Sam Elliott starred in two of his best movies in the same year, but only one of the historical films has gone on to become a classic. Elliott is one of the most beloved western actors in recent memory, but he’s no stranger to other genres too. With his gruff voice and prestigious mustache, Elliott always looks the part.
After a slow decade where the genre nearly faded out of existence entirely, the western came roaring back in the 1990s. Returning the genre to its roots, the best westerns of the ’90s had a bit of the idealized charm of older films, with a bit more grit and violence added in too.
Naturally, Sam Elliott was in demand during that western boom period, but not all of his ’90s films get the recognition they deserve. 1993 was a busy year for Elliott, and while one of his movies from that year is a bona fide classic, another has sadly been overlooked.
Sam Elliott Appeared In Both Gettysburg & Tombstone In 1993
1993 Was A Busy Year For Sam Elliott
Sam Elliott released two of his best historical movies in 1993, and he was on a roll. Tombstone is one of the definitive westerns of the ’90s, and was a big reason that the genre had a resurgence in popularity. It retold the well-worn story of Wyatt Earp and his taming of Tombstone, Arizona, but it did so with style.
Similarly, Gettysburg put a punctuation mark on the war epic, and it brought the Civil War to life by fleshing out its most important battle. It featured a mᴀssive ensemble cast, and Elliott was joined by the likes of Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, and Tom Berenger. Unlike Tombstone, Gettysburg was a TV movie that only had a limited theatrical run.
Tombstone Is Now A Classic, But Gettysburg Deserves Love Too
The Civil War Epic Deserves A Second Look
While Tombstone‘s lukewarm response in 1993 has given way to sainted status in the ranks of modern westerns, Gettysburg doesn’t get the same love as a war film. There’s no denying that the TV movie has major problems from a philosophical standpoint, and it is certainly guilty of looking at the Confederacy with rose-tinted glᴀsses.
the movie’s four-and-a-half-hour running time gives the filmmakers plenty of time to examine the characters
With that said, Gettysburg is still an exquisitely acted spectacle that is unrivaled in terms of shear scope. The most notorious battle in the Civil War is realized in detail, and the movie’s four-and-a-half-hour running time gives the filmmakers plenty of time to examine the characters. However, that running time is also the biggest issue with the movie.
Gettysburg is currently the longest American film ever released in theaters.
Such a long film is almost impossible to watch in one sitting, and it cuts down on the rewatch value. Gettsyburg deserves more attention, but it’s not a surprise the viewers choose not to watch. Sam Elliott‘s presence in the movie is just one of the highlights, and modern streaming has made such an epic movie a lot more digestible.
