My Darling Clementine

A detailed Summary of My Darling Clementine

In the 1940's, protagonists and antagonists were easily distinguished in America's Western-style films. However in John Ford's film, "My Darling Clementine", which depicts the famous story of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday's character is portrayed as an elusive, somewhat ineffective man. Not until one of the final scenes does the viewer have confirmed that Holliday is actually a fair and just man. He then becomes a member of the protagonists with the Earp brothers, although remaining a failure. Along with that, suspicions about the Clanton family aren't absolutely confirmed until this same point in the film. While the Clanton's role seems to be that of easily-blamable scoff-laws from the very beginning, Holliday displays character traits that show that he could be or might have once been a cleaner, straighter, and more-distinguished man. Through an exploration of the Earps (mostly Wyatt), the Clanton family (mostly Old Man), and eventually Doc Holliday we will be able to better understand the building tension that occurs in Ford's "My Darling Clementine".

From the very beginning, it is easy to see that the Earp brothers, especially Wyatt, are pure, brave, and good-natured boys that fit the law-abiding ideal. This is imp

While the Earps play the protagonists (Wyatt obviously drawing the focus), the Clantons play the antagonists, and they make it clear from the very start. At the very beginning of the movie, Old Man and Ike Clanton are looking down on the Earps as they drive their cattle through the rough terrain near Tombstone. The music in the background dawns a sinister theme so that the viewer knows that these men can't be trusted. Old Man Clanton indirectly encourages Wyatt to go into Tombstone that night so the Clanton boys can eventually steal the Earp's herd since it couldn't be bought. When they see Wyatt later on, the Clantons act uneasy and make it clear that they are the main suspects for the crime of rustling and murder. Also, they accentuate the protagonist role of Wyatt when he tells them his name. They wonder what kind of trouble they got themselves into when they find out that they miffed the famous sheriff from the East.

ortant, because the West was (or, at least, represented) an unregulated area where the law could be bent at virtually any time. For people to be as pure as the Earps seemed very unique, and their name was well respected from Wyatt's earlier work as Sheriff in another town. Apparently he could clean up a fair-sized city, and the people in Tombstone were certainly excited when they found out he would help out their small, remote oasis with virtually no law enforcement.

As soon as Wyatt tries to get a shave, he realizes that he is not in a quiet, peaceful town. In fact, he is appalled at the state of order in Tombstone. He asks rhetorically, "What kind of a town is this anyway?... A man can't get a shave without gettin' his head blowed off!" After taking matters into his own hands and solving the problem, he is still frustrated. He scoffs, "What kind of town is this anyway, selling liquor to Indians?..." It is made clear at this point in the film that Wyatt is no coward, and he is a man that can get things done.

So after the Earps and Holliday seem to have had a good time, they head over to the theater to find that the actor is missing and the show can't go on. When they find the Shakespeare actor at the mercy of the Clantons, they listen to him recite the Hamlet speech. Strangely, when the actor seems too tired to continue, Holliday takes over until his cough takes hold of him. He appears to be a cultured man, however he seems to be in a strange place for such worldly tastes. Here we learn for the first time that there indeed must be something more to Doc Holliday.

However, toward the end of the film, the Clantons get to be less subtle. We find out that Billy Clanton killed James, which then triggers him to shoot Chihuahua. After that, Billy is mortally wounded by Virgil, but Virgil then walks right into a trap and Old Man Clanton kills him with a shotgun blast. The Clantons then drop off the dead Virgil and indicate the battleground, the O.K. Corral, where the family feud would be settled. Chihuahua then dies from Billy's gunshots, which then brings Doc Holliday into the feud. After the gunfight ensues, Old Man Clanton tries yet another one of his miserable tricks and gets killed immediately.

Well, not clearing anything up, Doc explains to

Some common words found in the essay are:
Doc Holliday, Darling Clementine, Rockies Marshals, Soon Wyatt, Doc Holliday's, John Holliday, East Clantons, Earps Holliday, Poor Doc, Ike Clanton, doc holliday, earp brothers, town anyway, darling clementine, front church crowd, doctor john, doc explains, clanton family, john holliday, doc scoffs doctor, ike clanton, scoffs doctor john, doc scoffs, doctor john holliday, town front church,

Approximate Word count = 2173
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English