MovieChat Forums > Wyatt Earp (1994) Discussion > Quaid and Kilmer

Quaid and Kilmer

posted 8 years ago by Stygian6
4 replies | jump to latest

I'm just finally watching this for the first time and am struck at the similarity of performances by Quaid and Kilmer as Doc Holliday. Given the films came out the same year, and there's no documentary footage or recordings other than written historical reports to build a character from, their similar approach was remarkable - speech pattern, physicality, demeanour - can anyone shed any light on this, perhaps American viewers? Was the 'Holliday swagger' part of American culture long before these films were made??

[–] A_Real_Hip_Dude 8 years ago

There was no known Holliday swagger in the public concious for the most part, before these movies. Doc Holliday was a known character but it was Val Kiilmers portrayal that made him a household name. A lot of the similariities between the two portrayals is based on Doc being born and raised in a certain part of the country (the deep south) that affected his speech and manners.

Of course there's also the fact that Doc was sick, which they both played well, as well as being a drunk. Previous to Tombstone, and subsequently Wyatt Earp, the most notable portrayal of Doc was by Michael Douglas back in the 50's and it was just not as layered, so the perception of Doc was not quite as well-rounded. But after these well-nuanced performances in the 90's people got a better look at who Doc was and became much more interested in him. This is noticable by how often if you mention the movie Tombstone the first thing so many people say is: "I loved Doc Holliday in that!"

[–] barodabulldog 7 years ago

Kirk Douglas played Doc Holiday in 1957 not Michael. I'm sure just a slip.

Tombstone and Wyatt Earp returned Doc Holiday to the public conscious. Prior to the eighties, when westerns were not being made, I believe Doc Holiday was quite well known.

Some form of the Gunfight at the OK Corral had been filmed almost once a decade going back to the 20s, with only a miss in the eighties.

Doc Holiday was in 68 episodes of the Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp on TV, was portrayed on Star Trek and had his own movie in 1971.

During the height of the western films and TV shows in the USA Doc Holiday Wyatt Earp were names as well known as any others from that time.

I do think it's accurate to say that many of the names so well known up until the 70s have since slipped away. Tombstone and Wyatt Earp certainly helped revive them.

[–] Teisho 8 years ago

The 'southern gent' thing, the accent, the philosophising, drunkenness, illness would all inform the performances

The 'swagger' no doubt comes from the confidence that Doc was known to have through the gambling and never backing down from a fight.

[–] foster11 7 years ago

There always seems to be an argument of who did it better, Quaid or Kilmer
I think Quaid, Looked more like him, maybe to tall, but sickly, skinny,
Kilmer was more robust, and had better lines

Both are very good at his attitude

You got to remember Doc was dying of TB, not a pretty disease back then, and he was smart enough to know it. He didn't want to die that way and why he got into and pushed every fight to the limit

Didn't work out for him that way

I've seen every depiction of him,

Douglas,in--- Gunfight at the OK coral,-- at least he coughed a couple times

Mature in My Darling Clementine, I thought the whole movie sucked and have not be able to watch it through,great cast, and director, but misspent. shows even the greats made some boners

Robards, in Hour of the gun, so=so but stiff

Don't remember who played Doc in the TV show

Anyway Quaid and Kilmer played doc best

You don't have to stand tall, but you do have to stand up!