John Henry “Doc” Holliday – the Deadly Dentist in the classic western era – part 2

My Darling Clementine (1946)

It’s pretty hard to attribute this film to the Gunfight in the OK Corral story re-telling since it has almost nothing to do with the actual history. Considering that “Doc” Holliday here is a surgeon instead of a dentist, it can be safely said the movie wasn’t intended to be one either.

Doc and Wyatt

Doc and Wyatt in “My Darling Clementine” (1946)

It is easier to list the similarities with the actual history, rather than trying to point out the inconsistencies since there are so many. Therefore there is no point in going into the details why Doc here couldn’t possible have anything to do with his historical prototype, as well as that his friendship with Wyatt in the circumstances shown in the movie is highly unlikely.

For example it’s hard to believe in Doc, the Southern gentleman, taking kindly how Wyatt knocks him down with the pistol handle in a saloon ( should be read as “humiliates him”). Yet again, since it is so obviously purposefully not historical, it can’t be judged in this context at all.

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The general tone of the film is a lot darker and a lot more daunting comparing to the 50s “Gunfight at the OK Corral” and almost gives a feel of a noir.

The story also is a lot grimmer. The film has it’s brilliant moments story-wise  such as the scene with the Shakespeare reading in the saloon. But generally the strength of this film is not in the script but in the cinematography.

“My Darling Clementine” (1946)

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John Henry “Doc” Holliday – The Deadly Dentist in the Classic Western Era – links to later posts:

Part 4

Part 3

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John Henry “Doc” Holliday – The Deadly Dentist in the Classic Western Era – links to previous posts:

Part 1