Though the iconic John Wayne held a deep admiration for the legendary lawman Wyatt Earp, it remains surprising that he was not cast in the acclaimed Western classic My Darling Clementine. The saga of Wyatt Earp has been adapted numerous times across film and television, with notable entries including James Garner’s Hour of the Gun and the noteworthy box office clash between Tombstone and Wyatt Earp in the 1990s. In retrospect, it is rather peculiar that despite starring in over 80 Westerns, Wayne never managed to bring his version of Earp to the screen.
John Wayne’s rise to prominence began with the 1939 film Stagecoach, leading him to become a prominent figure in Hollywood. Despite his well-known enthusiasm for Earp’s character, Wayne was consistently sidelined when films such as 1957’s Gunfight at the O.K. Corral entered production. Directed by his longtime collaborator John Ford, My Darling Clementine stands out among the finest cinematic portrayals of Earp, yet Wayne was notably absent from the cast.
John Wayne Missed His Best Opportunity to Portray Wyatt Earp in My Darling Clementine
This 1946 Western is Among John Ford’s Finest Works
Notably, Ford had interacted with Wyatt Earp earlier in his career, with Earp serving as a consultant for various films in the 1920s. During a retrospective discussion with Henry Fonda, the lead actor of My Darling Clementine, Ford recounted a memorable encounter where Earp illustrated the famed shootout at the O.K. Corral. This encounter ignited Ford’s ambition to depict the event on screen, yet he ultimately chose Fonda over Wayne, despite their extensive collaboration on past projects.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8z0N79pX3ohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8z0N79pX3o
Fonda, a prominent star in his own right, was celebrated for his role in The Ox-Bow Incident, a film favored by Clint Eastwood. His portrayal of Earp as the soft-spoken lawman effectively conveys a depth of emotion that was more nuanced than typical depictions. While Ford’s esteemed filmography includes masterpieces like The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, My Darling Clementine remains a beloved classic among critics and Ford aficionados alike.
It is likely that Wayne, after viewing the film, felt a sense of envy regarding Fonda’s portrayal. The film is visually stunning, with well-defined characters and a poetic quality that Ford often infused into his work. Although Wayne was predominantly viewed as a typecast figure embodying a robust style of masculinity, he later demonstrated his ability to deliver layered performances in films such as Red River and The Searchers.
It’s Curious that John Ford Bypassed John Wayne as Wyatt Earp
My Darling Clementine Seemed Like an Ideal Reunion for Ford and Wayne
By the time My Darling Clementine reached theaters, John Ford and John Wayne had collaborated on three films together. Given that Ford’s previous Western had achieved remarkable success, one would assume Wayne would naturally be cast as the lead. Surprisingly, it appears that Ford had already envisioned Fonda for the role and did not even consider Wayne.
This decision might stem from Ford’s firsthand experiences with Wyatt Earp, allowing him to capture Earp’s essence adequately. Fonda’s interpretation of Earp as a reserved character who resorts to violence as a last measure contrasts sharply with Wayne’s strong and often boisterous on-screen persona. Nonetheless, reports indicate that Wayne felt overlooked by Ford’s choice, although his longstanding relationship with the director suggests he did not harbor any resentment.
John Wayne’s Admiration for Wyatt Earp
Wayne Literally Emulated Wyatt Earp’s Mannerisms
Although there are tales suggesting Wayne met Earp during his early career, the validity of such encounters remains uncertain. Some of these anecdotes even erroneously claim Wayne served as a pallbearer at Earp’s funeral. What is indisputable is that Wayne modeled his entire on-screen persona after Earp. He famously claimed, “Earp was the man who had actually done the things in his life that I was trying to do in a movie. I imitated his walk; I imitated his talk.”
Earp was the man who had actually done the things in his life that I was trying to do in a movie. I imitated his walk; I imitated his talk.
Wayne’s distinctive slow drawl and deliberate gait significantly contributed to his stardom. His son Ethan later confirmed that Wayne would approach roles of authority with Earp as his archetype. In a sense, it can be argued that Wayne channeled the spirit of Wyatt Earp throughout his career without ever explicitly portraying him. Given the studio’s interest in bankrolling a Wyatt Earp film featuring Wayne, it is puzzling that he did not make a more concerted effort to land such a role.
Potential Miscasting: John Wayne as Wyatt Earp
Henry Fonda Was the Ideal Choice for the 1946 Classic
Throughout his career, Wayne frequently portrayed variations of the heroic archetype expected from Western leads, featuring tough-talking and skilled gunfighters. Although he was often comfortable with this typecasting, he diversified his roles across genres over time. However, in relation to My Darling Clementine, Wayne may have been ill-suited for the nuanced interpretation of Earp presented by Ford.
While Val Kilmer is praised for his portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone, he also donned the role of Wyatt Earp in the lesser-known 2012 Western Wyatt Earp’s Revenge. In a thoughtful observation by critic Roger Ebert, he speculated that perhaps Ford associated Wayne with the traditional, rugged Old West while envisioning Fonda as a newer type of man capable of taming the wild frontier. While other portrayals of Earp showcase a more hyper-masculine figure, Fonda’s rendition remains understated and lacks such bravado.
Ultimately, the film delves into the themes of law and civilization emerging in the Old West, with Fonda’s Earp representing the desire to maintain order and peace, only resorting to violence in the climactic moment of the O.K. Corral shootout. Wayne’s typical dramatic flair would likely have diverged from this more restrained characterization, and the different performance styles of Wayne and Fonda underline why the latter was crafted into Ford’s vision for the film.
Had Wayne starred in My Darling Clementine, it might have resulted in an effective Western of its time, but with a lead miscast in a role demanding subtler interpretations. As a result, the film continues to thrive as a quintessential genre favorite.
Sources: YouTube/Life In The 1800s, YouTube American Heroes Channel, Roger Ebert