My Darling Clementine (1946)

The Earps battle the Clantons at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Samuel G. Engel (screen play), Winston Miller (screen play)

Stars:

Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature

3 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Henry Fonda	...	Wyatt Earp
Linda Darnell	...	Chihuahua
Victor Mature	...	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

Storyline

Wyatt Earp and his brothers Morgan and Virgil ride into Tombstone and leave brother James in charge of their cattle herd. On their return they find their cattle stolen and James dead. Wyatt takes on the job of town marshal, making his brothers deputies, and vows to stay in Tombstone until James' killers are found. He soon runs into the brooding, coughing, hard-drinking Doc Holliday as well as the sullen and vicious Clanton clan. Wyatt discovers the owner of a trinket stolen from James' dead body and the stage is set for the Earps' long-awaited revenge.

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Plot Keywords:

gunfight at the o.k. corral | arizona territory | arizona | reference to tombstone arizona | billy clanton | 

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Taglines:

She was everything the West was - young, fiery, exciting!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

November 1946 (UK)

Also Known As:

John Ford's My Darling Clementine

Filming Locations:

Shiprock, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min 103 min (pre-release)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

On 28 April 1947 Henry Fonda and Cathy Downs starred in a live radio version of this film, broadcast on the Lux Radio Theatre.

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Goofs

In the film, "Old Man" Clanton (Walter Brennan) is shot and killed after the gunfight. In actuality, "Old Man" Clanton died in August 1881 - before the gunfight - and was not a principal in the gunfight itself or in the events immediately prior to the gunfight.

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Quotes

Wyatt Earp: [Wyatt Earp enters hotel lobby whistling My Darling Clementine, turns to see Clementine Carter waiting for the stage] Morning, Miss Carter.
Clementine Carter: Good Morning, Mr. Earp.
Wyatt Earp: You leaving?
Clementine Carter: Yes, I'm leaving for the east on a stage.
Wyatt Earp: East-bound stage don't leave 'til noon on Sunday.
[moment of silence]
Wyatt Earp: It's a mighty short visit.
Clementine Carter: Some people think I've overstayed my visit already.
Wyatt Earp: I don't know, ma'am. But if you ask me, I... I think you're givin' up too easy.
Clementine Carter: Marshal, if you ask me, I... I don't think you know ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

In 1994, an alternate "preview" version of the film was found that runs 103 or 104 minutes, according to different sources. In June 1946, director John Ford showed producer Darryl F. Zanuck his cut of the film. Zanuck's opinion was that the film had some problems, so Zanuck reshot certain scenes with Director Lloyd Bacon. Zanuck also recut other scenes, changed the music at certain points, and slightly altered the finale. In all, 35 minutes of footage was shot or recut, and the film was released at 97 minutes. Both the 103-104 min. archival preview print and the 97 min. release print are on the Fox DVD released January 6, 2004.

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Connections

Version of Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

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Soundtracks

The First Kiss Is Always the Sweetest, from Under a Broad Sombrero
(uncredited)
Composer Unknown
Sung by Linda Darnell

User Reviews

no doubt one of the greatest

I'm not a huge fan of westerns, but the info on this from IMDb drew me to watch it when it showed up on American Movie Classics, and I was richly rewarded. This is truly a beautifully done film, and makes one understand John Ford's reputation in this genre. The understated Henry Fonda and the volcanic Victor Mature somehow work well against each other. The script is low-key and naturalistic, allowing the action to stand out. The cinematography is spectacular, both in the wide open panoramas and in the more intimate personal scenes. Interior lighting, in particular, is very skillfully used. Seeing Walter Brennan, playing against type, makes one appreciate how much better an actor he was than in the amiable, doddering bumpkin roles he got so typecast in later on. To use an overworked term, a classic.