan against the Earps and Doc? I always found it funny how Cotton Wilson tried to ride off and Ike Clanton just shot him. I think he yells, "Cotton, you chicken livered miserable!" Cotton Wilson in the movie was a former lawman that gave it up and joined the bad guys. I don't know much about Behan. Was he like that? Was he a guy that, in a sense, switched sides?

[–] Bilwick1 8 years ago

The movies TOMBSTONE and WYATT EARP both show Behan more or less as he was.