European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Kevin Costner plays the title role in Wyatt Earp which opens Friday on the cafes  latest shooting role of by Nimby Betsy Pickle Knoxville news Sentinel a n his new movie Wyatt Earp Kevin Costner plays a Man who always seems sure about the choices he makes for himself and his family. But Costner himself Wasny to always positive that his film should be put on the screen. A there was a Point when in a not sure this movie should have even been made a says Costner who produced the film along with his partner Jim Wilson and director Lawrence Kasdan. A and that was by cause j Felt that the Story of Wyatt Earp was terribly familiar to us. In commissioning the writing the idea was listen unless this Story can be More interesting than the . Corral it cannot and will not be.  script by Dan Gordon and Kasdan evolved into material that appealed to Costner. A great writing found a Way a found away to. Make a movie very very original and Strong and entertaining a he says. A i wanted to be a part of that movie and then ultimately make that great walk Down to the . Corral.�?�. Like Eliot Ness whom Costner played in the untouchables Wyatt Earp was the kind of Man society needs Costner tells reporters at a press conference at the four seasons hotel in Beverly Hills a most of us Are Busy doing our. Jobs. Its up to somebody to protect you a says Costner who shows up in a Denim jacket Over a collarless Tan and while pin striped shirt faded jeans and Tan and Brown. Boots.  pay our taxes we pay All that for somebody to actually stand up for us. We done to have that time that inclination. Kos not in our personalities. Not in our strength to do that. A Wyatt Earp was a Givy who would walk into a Saloon where there was drinking and guns where All these volatile things were. And would exact some  Justice. I think there a something very appealing about a Man who stands up for us and for an idea. Its a thing that i Hope never fades.  something heroic about  Costner a Wyatt Earp is different from the Man who has been portrayed on television and in such movies As gun fight at the . Corral and my Darling Clementine. E Costner and Kasdan done to seem Happy that another recent Western Tombstone dealt with the Wyatt Earp Story. Costner actually was offered the Lead Rote in that film while he was developing his script. But he turned it Down and Kurt Russell  part. A it was made while we Vivere off shooting Wya of Earp and they rushed it out a says Kasdan. A i did see Tombstone Quot says Costner. A it was hard for me to  ,. Like Tombstone Wyatt Earp features a portrayal of Doe Holliday a this time by Dennis Quad a that a sure to win acclaim. Costner says he has no problem with the Praise Quaid is earning for his per a forma Nee. A. A i have a pretty comfortable career Quot says Cost nor. A i know what have to do in the movies and that a lot of times is take you through the movie. I done to worry about people  the movies in a in. I Hope that they re Good enough to do that a a in be had those chances in Silverado maybe in perfect world with different things i know what i can do if i wanted to do it. But you have to play the hand that you re  Costner says he thinks Kasdan was Wise to choose Quaid. A i thought it was really inspired that Larry would cast a leading Man to play this particular part be Quot a cause what Larry understood very Well is that a leading Man really knows How to hold the screen a he says. A Brian de Palma did actually the similar thing with scan Connery in the untouchables. I mean he could have cast a very character actor to play the old Irish cop but he did t. He cast this legendary leading Man to play this Irish cop and you immediately see the weight that was then attached to that  Kasdan says the acting work Costner does in Wybarr Earp is just As impressive As Quaid s. A a Kevin a acting and the Way he a sometimes been underestimated i think is in exactly the tradition of Fonda and Jimmy Stewart and Gary Cooper and John Wayne All of whom were underestimated at the Peak of their career a says the director. A and its Only in retrospect that people have come to understand that that is consummate film acting. A what happens in our society today is that we tend to give a lot of Praise and attention to the biggest histrionics a you know if you play a paraplegic a if you play an autistic person if you re Blind deaf or dumb you re a leg up on the acting honors. But that to me is not what acting is about. A to me great acting is the closer you can get to. The truth of the moment. And i done to think there a anyone in the world who understands How to act for the camera better than Kevin Costner does. A when we went into it everyone knew that the showy part is Doc Holliday and Dennis did More than play it. He ate it up. He burned it up. And i  be happier. But what it does is in that big fat shining Light it s sometimes hard to see that what Kevin has done is a major piece of acting Here a from real youth and innocence All the Way to a kind of tragically earned Wisdom. He knows How to play it perfectly. That is major  Costner who is 39, plays Wyatt Earp from his Early 20s to his senior years. The Tough part was looking younger. Quot i had to Wear about 12 lifts to pull the lines out. Of my face so that i could begin to even approach that a he says. He also tried to speak in a higher pitched voice and to move More quickly. A those were about the Only three things i could do. And then 1 wrapped myself inside real Good  _ scrip a Howard news service Page 6 sunday july 10,1994