The role of the sidekick in the western is typically out-shined by the role of the alpha male. This is evidenced in several sidekick type relationships witnessed in films like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, The Searchers, and, to some extent, Red River. Each of these films presents John Wayne as the clear, dominant alpha male cowboy in relation to his subordinate--the sidekick. A slight exemption is given to Matt Garth in Red River, who grows into the alpha male role and begins to eclipse the authority of the other alpha male Tom Dunson.
The same cannot be fully said about the sidekick type relationship between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday in the film Gunfight at the OK Corral. Initially the audience sees the relationship between Wyatt and Doc as that of two alpha male like characters. While most sidekicks accept their subordinate roles, Doc demonstrates many qualities of the alpha male cowboy. Both men are renown for their skill with the gun, and Doc repeatedly proves himself an equal to Wyatt. This influences Wyatt's trust and reliance in Doc when he is immediately deputized in order to help Wyatt bring the outlaw cowboys to justice. Additionally both men keep their talking to a minimum, conforming to the strong, silent archetype of the typical alpha male.
Some may argue that Doc Holliday exhibits traits uncharacteristic of the alpha male, and thus should be considered subordinate to the role of Wyatt Earp. It can be said that Doc's diminishing health is a handicap not consistent with the image and role of an alpha male cowboy. It can be further argued that Doc's loyalty to Wyatt throughout the film is not consistent with the role of the alpha male cowboy. However that loyalty is reciprocated by Wyatt initially saving Doc from a would-be lynching. Their partnership resulted from the men being indebted to one another, and this distinction solidifies the duality of their alpha male roles.
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