Sfida infernale

La storia

È il racconto classico della sfida combattuta all'OK Corral di Tombstone il 26 ottobre 1881 tra lo sceriffo Wyatt Earp, i suoi fratelli e il giocatore-beone Doc Holliday da una parte e il clan dei fratelli Clanton dall'altra. Quando John Ford dirigeva i suoi western muti Earp era ancora vivo, capitava sul set e si ubriacava giocosamente con le comparse. Ford gli offriva il caffè e si faceva raccontare la grande sfida. Anni dopo ha riprodotto a memoria quelle schegge di vita di frontiera e la manovra militare che ebbe per teatro il Corral. È un western molto bello, un classico e il più accorato di Ford. I personaggi esprimono una sorta di "gentilezza dei prodi" e vivono nell'atmosfera d'una canzone di gesta carica di nostalgia. Ford è imbevuto dello spirito reale della vita di frontiera, riproduce fedelmente lo stile con cui cowboys e fuorilegge rischiavano l'esistenza in un crogiuolo arroventato come Tombstone.

Cast

H Henry FondaWyatt Earp L Linda DarnellChihuahua V Victor MatureDr. John 'Doc' Holliday C Cathy DownsClementine Carter W Walter BrennanOld Man Clanton T Tim HoltVirgil Earp W Ward BondMorgan Earp A Alan MowbrayGranville Thorndyke J John IrelandBilly Clanton R Roy RobertsMayor J Jane DarwellKate Nelson G Grant WithersIke Clanton

Mostra altri interpreti

J J. Farrell MacDonaldMac the barman R Russell SimpsonJohn Simpson R Robert AdlerStagecoach Driver (uncredited) C C.E. AndersonTownsman (uncredited) D Don BarclayOpera House Owner (uncredited) H Hank BellOpera House Patron (uncredited) D Danny BorzageAccordionist (uncredited) R Ruth CliffordOpera House Patron (uncredited) F Frank ConlanPianist (uncredited) T Tex CooperTownsman (uncredited) J Jack CurtisBartender (uncredited) W William B. DavidsonSaloon Owner (uncredited) J Jimmy DimeVaquero (uncredited) T Tex DriscollTownsman (uncredited) F Frank EllisBarfly (uncredited) F Francis FordDad - Old Soldier (uncredited) E Earle FoxeGambler (uncredited) D Don GarnerJames Earp (uncredited) B Ben HallBarber (uncredited) A Aleth HansenGuitarist (uncredited) J Jack KennyBarfly (uncredited) D Duke R. LeeTownsman (uncredited) F Fred LibbyPhin Clanton (uncredited) M Mae MarshSimpson's Sister (uncredited) M Margarita MartínWoman (uncredited) K Kermit MaynardBarfly (uncredited) L Louis MercierFrançois - the Chef (uncredited) J Jack MontgomeryFaro Dealer (uncredited) J Jack PennickStagecoach Driver (uncredited) M Mickey SimpsonSam Clanton (uncredited) C Charles StevensIndian Charlie (uncredited) A Arthur WalshHotel Clerk (uncredited) H Harry WoodsLuke (uncredited) R Rudy BowmanTownsman (uncredited) J Jess CavinTownsman (uncredited) J Jane CrowleyTownswoman (uncredited) F Franklyn FarnumTownsman (uncredited) W William GillisTownsman (uncredited) A Al KundeTownsman (uncredited) R Robert MilaschTownsman (uncredited) F Frances ReyWoman (uncredited) W William SteeleTownsman (uncredited) E Eleanore VogelTownswoman (uncredited) R Roque YbarraVaquero (uncredited)