When it comes to Western films, few things have topped Tombstone. The joint effort between George P. Cosmatos and Kurt Russell has cemented itself as one of the genre’s biggest hits, and it’s held its spot at the top for decades. Even today, over 20 years after its theatrical debut, audiences adore its rich visuals, thrilling gunfights, and brilliant acting. Artistic value isn’t the only thing Tombstone has going for it.
The film’s popularity has also given it an accidental touch of immortality. Its admirers have since created their own works, and those works often include allusions to the esteemed cowboy flick. More importantly, the film’s expert writing packs it with quotable moments. More often than not, a familiar phrase in a modern Western can be traced back to Tombstone. The film’s influence stretches even further than the silver screen. The movie’s most recognizable quips can be found everywhere, from comics and books to podcasts and video games.
Val Kilmer’s Iconic “I’m Your Huckleberry” Line from Tombstone
Many Fans Misheard the Line as “I’m Your Huckle Bearer”
Of course, the most famous of Tombstone’s many quotable moments may be Val Kilmer’s poised utterance, “I’m your huckleberry.” The iconic phrase drops twice in Tombstone. Both times, it is yet another in a long string of antagonistic run-ins between Doc Holliday (Val Kilmer) and Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn). The line creates two of the beloved film’s most iconic moments, although its meaning is often misconstrued.
The phrase began its life in the American South, and its popularity rose throughout the 1800s. “I’m your huckleberry” meant that someone was skilled and up to the task. When Doc growls the line to Johnny, he’s saying that he’s better than him; he knows he’s a superior shot. It’s both a threat and a taunt. Think of it as an old-timey way of saying “bring it on.” Obviously, being a saying from the 1800s, “I’m your huckleberry” isn’t exactly something that’s heard in everyday conversation.
Since its appearance in Tombstone, the phrase has gained new life as a Western in-joke. It’s popped up in a few Western films, but video game developers seem to be its most prolific users. Even a gunslinger in Blizzard’s embattled Overwatch series utters the line. It’s an achievement in Black Ops 2, and it’s a skill in Borderlands 2. There is no shortage of references to Tombstone’s iconic quip, but Val Kilmer took the idea of Easter eggs to the next level.
All the Places to Find “I’m Your Huckleberry”
No doubt, thanks to the saying’s fame, actor Val Kilmer soon adopted the Wild West saying as a personal hallmark. The 1800s idiom soon morphed into a modern treasure hunt, one that spanned the entirety of Kilmer’s illustrious career. It didn’t take long for him to hide the reference, either. Four years after Tombstone, Kilmer starred in The Saint, wherein he utters the phrase in Czech. In 2004’s Alexander, he says it in Greek. He even says the phrase in a fictional alien language in Red Planet.
Disney fans have “Hidden Mickeys”; Kilmer fans get “hidden huckleberries.” Val Kilmer never took the easy route. The saying may seem as if it’s missing from First Sight, but a keen eye will notice it written in Braille. The brief cameo may not be as obvious as Kilmer’s other hidden treats, but it’s certainly on-brand for the dedicated actor. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he also used the phrase as the title of his 2020 memoir. That’s not to say it’s in all of his films. The iconic Tombstone utterance brought an otherwise forgotten saying back to life. The vernacular quirk has gained its own life, and it lived a parallel life through Kilmer.