Val Kilmer had countless iconic lines as Doc Holliday inTombstone, but one of his best is actually a bit different from what the real historical figure said. Some of thebest scenes inTombstonecome from Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday. In fact,Doc Holliday’s best moments inTombstoneare proof that he stole the show from the rest of his co-stars, and they’re arguably some of the most memorable parts ofTombstone. Since Doc’s quotes are so important toTombstone, it may be a surprise that one of them isn’t entirely historically accurate.
Tombstoneis based on the true storyof Wyatt Earp and his time in Tombstone, Arizona, in the 1880s. Fortunately, both Wyatt and Doc Holliday were something of celebrities in the Old West, and we have several primary sources that paint a very clear picture of their experiences in Tombstone. That also means that film adaptations likeTombstoneare easier to prove as being inaccurate or getting details wrong, including one ofDoc Holliday’s best quotes inTombstone: the “daisy” line.
Doc Holliday’s “Daisy” Quote Was Changed For Val Kilmer In Tombstone
One of the most famous quotes fromTombstonecame during the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral. After Doc Holliday dry fired from his empty pistol, a member ofTombstone’s Cowboys gang told Doc “I got you now, you son of a bitch.” Doc Holliday replied with “You’re a daisy if you do,” and the moment instantly went down as iconic. However,in real life, Doc Holliday actually replied to the Cowboy’s taunt with “Blaze away! You’re a daisy if you have,"(viaArizona Weekly Citizen). Doc’s real line makes more grammatical sense as a response to the phrase “I’ve got you now,” butTombstonechanged it.
There were a few reasons whyTombstonelikely changed Doc Holliday’s quote at the gunfight at the OK Corral, even though it was documented in a primary source.While the real line is grammatically correct, there’s no denying that Val Kilmer’s version inTombstonerolls off the tongue more eloquently. Additionally, there’s not a great way to make “Blaze away!” sound cool, and the use of “do” rather than “have” sounds a lot more natural to modern viewers. Ultimately, it was for the best thatTombstonesacrificed a bit of historical accuracy.
How Val Kilmer’s “Daisy” Line Became One Of Tombstone’s Best Quotes
The best proof thatTombstonemade the right call by changing Doc Holliday’s “daisy” line at the gunfight at the OK Corral is how iconic it has become. “You’re a daisy if you do,” still ranks amongTombstone’s best one-liners, and I’ve even seen people with the quote tattooed on their bodies.The simplest explanation for how it became so iconic is that it was the perfect line at the perfect moment. Doc Holliday’s joking taunt came right at the climax of the gunfight at the OK Corral, and it was a perfect way to cap off all the chaos of the scene.
The “daisy” quote also owed a huge debt to Val Kilmer.No one but Kilmer could have delivered the “daisy” line with all the glee, sarcasm, and humor that he did, and no one could have made it flow as naturally. The fact that Doc uses the same line again just after shooting Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) inTombstone’s biggest moment made sure that it would go down as a catchphrase of the movie. The “daisy” line is almost a perfect example of what madeTombstoneso great: a combination of humor, coolness, and Val Kilmer.
