This film from John Ford (THE QUIET MAN) is the archetypical Western. It tells the legendary conflict that led to the shootout at the O.K. Corral. Henry Fonda (THE GRAPES OF WRATH) stars as Wyatt Earp, who takes the job as marshal of Tombstone after his youngest brother James (Don Garner, THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY) is killed by cattle rustlers. Earp believes Old Man Clanton (Walter Brennan, RIO BRAVO) and his sons are involved.
At first the wild town is reluctant to accept the new lawman, especially the town’s top gambler Doc Holliday (Victor Mature, THE ROBE) and his on-and-off-again Indian girl Chihuahua (Linda Darnell, UNFAITHFULLY YOURS). However, Wyatt and Doc soon become friends. However, Wyatt becomes torn when Doc’s true love from back East, Clementine Carter (Cathy Downs, THE SUNDOWNERS), comes to Tombstone.
This film reminded me of Ford’s YOUNG MR. LINCOLN — for the setting feels similar and the two films' sense for detail. It’s this detail that adds a richness to the film that makes it seem like you’re really there at that time in history. As normal, the wonderful visuals play a key part. Ford was a master at that. Joseph MacDonald's black and white cinematography captures the grandeur of Ford's favorite location, Monument Valley. There is a grittiness to the look that underlines the uncivilized country. Ford also handles violence in a realistic way that doesn’t glamorize it, while showing its rawness without getting gratuitous. Legend has it that Ford spoke with Earp about the incident to get the story right. But legend is always more interesting than fact.
The performances are wonderful as well, especially Mature and Darnell. Ford deals with iconic characters here, but never makes the film seem like hero worship as SHANE does. The film has a revenge plot, which is typical of Westerns, however it's peppered with a love triangle between Wyatt, Doc and Clementine that doesn’t play out like a typical hyped up love conflict. The contrast of Wyatt’s coldness when dealing with crime and his tenderness with Clementine is the most interesting part of Fonda’s character. Mature makes Doc’s mixed feelings fascinating and Darnell is fiery as a woman who has done what she has had to do to survive in the harsh West. Civilized behavior is only a luxury for the fortunate sometimes.
Like many Westerns, MY DARLING CLEMENTINE dealt with the civilization of the wilderness. Fonda's Earp transforms from a rough ex-marshal to a respectable lawman. Old Man Clanton represents the unruly past of the West. Doc Holliday falls right in the middle. In many ways, the story is a long-over-due coming-of-age story for Earp as well as Tombstone. But like the wilderness, and like the classic mythic hero, Earp cannot be tamed completely. This is a classic pure and simple.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
