"Ford's story reenacts the central morality play of the Western. Wyatt Earp becomes the town's new marshal, there's a showdown between law and anarchy, the law wins and the last shot features the new schoolmarm--who represents the arrival of civilization. Most Westerns put the emphasis on the showdown. My Darling Clementine builds up to the legendary gunfight at the OK Corral, but it is more about everyday things--haircuts, romance, friendship, poker and illness...[Director John Ford] met the real Wyatt Earp on the set of a movie and heard the story of the OK Corral directly from him."
- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times
Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda) and his brothers Morgan and Virgil ride into Tombstone and leave brother James in charge of their cattle herd. On their return they find their cattle stolen and James dead. Wyatt takes on the job of town marshal, making his brothers deputies, and vows to stay in Tombstone until James' killers are found. He soon runs into the brooding, coughing, hard-drinking Doc Holliday as well as the sullen and vicious Clanton clan. Wyatt discovers the owner of a trinket stolen from James' dead body and the stage is set for the Earps' long-awaited revenge.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring:
- Hugh P. Taylor, Jr., Caltech Professor of Geology, Emeritus
- Rick Jewell, Chair for the Study of American Film, USC School of Cinema-Television
- Catherine Jurca, Caltech Associate Professor of English, moderator
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