Many sidekicks have appeared in the Western film. In The Searchers, Martin serves as Ethan’s sidekick. In Red River Nadine Groot plays sidekick to Tom. These men are no alpha males, but they play key roles in the development of the narrative and the ultimate success of the alpha male cowboy. The film Gunfight at the OK Corral features Wyatt Earp’s sidekick Doc Holliday. While Doc exhibits some alpha male cowboy characteristics, he’s role as sidekick ultimately leaves him on the margins of society, to serve as the other in the film.
While Wyatt Earp is clearly the alpha male cowboy in Gunfight at the OK Corral, Doc Holliday also exhibits many characteristics of the alpha male cowboy. While Doc drinks and smokes more than anyone in the entire film, he is also the fastest gunman in the entire film. This characteristic is usually reserved for the alpha male cowboy. Also, Doc has no problem taking the law into his own hands. Doc gambles and kills the men who threaten him. Initially, this characteristic makes Doc the other. However, as the film progresses and Doc becomes more and more like Wyatt he begins to act with a greater duty. Doc leaves his women behind in an effort to help Wyatt, again displaying many alpha male characteristics.
However, Doc is indeed the other in the film. Wyatt is the only person who believes in Doc as a person. Every time Doc rides into town, all of the officers and townspeople are concerned that Doc will cause trouble in the town. Also, Doc’s decisions to kill are not based on any ethical standard. Doc simply kills the men who threaten him. This is the primary reason that Doc is the other rather than the alpha male cowboy.
Even though Doc is the other, he still serves a critical role in the film. Without his help, Wyatt would never survive the gunfight with the Clantons. Also, Doc’s ability to wheel and deal provides Wyatt with many new ideas, and the characters feed off of each other constantly. The sidekick role is clearly defined, however, when Doc tells Kate that he is going to fight alongside Wyatt at OK Corral so he can “Die with the only friend I’ve ever had.” While Doc exhibits some characteristics of the alpha-male, he is clearly the films “other.”
Many sidekicks have appeared in the Western film. In The Searchers, Martin serves as Ethan’s sidekick. In Red River Nadine Groot plays sidekick to Tom. These men are no alpha males, but they play key roles in the development of the narrative and the ultimate success of the alpha male cowboy. The film Gunfight at the OK Corral features Wyatt Earp’s sidekick Doc Holliday. While Doc exhibits some alpha male cowboy characteristics, he’s role as sidekick ultimately leaves him on the margins of society, to serve as the other in the film.
ReplyDeleteWhile Wyatt Earp is clearly the alpha male cowboy in Gunfight at the OK Corral, Doc Holliday also exhibits many characteristics of the alpha male cowboy. While Doc drinks and smokes more than anyone in the entire film, he is also the fastest gunman in the entire film. This characteristic is usually reserved for the alpha male cowboy. Also, Doc has no problem taking the law into his own hands. Doc gambles and kills the men who threaten him. Initially, this characteristic makes Doc the other. However, as the film progresses and Doc becomes more and more like Wyatt he begins to act with a greater sense of duty. Doc leaves his women behind in an effort to help Wyatt, again displaying many alpha male characteristics.
However, Doc is indeed the sidekick in the film. Wyatt is the only person who believes in Doc as a person. Every time Doc rides into town, all of the officers and townspeople are concerned that Doc will cause trouble in the town. Also, Doc’s decisions to kill are not based on any ethical standard. Doc simply kills the men who threaten him. This is the primary reason that Doc is the other rather than the alpha male cowboy.
Even though Doc is the sidekick, he still serves a critical role in the film. Without his help, Wyatt would never survive the gunfight with the Clantons. Also, Doc’s ability to wheel and deal provides Wyatt with many new ideas, and the characters feed off of each other constantly. The sidekick role is clearly defined, however, when Doc tells Kate that he is going to fight alongside Wyatt at OK Corral so he can “Die with the only friend I’ve ever had.” While Doc exhibits some characteristics of the alpha-male, he is clearly the films sidekick.