My Darling Clementine (1946)

Henry Fonda plays Wyatt Earp. He and his brothers are driving a herd of cattle to California when they come to Tombstone, Ariz.

While they’re visiting the town, someone rustles their herd and kills their younger brother James in the process.

Naturally, that prompts Wyatt to return to law enforcement, vowing to find James’ killers with brothers Virgil (Tim Holt) and Morgan (Ward Bond) as his deputies.

In the process, he crosses paths with a self-destructive former surgeon named Doc Holliday (Victor Mature). He’s given up on his old profession to become a gunman/gambler with little regard for life.

Two women, however, have much regard for his life. Linda Darnell plays Chihuahua, the dance hall girl who tries her best to win his heart. Cathy Downs plays Clementine, the young lady who follows him West to convince him to return home.

Doc winds up scorning them both, but then finds himself trying to save Chihuahua’s life after she’s been shot by a member of the Clanton clan because she holds a key piece of evidence as to who killed James Earp.

And that sets the stage for the showdown at the OK Corral.

Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, coming face to face with the rain-soaked Clanton clan after his brother’s death in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Victor Mature as Doc Holliday, the gunman, gambler and former doctor with little regard for life in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Review:

John Ford knew the real Wyatt Earp and boasted that he staged the famous gunfight just as he was told it occurred. That said, the film is filled with historical inaccuracies, including who was involved and who died in that gunfight.

Regardless, the famous director delivers one of the better versions of this oft-told tale, and that has little to do with the staging of the gunfight.

It has more to do with moments like when Wyatt is working up the nerve to ask Clementine to dance. Or when everyone thinks they’re smelling desert flowers when they’re really smelling the results of Wyatt’s visit to the barber, a fact he bashfully admits more than once.

By the time the film ends, the only one of the principle characters left in Tombstone is Clementine, who’s going to become a school teacher. She represents the coming of civilization to the wild and wooly West.

An interesting casting note: John Ireland plays Billy Clanton in this film. About 10 years later, he would play Johnny Ringo in the equally impressive “Gunfight at the OK Corral,” starring Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster.

Linda Darnell as dance hall entertainer Chihuahua, pleading forgiveness from Doc Holliday in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Cathy Downs as Clementine Carter, the young woman who follows Doc Holliday from Boston to Tombstone in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Directed by:
John Ford

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
Grant Withers … Ike Clanton
Don Garner … James Earp
Roy Roberts … Mayor
Jane Darwell … Kate Nelson

Runtime: 97 min.

Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, watching over Tombstone with deputy brothers Morgan (Ward Bone) and Virgil (Tim Holt) in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Memorable lines:

Wyatt Earp: “A man could almost follow your trail going from graveyard to graveyard.”
Doc Holliday: “There’s one here, too — biggest graveyard west of the Rockies. Marshal’s and I usually get along much better when we understand that right away.”

Doc Holliday: “Plan on staying here long?”
Wyatt Earp: “A while.”
Doc: “Til you catch the rustlers that killed your brother?”
Wyatt: “That’s the general idea.”
Doc: “What’s the specific idea?”
Wyatt: “I don’t follow you quite.”
Doc: “You haven’t taken it into your head to deliver us from all evil?”
Wyatt: “Haven’t thought of it quite like that. Ain’t a bad idea. What I’m gettin’ paid for.”

Chihuahua: “When Doc finds out you butted him last night, he’ll twist that tin badge around your heart.”

Wyatt Earp: “Mac, you ever been in love?”
Bartender: “Nope, I’ve been a bartender all my life.”

Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, working up the nerve to ask Clementine Carter (Cathy Downs) to dance in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Walter Brennan as Old Man Clanton and Grant Withers (right) as Ike Clanton, running into Wyatt Earp after some night rustling in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Linda Darnell as Chihuahua, rushing Billy Clanton (John Ireland) out of her room when Doc Holliday returns unexpectantly in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Jane Darwell as Kate Nelson and Roy Roberts as Tombstone’s mayor, watching Wyatt Earp head into a saloon to deal with a rowdy drunk in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Dan Garner as James Earp, left to guard the herd while his brothers head to town in My Darling Clementine (1956)

Russell Simpson as Deacon John Simpton, holding a camp meeting to raise money for a church in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Alan Mowbray as Granville Thorndyke, the oft-drunk thespian who nearly causes a riot in Tombstone in My Darling Clementine (1946)

Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, giving Old Man Clanton one last chance to avoid a gunfight in My Darling Clementine (1946)