( Men vocalizing )
♪ Wyatt earp, wyatt earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
♪ And long live his glory
♪ And long may
His story be told. ♪
Announcer:
Modern newspaper men dislike
To see the good ol' days
Portrayed by editors
And reporters who were
Drunkards, incompetents
And scoundrels.
The men who work on
Today's newspapers
Have such strict standards
That they cannot
Understand conditions
Which existed in towns
Like dodge city
On the frontier of .
But marshal wyatt earp has
Testified in his biography
To the truth.
Frontier journalism
Was a bitter struggle
Against lawless men
Who used horsewhips,
Fists and g*ns
To keep the facts
From being printed.
We'll fix that paper
So it'll never print
Nothing! Come on!
( Men shouting )
Hold it!
Now the new editor's
Not getting here
Until this afternoon.
When he does get here,
He's gonna get the same
Protection from the police
That mr. Lathrup got.
Now break it up!
- ( Men muttering )
- Come on! Move!
It's all over,
Mr. Kelly.
Busted windows--
It'll cost more
Than $ .
Didn't you arrest
Them?
No, mr. Kelly.
I want jim murdock
To start on his own.
That window is
Mr. Lathrup's trouble.
Well, all lathrup did
Was to print the truth
About sally bascom's
Dance hall.
Well, sally bascom's
Got a lot of tough friends.
I just hope that
Mr. Murdock knows that
Running a newspaper
In dodge city
Is a lot different than working
On the kansas city star.
His cousin marsh at
Wichita recommended the boy.
Well, they don't come
Any better than marsh murdock
Or the wichita eagle.
Cheer up, mr. Kelly.
We'll try and help
Young jim.
I owe marsh a favor.
Well, it'll be more
Than one favor you owe.
( Scoffs )
Hardware's my line.
Why I ever bought
An interest in
A newspaper--
Hey, wanna buy my share
For half of what I paid?
( Chuckles )
No, mr. Kelly.
If I did that,
They'd claim I
Was buying into
The globe to
Keep them from
Criticizing me.
Yeah, could be.
Could be.
Cousin marsh told me
To look you up first
Thing.
Said you'd wise me up
To local conditions.
Well, it's kinda
A quiet town.
You mean, no news?
Well, not that quiet.
Mr. Earp?
About my staff...
- Well...
- Not much, eh?
Well, I didn't say that.
I'd just like to have you
Form your own opinion.
What happened here?
Cyclone?
No, a mob did that
This morning.
Why?
Well, because they
Didn't like what
Your predecessor
Wrote about a certain
Dance hall lady.
Was it the truth?
- Mm-hmm.
- Fine.
Fine, I've got
A page one leader
Already made.
I admire your spirit,
Sir, but...
You know, I think
Your only problem here
Is gonna be
Your hired hands.
Don't tell me my
Reporters and printers
Are all drunkards.
No. Mr. Lathrup
Kept them pretty sober.
What is it, then?
Well, in a town
Like this,
A reporter associates
With all kind of people.
I think your big job
Is gonna be to try
And candle out
A few bad eggs.
My staff is
Gonna be honest.
A newspaper man,
First and foremost,
Must have the courage
In his convictions.
And I repeat,
A newspaper man
Must be dedicated
To the facts.
He must find the facts
And see to it
That they are printed.
Now the globe,
As long as I am editor,
Will have no friends,
No enemies.
It will print the simple
Unadorned truth.
The simple
Unadorned truth.
Any questions?
How do you feel
About crusades,
Mr. Murdock?
I'm sorry, sir,
Your name again?
Mcdavid.
Cal mcdavid.
You ask about crusades.
I don't like the term.
A crusading newspaper
Usually represents
The owner's grudges
And prejudices
And his personal opinion
Of what's good for
The reading public.
We had a mob after us
This morning.
Because of a story
I wrote.
- About the dance hall woman.
- Mm.
Marshal earp,
Was the story
Justified?
I think so,
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Mr. Mcdavid is
To be congratulated.
We'll rerun the story
And print any additional
Facts we can dig up.
We'll also print
The facts about that mob.
Mr. Earp,
You were an eyewitness.
Can you name names?
Well, I wouldn't do that,
Sir, if I were you.
Why not?
Because a mob doesn't
Have any names, mr. Murdock.
Half the people in it
Are sightseers or
Excitement-hunters.
Now just one more thing,
And I'll quit trying
To be the editor
Of the newspaper.
( Chuckles )
Yes, sir.
The globe made
A serious charge
Against miss bascom.
I think it's true
Enough, but I think
Mr. Mcdavid
Should have talked
To the lady
And printed
Her side of it.
She wouldn't talk,
Marshal.
Perhaps she might now
To some other reporter.
Maybe you should try
To get a statement
From her.
No, sir.
I think she's guilty
Of running a crooked
Joint,
But I can't just
Arrest her on
Mr. Mcdavid's say-so.
But I think your idea
Of having a new man
Talk to her
Is a good one.
Well,
Welcome to dodge,
Mr. Murdock.
I'll get back
To my job.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, gentlemen.
( Men and women shouting )
I should tell
That new editor off.
I should really
Blow the whistle.
It's no good,
Miss sally.
- Why not?!
- It's squealing.
Well, I was squealed on,
Wasn't it?
Not enough to cause
Any trouble.
Earp ain't been
Around to close us.
Cal wants it all.
He'll keep on
In the globe till
Earp does close me.
Then he can buy
My share of a peanut.
It won't happen,
Miss sally.
We'll take care
Of mcdavid.
I get there this morning,
A couple of busted windows?
Give us time.
Getting rid
Of a newspaper man
Takes some figuring.
Yeah well, I ain't
Gonna wait very long.
You attend to cal
Or I'll holler
My head off!
Anything they doing
Below the line?
No, it's all quiet.
Murdock's reporter
Couldn't even get in
To see miss bascom.
I'm gonna grab
Some sleep until
About : .
Then we'll wring
Her place out.
- How many of us?
- All the day men.
I'll see you
Minutes after : .
We'll be there.
( Knocks on door )
Earp.
- ( Knocks on door )
- Earp?
It's to : .
Yeah, thanks.
( Door opens )
Mr. Jenson?
Mr. Jenson,
I need some soap.
Ah, never mind.
I think I have some
In my room.
Fixes me a tub
And forgets the soap.
One of these days--
Don't you think
We oughta circle
The joint, shotgun?
Wyatt said after.
Still got three minutes.
Are you loco?
That's marshal earp's g*n.
- Where did you--
- Shut up.
And get me the money.
I paid you your share
For the week.
If you think you can
Bust in here--
( Crowd murmuring )
Marshal earp,
Come quick!
Hurry, mr. Earp.
There's been a sh**ting.
You men go around back!
Shotgun, come with me.
- All right.
- Don't let anybody out.
Get inside there.
All right.
Get!
She's dead.
Give me that.
k*ller stole it
From you, didn't he?
Yeah, a few minutes ago.
Wyatt, they can claim
You k*lled her.
That's exactly what
I want them to do.
Miss sally!
Oh, miss sally!
( Crying )
Miss sally!
Now you stay here
Until doc mccarty comes.
Don't let anybody leave.
Big story, boss.
Somebody just m*rder*d
Sally bascom.
- The dance hall woman?
- Yeah.
- Did you see it?
- No.
But I got plenty
Of details and witnesses.
Well, shall I start
Writing?
Of course.
Here, take my desk.
Sally bascom.
Wyatt?
Wyatt, I heard there
Was a sh**ting in
Sally bascom's.
Yeah, she was k*lled
With my g*n, the buntline.
With your g*n?
Why, that's ridiculous.
Come on, I wanna talk
To jim murdock.
Got your lead in shape?
You bet.
Right here.
Oh, marshal earp.
Mcdavid must have
Been drinking.
I wouldn't insult you
By--
Why, I haven't had
A drop, mr. Murdock.
We're not insulting
The marshal.
Well, you say the marshal's g*n
Was found near the woman's body.
You called sally bascom
His silent partner.
Just facts,
Mr. Murdock.
Your reporter has a story
To write, mr. Murdock.
We'll talk this over
In my office.
I'll get my hat.
Mr. Murdock, I was quite
Careless tonight.
I didn't lock my room
When I went to take
A quick bath.
The k*ller stole my
Buntline special and used it.
Jim believes you, wyatt.
But how did the reporter
Get the story that fast?
Was he there?
No. No, he said
He talked to witnesses.
Oh, it's not possible.
Not that fast.
And how come mcdavid names you
Sally's silent partner?
What'd you ever do
To him?
Nothing.
Before I print this story,
I'll have to see mcdavid's
Witnesses.
Well, any man
That's slick enough
To commit a m*rder
With my g*n will
Have witnesses ready.
You think it was
Mcdavid himself?
I can't prove that yet.
Oh, phoosh on that talk,
Wyatt!
You don't have to prove
Anything.
Just fire the reporter
And tear up his story.
No.
Now you question
The witnesses,
Take down
Their statements
And print the story.
All I ask is that you
Print my denial along
With it.
Wyatt.
Do you want the globe
To call you a m*rder*r?
Sally bascom's
Fancy dan, hmm?
Mr. Murdock, don't start
Your job on the globe by
Suppressing news.
Well, I'll see.
So will i!
Oh, mr. Gibbs.
Do you believe that wyatt
k*lled that woman?
Of course not!
Young fella, you quote me
In that there newspaper
Of yours.
Just say,
"Chief deputy gibbs
Cussed like blazes
Under his breath."
I'll get to
The bottom of this.
We'll get to
The bottom of it!
Doc holliday will be
Here in the morning.
Oh, no.
Done sent him a wire
In kansas city.
Well, you shouldn't
Have done that.
Now I wanna handle this
My way.
Yeah?
What way is that?
Cal mcdavid's
Trying to frame me.
He used the globe
To help him along.
Sure.
Them newspapers'll lynch
Plenty of innocent men.
Mcdavid will overplay
His hand, mr. Gibbs.
The truth will come out
Sooner or later.
Well, me and doc
Ain't waiting on that.
Now you stay out of this,
Both of you!
I'm warning you.
And that's an order.
Not no more, wyatt.
I ain't your chief deputy.
Me and doc are just
Plain citizens.
Now look, doc--
I'm telling you,
He'll land you both in jail!
In that case, we'll have
Some right good company.
'Cause you're gonna be
Sitting in the next cell
Charged with m*rder.
And I seen earp and miss sally
Just before the shot was fired.
And I saw marshal earp
Running down the alley.
Everybody knows earp
Was in business with
Miss sally.
Well now, that's just
Hearsay, mr. Caldwell.
Don't you have any more
Personal knowledge of--
I saw him and her
Divide the money
Several times.
Enough of this lying!
Get 'em out of here,
Jim!
You think you'll
Get that printed?
I own part of this
Newspaper.
Mcdavid, you're a gambling,
Cheating, no-good liar!
Easy! Easy now!
Both of you!
Finish the story
In my office.
Yes, sir.
Come on, folks.
All right, come on.
Get out of here.
Go on, all of you!
Get outta here!
I'm warning you, jim.
- This is a frame-up.
- Now hold your temper please.
I'm not gonna run
Mcdavid's story.
- Not yet.
- What do you mean "not yet"?
Mr. Kelly,
I'm a newspaper man.
Sally bascom
Was m*rder*d.
By mcdavid!
You heard what wyatt said.
But mr. Earp admits
He has no proof.
On the other hand,
Mcdavid has plenty
Of witnesses
To support his story.
Ah, liars! Hoodlums!
Yes, I think they are.
That's why I'm gonna
Hold the story.
But earp should give me
More than a denial.
If he has evidence
Implicating mcdavid,
- Let him produce it.
- Meaning what?
Meaning,
If he doesn't...
I have no choice but to
Turn mcdavid's version over
To the circuit attorney.
Then if his witnesses repeat
Their stories under oath,
I have no choice.
It's news.
I'll have to print it then.
Indeed now?
I hired you
And I can fire you.
Mr. Kelly,
You're a loyal friend.
I suggest
You make another attempt
To warn earp
That he must solve
The case quickly.
You might be able
To stop the globe
From printing
Sworn testimony.
But there are other
Newspapers in kansas--
The wichita eagle, for one.
Marsh murdock
Wouldn't print it!
You don't know
My cousin marsh very well.
All right.
How much time
Does wyatt have?
Until noon tomorrow.
So you're gibbs?
Yup, that's me.
Circle the dodge house
The back way.
Back way? Why?
It's wyatt.
He wants to handle this
All by himself.
Same old deacon earp.
Just what is the trouble?
Newspaper man
By the name of
Cal mcdavid
k*lled sally bascom
Last night
And aims to lay it
On wyatt.
Mcdavid, huh?
Yes, he would.
You know the feller?
Better than
I'd wanna know any skunk.
Now this saloon--
Mr. Gibbs, if you don't mind,
I have not had my breakfast.
Don't eat the cork.
Good morning.
Oh, mr. Earp.
Anything new?
No, sir.
I was questioning people
Most of the night.
- This mcdavid's story?
- Yeah.
He didn't finish it,
Though.
Said he'd be in
By nine.
( Sighs )
I'm playing a hunch,
Mr. Murdock.
Some of the witnesses,
Like the bartender,
Have uncomplicated
Lies to tell.
But mcdavid will dress up
The story with details
That only the real
k*ller would know.
Yeah, I see your point.
You're laying it on
Too thick, cal.
You expect us
To swear to all that?
Shut up.
I own this joint now.
You guys will do
What I tell you.
Of course
You can rat on me.
But you're in
Just as deep.
- Bartender?
- Yeah?
Tell him how sally
Paid you to have
Me k*lled.
Well, I thought
Maybe that she--
Yeah.
Good.
And now tell them how you
And everybody concerned
Is gonna make a lot more
By stringing along with me.
It's true.
The folks
Below the line
Raised $ ,
To get earp.
And remember this:
If we don't get him,
He'll get all of us.
- ( Knocks on door )
- Yeah?
Doc holliday's
Back in town.
He says he's gonna
g*n you on sight.
Fine.
You boys ready?
Yeah.
It's either them or us.
Keep doc busy while
I make a run for
The globe office.
Murdock's got
To print this.
( Laughter and chatter )
Leave me alone, doc!
Leave me alone!
( g*nsh*t )
Just leave me alone, doc.
I'm not a ghost.
Not yet.
Now lift them.
I said lift them.
Higher!
Mr. Gibbs,
You watch the alley.
I want cal mcdavid.
Where is he?
You talk
Or I'll cut you down.
In the parlor.
That way.
Come out of there,
Mcdavid.
Drop it.
Where is mcdavid?
He went out the window.
Heading for
The newspaper office.
I oughta k*ll you.
No, doc. I'll tell
The whole thing.
Stick to that.
Gibbs.
The globe office,
On the double.
Wyatt!
Doc and shotgun
Are back in the alley.
They're gonna k*ll
Mcdavid.
Now move that, feller.
No, mr. Gibbs.
He belongs to me.
Hold it, doc,
He's down.
Wyatt, that's
Crooked vulgar.
He was mine.
Here.
I just traced his skull.
I want him to hang
Legally.
And this may do it.
It's already been done.
The bartender will talk.
On the threat
Of being shot?
No good.
Shotgun, I want you
To take him over to
Doc mccarty.
Ask him to patch up
His skull
And then bring him
Over to the globe office.
Come on,
Get on your feet.
The case may be
Right here.
I had him in a corner
With a g*n in his hand.
A chance like that
Comes once in a lifetime.
Reporters can blackguard
You in the papers, wyatt.
But they rarely
Carry a g*n.
Come on, doc.
I want you to meet
Editor murdock.
Look, he placed the exact
Location of my g*n.
Two feet from the body.
Now no other witness
Placed the g*n that close.
Mm-hmm.
Here.
"The soiled lily crumpled
With her left arm
Posed in supplication
And looked like a white
And broken leaf
As she lay in the garish
Light of the room."
I think you're right,
Marshal.
- These details--
- Pardon me, sir.
Yes, dr. Holliday?
Why don't you print
The story just as it is?
Much better reading
To accuse deacon earp
Of m*rder than mcdavid.
- No. Come, on doc.
- Of course,
If you do print it
That way,
I'm gonna k*ll you.
If I thought mcdavid
Had his facts right,
I'd print it.
Young fella has courage,
Wyatt.
Well, to edit
The dodge city globe,
He'll need it.
Four dead men
In sally bascom's joint!
I just knew doc holliday
Was back in town.
Four men k*lled?
Excuse me.
I've gotta get
A reporter on this
Right away.
Now you and shotgun
Could have stayed
Out of this.
Mcdavid pressed
His luck just as
I figured he would.
Did you have
Any breakfast
Besides whiskey?
Hm.
Come on.
And even if young murdock
Had printed the facts wrong,
I could have
Handled the case.
And who cares what
The newspapers
Print about me
Years
From now anyway?
You will.
If every paper
Repeats the same lie.
Quit trying to
Justify yourself, doc.
Wyatt, you underestimate
The power of the press.
They could give you
A good character or
A bad character.
You're forgetting
What truth said
To the politician
Who was worried about
The newspapers
Crying him down.
Truth? No.
No, I can't see
That I recall.
Well, truth said...
"I'll meet you
In the graveyard
Back of the poorhouse
Years from now."
♪ Well, he cleaned up
The country ♪
♪ The old wild west country
♪ He made
Law and order prevail ♪
♪ And none can deny it
♪ The legend of wyatt
♪ Forever will live
On the trail ♪
♪ Wyatt earp, wyatt earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
♪ And long live his glory
♪ And long may
His story be told ♪
♪ Long may his story
♪ Be told.