The role of the sidekick in Western film fluctuates from film to film. In some films like The Searchers and Red River we witness strong sidekicks that are with the alpha male cowboy at all times; While in other films like High Noon and The Big Trail the alpha male cowboy is all by himself. In the film Gunfight at the OK Corral, the importance of the sidekick Doc Holiday helps Wyatt.
Wyatt and Doc's relationship is the perfect sidekick relationship. Both characters look out for each other out of the level of respect between the two. When Wyatt's brother is murdered, its Doc who clams down Wyatt and reasons with him. Doc's role as the sidekick is to support the alpha male cowboy and Doc does this with expert skill. In relation to the other movies we have seen in class, Doc is the most powerful sidekick. He is not young and inexperienced like Martin in The Searchers or like Matt Garth in Red River. As the sidekick Doc has more responsibility than both of these men who take a backseat role when compared to the alpha male in each film.
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