Film Friday: 'My Darling Clementine' directed by John Ford
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The story of Wyatt Earp and the town of Tombstone has been told in films countless times, since the beginning of the medium. Perhaps it has probably never been told as well as it was by John Ford’s 1946 film, My Darling Clementine starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt. The film is a moody, atmospheric masterpiece but still has a few flaws. It feels like a film paying tribute to the death of the Western, even though it was made at the height of the genre’s popularity.
Right after the credits end, the audience is immediately thrown a wide shot of the Earp brothers and their cattle in front of Monument Valley and its beauty. The audience is also given the heavy contrast between lights and darks that run throughout the whole film, giving it a rough, documentary look. High Noon (1951) is often credited as being the first Western to have this bleak look, but Ford, ever the innovator, beat that by a few years. The wide shots in this film show that widescreen format is not necessary to give the audience beautiful shots. All you need is a well composed square image to get some of the best views of the West.
Source: TheCelebrityCafe.com