My Darling Clementine (1946)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Samuel G. Engel (screen play) and
Winston Miller (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

3 December 1946 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Tagline:

The Roaring West At Its Reckless Best!

Plot:

A Western retelling the tale of the Shoot-out at the OK Corral.

Plot Keywords:

Marshal | Doc Holliday | OK Corral | Wyatt Earp | Revenge

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	Wyatt Earp
Linda Darnell	...	Chihuahua
Victor Mature	...	Dr. John 'Doc' Holliday
Cathy Downs	...	Clementine Carter
Walter Brennan	...	Old Man Clanton
Tim Holt	...	Virgil Earp
Ward Bond	...	Morgan Earp
Alan Mowbray	...	Granville Thorndyke
John Ireland	...	Billy Clanton
Roy Roberts	...	Mayor
Jane Darwell	...	Kate Nelson
Grant Withers	...	Ike Clanton
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Mac the Barman
Russell Simpson	...	John Simpson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adler	...	Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)
C.E. Anderson	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Don Barclay	...	Opera House Owner (uncredited)
Hank Bell	...	Opera House Patron (uncredited)
Danny Borzage	...	Accordionist (uncredited)
Frank Conlan	...	Pianist (uncredited)
Tex Cooper	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Curtis	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Francis Ford	...	Dad - Old Soldier (uncredited)
Earle Foxe	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Don Garner	...	James Earp (uncredited)
Ben Hall	...	Barber (uncredited)
Aleth Hansen	...	Guitarist (uncredited)
Duke R. Lee	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Fred Libby	...	Phin Clanton (uncredited)
Mae Marsh	...	Simpson's Sister (uncredited)
Margaret Martin	...	Woman (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Louis Mercier	...	François - the Chef (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)
Frances Rey	...	Woman (uncredited)
Mickey Simpson	...	Sam Clanton (uncredited)
Charles Stevens	...	Indian Joe (uncredited)
Arthur Walsh	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Woods	...	Luke (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
Samuel G. Engel		(screen play) and
Winston Miller		(screen play)
Sam Hellman		(from a story by)
Stuart N. Lake		(based on a book by)

Produced by
Samuel G. Engel	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(music) (as Cyril Mockridge)

Cinematography by
Joseph MacDonald		(director of photography) (as Joe MacDonald)

Film Editing by
Dorothy Spencer		(film editor)

Art Direction by
James Basevi		(art direction)
Lyle R. Wheeler		(art direction) (as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little		(set decorations)

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Raymond A. Klune	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Eckhardt	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Edward O'Fearna	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Jack Sonntag	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Fred J. Rode	....	associate set decorations

Sound Department
Eugene Grossman	....	sound
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Stunts
Jack Montgomery	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
René Hubert	....	costumes (as Rene Hubert)
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Alfred Newman	....	musical direction
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestral arrangements (as Edward Powell)

Other crew
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	presents
Ray C. Moore	....	location manager (uncredited)
Barlow Simpson	....	double: Russell Simpson (uncredited)

Thanks
Blake Lucas	....	special thanks (pre-release version print)
James Pepper	....	special thanks (pre-release version print)
Bill Prud'homme	....	special thanks (pre-release version print)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1946) (USA) (theatrical) (released through) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• 20th Century Fox (1947) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• M.P.E.A. (1949) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Allianz Filmverleih (1964) (West Germany) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Key Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (194?) (Belgium) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox  in cooperation with (pre-release version print)
• American Movie Classics (AMC)  funding provided by (pre-release version print)
• Film Center of the National Museum of Modern Art  in cooperation with (pre-release version print) (as The Museum of Modern Art, Department of Film)
• Film Foundation, The  funding provided by (pre-release version print)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound services by (pre-release version print) (as Todd-AO/Glen Glenn)
• UCLA Film and Television Archive  preserved by (pre-release version print)
• YCM Laboratories  sound services by (pre-release version print)

Also Known As:

"John Ford's My Darling Clementine" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

97 min | Spain:102 min | 103 min (pre-release version) | West Germany:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Norway:16 | West Germany:12 (f) | USA:Approved (certificate #11591) | Canada:PG (video rating) | South Korea:12 (2003) | USA:Not Rated | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (1995) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

According to Henry Fonda in 1976 Darryl F. Zanuck's first choice for Doc Holliday was James Stewart but he was overruled by John Ford who didn't believe Stewart could do the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Clementine looks around Doc's room, Wyatt admires a picture of her, which in medium-long shot is clearly a full-length photograph of a woman. When the camera shows a close-up of the photograph, it is a head and torso shot of a woman.

Quotes:

[as Wyatt is leaving the hotel after taking the marshal's job, he meets Clanton and his sons]
Wyatt Earp:I'm the fella with the trail herd, remember?
Old Man Clanton:Oh, sure, I remember you.
Wyatt Earp:You was right. I didn't get very far with 'em. They was rustled this evening.
Old Man Clanton:That so? Well, that's too bad.
[Wyatt starts out the door]
Old Man Clanton:I guess you'll be headin' for California, huh?
Wyatt Earp:No, I figured on stickin' around awhile. Got myself a job.
Old Man Clanton:Cowpunching?
Wyatt Earp:Marshalin'.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Down in the Valley (2005)

Soundtrack:

Ten Thousand Cattle

Wyatt Earp cleans up Tombstone

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE ( rating, * * * * ½ out of 5 )

Adapted from the book 'Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal' by Stuart N. Lake, writers Samuel G. Engel, Winston Miller and Sam Hellman, and the great director himself John Ford, offer this most atmospheric depiction of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the most famous of shootouts in Western folk-lore.

The story basically covers the period when Wyatt Earp cleaned up Tombstone and wiped out the Clanton gang at the OK Coral. This is time-honored stuff. Nostalgic dramatizations that romanticized the Wild West while creating unforgettable heroes and notorious villains.

John Ford's handling of this motion picture is done with great care and obvious affection. Significant endeavor and attention to detail has gone into the period's reconstruction and the result is what can only be described as lyrical. A synchronous composition of sight and sound that produces a mesmerizing effect which in turn forces any viewer to fall instantly in love with this film.

Henry Fonda's portrayal of Wyatt Earp is without doubt the best that has ever been attempted and Victor Mature's Doc Holliday has him in rare form. Add cast members Walter Brennan, Linda Darnell, Ward Bond and John Ireland, and this film just crackles along.

There is one interesting irony I have noted. In John Ford's celebrated history as a director, particularly in the days when he was making silent films, the real Wyatt Earp acted as Ford's technical adviser bringing a new level of authenticity to gun play that Hollywood in the past had only guessed at. But in 'My Darling Clementine', the final shootout although well done, has a fantasy-like quality about it that avoids a sense of violent realism and adopts a surreal quality - as if seen through a dream.

Because John Ford knew all too well how to make a gunfight look believable, maybe this film allowed him to go beyond what was expected and to produce something a little special, and maybe it was shot in the way that Wyatt Earp wished it could have really happened. To successfully bend the rules, it really helps to have written them in the first place.

'My Darling Clementine' is a joy to behold. Sure, there are a few moments when minor cracks appear, but for pure entertainment value, it is unsurpassed. This movie is what going to the pictures on a Saturday afternoon was all about - those delightful matinee sessions when you'd load your arms up with confectionery, scramble for the best seats in the back row and experience the escapism that made growing up in the suburbs almost tolerable.