Being a movie collector is lots of fun. You go to the store or the online site and shop for hours looking for deals on your favorite movies. But, a problem for me is I go to secondhand stores and will sometimes buy movies that maybe I wasn’t crazy about when I saw them but now it’s only $6, so I figure “Why not?” Or, I buy a movie I’ve seen and I forget to watch it.

I have mentioned before that my wife is supportive of my collecting, but she also gets annoyed because I buy movies and they sit on my shelf, never seeing the inside of my blu-ray player.

At first, I told my wife “I’ve watched most of them!” But recently I decided to separate the films that I have not watched. And darn it, my wife is right!

So, I took all those discs and placed them on the bottom of my shelf. My movies are organized alphabetically, so I thought for fun I would mix them up, place them back on the bottom of the shelf and watch whatever movie is next.

I will review the discs as it will help keep me focused on completing my task of finally being able to tell my wife, “I have watched them all!”

Welcome to Blu-Buried!

My Darling Clementine-Criterion Collection

Cattle Ranchers and brothers, Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda), Virgil (Tim Holt), Morgan (Ward Bond), and James (an uncredited Don Garner) arrive at the lawless town of Tombstone, Arizona. The brothers plan to just rest there and be on their way, but when James is murdered and their cattle stolen, Wyatt soon decides that he will become Tombstone’s Marshall.

While searching for his brother’s murderer, Wyatt soon becomes friends with Doc Holiday (Victor Mature) a hot-headed local suffering from tuberculosis.

Holiday’s former love interest, Clementine (Cathy Downs) soon arrives in Tombstone looking for Holiday. She meets Wyatt, who becomes taken by her loveliness. Holiday is not excited to see Clementine and demands that she returns to Boston. We also meet Chihuahua (Linda Darnell), a fiery Latina, who happens to be Holiday’s current love interest.

Clementine refuses to leave Tombstone, and Holiday good on his word, leaves for Tucson. After Holiday leaves, Wyatt discovers a silver cross that was worn by James the night he was killed being worn by Chihuahua. Chihuahua tells Wyatt that Holiday gave it to her.

Wyatt chases after Holiday and catches him. Wyatt soon learns that he was lied to by Chihuahua and was given the cross by Billy Clanton. Billy shoots Chihuahua and attempts to escape. Wyatt tells his brother Virgil to go after Billy. Billy is shot but makes it home. Virgil arrives at the Clanton home and makes his way to the bedroom where he discovers Billy has died from his gunshot wounds. Virgil offers his condolences and turns to walk out the room but is shot in the back by Old Man Clanton.

The Clanton’s dump Virgil’s body in the streets of Tombstone, telling Wyatt that they will be at the O.K. Corral, setting up the most famous shootout in history.

My Darling Clementine is an outstanding Western. Although it’s loosy-goosy with historical facts, (Doc Holiday does not die in the shootout, he lives a few more years before he dies in Glenwood Springs, Colorado from tuberculosis and years of alcohol abuse) it is one entertaining film. Henry Fonda is on point as Wyatt Earp, and Victor Mature is cold and rough as Doc Holiday making their eventual team up and friendship flimsy at best.

My Darling Clementine has all the things you would expect in a western. Lawless town, gambling, singing and shootouts. It is directed with style by John  Ford, but I learned in the bonus features that he actually made a slightly different movie than the one that made it into theaters, which Criterion has included on this release.

It was joy watching My Darling Clementine again. I used to watch these old western movies all the time with my grandfather. Watching them again brings back great memories of root beer floats and staying up late.

Criterion has given the theatrical release of My Darling Clementine a brand new 4K restoration for this release and it looks stunning. The black and white photography is brought to life with several standout scenes. The moment that it is pouring rain and the Earp brothers discover that James has been murdered is a breathtaking example of how black and white movies can evoke moments that can’t be replicated.

The Prerelease version isn’t quite as good as the theatrical as you can see the film wasn’t given the same make over as the theatrical. It does look pretty sharp though and the differences are miniscule.

The audio is much like the video presentation of My Darling Clementine. The theatrical version has no pop, hiss or other distracting noise imperfections.

The Prerelease version is no slouch but there are some pops and an underling hiss that does occasionally affect some scenes.

It should also be noted that the soundtrack is slightly different.

Being a Criterion release you will get some truly great bonus features.

Prerelease Version: This version has different edits and runs about six minutes longer. I’m not sure which version I prefer but they are both great.

Version Comparison: See the differences in the two cuts of the film.

Lux Radio Theatre Presentation: Radio play of My Darling Clementine.

Bandit’s Wager: A silent film short directed by Ford’s brother Francis.

Lost and Gone Forever: Focuses on John Ford’s films and themes but with an emphasis on My Darling Clementine.

Today: Report on Monument Valley: From 1975, a look at where My Darling Clementine was filmed.

David Brinkley Journal: Tombstone: A look at the infamous town, from 1965.

Print the Legend: A great documentary about the legend that is Wyatt Earp.

Commentary: A great listen with Joseph McBride, who wrote a book on Ford and explores the film and its inaccuracies. McBride also discusses Ford’s career.

A trailer is also included.

My Darling Clementine is a great western film. Criterion did an amazing job bringing this all time classic to high definition. This is a must buy.

Film: A

Video: A

Audio: A

Extras: A+

Overall: A