Destry Rides Again (1939)

8/10

Nazi_Fighter_David3 June 2005

It is true that there are parody elements in George Marshall's delightful "Destry Rides Again" but the real humor lies not so much in these sorts of antics, nor the heavily laid on inquiries of Marlene Dietrich as to the tastes of the backroom boys, but rather in James Stewart's no-gun Destry characterization

This springs from the same source as Ford's 'characters', recognizable frontier independent-minded eccentrics, with a firm footing in American literature; characters often with a roundabout way of making a point, or pointing a moral, as with Destry's habit of prefacing each little cautionary parable with: 'I knew a fellow once who' A habit that inevitably drew the aggrieved riposte: 'You know too many fellows, Destry'

The other 'characters' in this film have more than a color or two of parodyMischa Auer's improbable Slavonic cowboy, Charles Winninger's town drunk, Brian Donlevy, unprincipled boss, and Samuel S. Hinds' nicely played judge

In retrospect, it's odd how much this movie gains from its rather touching little postscript Stewart, the unconventional lawman, having pacified his cowtown, strolls the streets with a hero-worshiping lad at his heels, and yet also takes a little cloud of sadness along with him

Marshall's film is considered a classic Western which manages to encompass suspense, comedy, romance, tenderness, vivid characterization, horseplay, songs and standard western excitements, without moving for more than a moment from a studio main street set Hollywood expertise at its very best...

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9/10

A comedy with serious political and personal moments...and Dietrich can fight

secondtake13 June 2010

Destry Rides Again (1939)

A brilliantly made spoof of the early American Western. This came out at a strange time for this kind of reflective comedy, because in fact the Western was just this year having a revival with three serious Westerns including John Ford's legendary Stagecoach. But the fixtures of this kind of movie were well in place--the barroom brawl, the bad men and their guns, the good sheriff coming to the rescue, the sweet untainted woman and the quasi-whorehouse type woman, and of course the final shootout. It's all here. And it's a wild ride done with subtlety, a difficult combination to pull off.

It's fun to see this movie and then compare to the later generation of take-offs and spoofs that take themselves much more seriously--the spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s. These, too, used all the clichés of the Western to make an amusing reference to those types. The reason why those movies worked so well, and why Destry does, too, is that these are attractive archetypes. We see ourselves in these people, somehow, and yet not too closely. We identify with them (especially Jimmy Stewart the sheriff and Marlene Dietrich the bad woman with a good heart who can sing, too) and yet know they are all artifice, just as in a play. The illusion of reality is damped down by the excess and the fun, and the obvious exaggerations.

As for director George Marshall, he's a hardened Hollywood veteran most famous, perhaps, for a long string of golf movies (yes golf, the sport). But his expertise, and his willingness to go for broke with scenes involving dozens or even hundreds of people, and to use the camera vigorously, and to realize he had two of the greatest actors he could ask for (Stewart toward the beginning of his career, and Dietrich still a great star though cast against her normal romanticized type from the early 1930s) is phenomenal. You'll shake your head and laugh at the same time.

In fact, it is the chemistry of the two stars that gives the movie surprising depth. It's not just a farce. It talks about pacifism just as World War II is brewing. And it suggests something about true love as much as carnal attraction. All while the world is exploding around the two leads, almost literally, as you'll see. And whatever might happen on screen by the end, it's fun to know that the two had a real affair offscreen, with some hush hush scandal to follow years later.

Watch this and laugh and maybe even cry a little. Great stuff.

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9/10

Classic western-comedy

TheLittleSongbird9 April 2011

There are several reasons why Destry Rides Again appeals to me. While I am not the biggest fan of westerns I do think there are some jewels within the genre, and I love comedy when it's done right. Destry Rides Again merges these two genres brilliantly. George Marshall does a fine job directing, I can understand why those would find his directing style flat but he allows the stars to have fun and has a nice understated approach to how he directs the film. This approach works.

The film still looks great. The cinematography and editing are crisp, the sets don't look as though they are made on the cheap and the costumes are beautiful to watch, and the music is rousing and compliments the mood wonderfully. The story is not as good as some of the other components but it is a fun, well-paced and relevant one. And there is a fine cast. Marlene Dietrich, cast against type here looks as though she is having a ball and has some of the film's best scenes and lines, and the wonderful James Stewart in his first western lead shows a believable chemistry(like fireworks I'd say!) and gives a very charming performance. Brian Donlevy is deliciously snide and knows how to sneer and scowl, and Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger and Allen Jenkins are marvellous.

Three things especially elevate Destry Rides Again to an even higher level though. One is the rollicking humour, the dialogue in particular is cracking and delivered with a wicked sense of timing by the whole cast. Secondly, Marlene Dietrich performing the simply fabulous See What the Boys in the Back Room Will have, that scene alone is a timeless classic. And finally, and possibly even the best of all, is the cat-fight between Dietrich and Una Merkel, which as far as I'm concerned has never been bettered.

Overall, a classic western-comedy and not to be missed. I think it could have been a tad longer, but with everything else so good I don't mind so much. 9.5/10 Bethany Cox

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When they say they don't make them like that any more . .

alfa-1617 April 2004

. . . this is what they mean.

I'm intrigued by the voting on this movie as I can't imagine any scale on which it wouldn't get top marks. Where exactly does it drop the ball? Cast - inspired; performances - stellar; script - faultless; direction - millimetre perfect; score - find me one better, ("See what the boys in the back room will have" has gone into the language).

Is it because it's not an arthouse movie? Or because of the dangerous idea that restraint, cool and smarts are more effective weapons than playground bully tactics?

As far as I am concerned, if you want to know how to put a movie together, you can start here. 10/10 is the only possible mark for a masterpiece.

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10/10

No Promiscuous Shooting In Bottleneck

bkoganbing21 August 2006

1939 that celebrated high point of the Hollywood studio system turned out to be the break out year for James Stewart. His career kicked into high gear with Destry Ridges Again and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. From just a good leading man these films guaranteed Jimmy Stewart screen immortality.

Destry was equally an important film for Marlene Dietrich. Her career had come to a standstill and she had been let go from her original American studio, Paramount. A whole lot of people said she was through in Hollywood, but Marlene showed them all.

This is the second film adaption of the story, a 1932 version was done by Tom Mix, one of his last films and one of his few sound ones. This one however is THE standard version.

Destry Rides Again was directed by George Marshall who was very good at mixing humor and drama to make some great films. This one is probably Marshall's greatest. Among Hollywood directors from the studio age, he is sadly forgotten.

The town of Bottleneck is one rip roaring place with a whole lot of promiscuous shooting going on. It's a pretty corrupt place run by saloon owner Brian Donlevy and his stooge mayor Samuel S. Hinds. When the sheriff is killed they 'elect' the town drunk Charles Winninger as the new sheriff.

But Winninger who was a deputy sheriff at one time sends for the son of his former boss Thomas Jefferson Destry played by Jimmy Stewart. Destry makes quite an entrance into Bottleneck, running afoul of saloon entertainer Marlene Dietrich. His arrival in Bottleneck up to his first encounter with Marlene are some of the funniest moments ever put on screen.

Destry Rides Again gave Marlene one of her classic ballads, See What the Boys in the Backroom Will Have as well as Little Joe, the Wrangler. Who would ever have thought that the girl from Germany would wind up having one of her most noted film roles as a western saloon entertainer. But Marlene created an indelible character, so much so that Mel Brooks and Madeline Kahn gave her a real heartfelt tribute in Blazing Saddles. I'll bet Marlene enjoyed that one also.

James Stewart did not return to the western genre until Winchester 73 and Broken Arrow eleven years later. But this was one great film to make a debut in that film art form.

You won't indulge in any promiscuous shooting while Destry is on the job.

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10/10

Absolutely cracking Western spoof with great performances from Stewart and Dietrich

gaityr5 October 2002

Warning: Spoilers

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is set in the hopelessly corrupt little town of Bottleneck, presided over as it is by the ruthless land-grabber and card shark Kent (Brian Donlevy) and his sexy partner-in-crime Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich). Sheriffs don't last long in this town, particularly since Mayor Slade (Samuel S. Hinds) is in cahoots with Kent and his flock of flunkies. After doing away with Sheriff Keyhole, Slade appoints the hapless town drunk, Washington Dimsdale (Charles Winninger), to be the new Sheriff. 'Wash' cleans up his act and hopes to re-enact the past glory he had under his boss Sheriff Destry, by calling in Destry's son Tom (James Stewart) to be his deputy. To his horror, Tom is a mild-mannered kind of guy, tall and gangling but with a tendency to lapse into little stories of people he knows. Even worse, Tom has an aversion to guns (his father having been shot in the back in spite of being well-known for going about guns a-blazing) and takes out his frustrations by carving, of all things, napkin rings. It doesn't seem likely that 'Wash' is going to clean up Bottleneck with a deputy like Tom, but clean it up they will, with the aid of Frenchy, who falls quickly for Tom, and henpecked comic wannabe cowboy Boris (Mischa Auer) who is appointed second deputy.

The film is truly a great ride from beginning to end, thoroughly engaging, funny, and yet touching as well. You're never quite sure what to expect, but whatever it is, you're never disappointed. First of all, you don't get stock characters--Tom Destry is as atypical a Western hero as you can get, as he wanders down the streets of Bottleneck carving napkin rings and using charm instead of guns (most of the time!) to get things done his way. Secondly, as can be expected from a hero who doesn't believe in guns, there aren't all that many scenes of gunplay. Oh sure, there's a pretty cool shoot-out at the end, but that's quickly foiled by Frenchy's clever marshalling of the women of Bottleneck, and you get the impression from the film that stock action scenes with plenty of guns and bodies falling from incredible heights just aren't the point of DESTRY RIDES AGAIN, and that's a point in its favour. Finally, there isn't a pat Hollywood ending either. There's a happy ending, of course, but it's bittersweet. I was fully expecting Frenchy and Tom to get together at the very end, cue fadeout etc. etc. They *do* get together, that goes without saying. But again, this occurs in a way that one simply doesn't expect (right until it actually happens). This film always keeps you guessing, but also continually entertained.

You really couldn't get a better or more appropriate cast than this one too... of the supporting cast, Charles Winninger plays his bumbling, half-drunk but principled character of Town Drunk/Sheriff Dimsdale perfectly. Mischa Auer, as well, is endearing as Boris, from when he loses his pants to Frenchy on a bet, through to his determination to be a great second deputy sheriff in exchange for Tom Destry's extra pants. But the two leads are fabulous as well: the top-billed Marlene Dietrich is sultry, sexy but also cute, and performs some great numbers in the saloon (the best of which would be 'The Boys In The Back Room', but the opener 'Little Joe' would be a close runner-up). Still, the one thing Dietrich will be remembered for from this film, and with good cause, is *that* bar-room catfight with Una Merkel (who plays Lily Belle). Catty, vicious and absolutely hilarious, Dietrich really goes all out in a slap-down knock-out fight with Merkel, then proceeds to throw everything imaginable in Stewart's direction with such fire and enthusiasm that you can't help laughing at and loving her at the same time.

Speaking of Stewart--he gives a fantastic performance in the role of Thomas Jefferson Destry. His laidback way of ambling across the screen, his slow assured drawl, his expressive face all combine together to bring Destry to life. It isn't any actor who can pull off the apparent humiliation Stewart's character must face, such as descending from his carriage to face the folk of Bottleneck for the first time carrying a canary cage and a parasol over his head. But just as he pulls off the comedic scenes, his dramatic scenes are effective as well, particularly his final scenes with both Washington and Frenchy. Most importantly, you can believe that Tom is a good-natured charmer, as he's meant to be, but not a simple-minded dolt.

DESTRY RIDES AGAIN isn't just an absolutely cracking Western (from its bar-room brawls and sassy ladies right down to its grand shootout finale)--it's also a sly, tongue-in-cheek homage to and spoof of the entire genre and its stock of characters, from the roguish ne'er-do-well (Kent) to the bumbling sheriff (Washington Dimsdale). It's a feel-good film with romance, comedy and action blended into a Western setting, and is most certainly one of the best films of the 1930s, and one of the best I've ever seen. A classic!

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7/10

Western comedy with George Marshall's inspired direction

ma-cortes25 May 2010

A peaceful and milksop cowboy named Johnnny performed by James Stewart cleans up an uncontrollably lawless Western town called Bottleneck . The mild Johnny is appointed as deputy by the drunk but crusading sheriff well played by Charles Winninger . These were the adventures , fighting , laughing and brawling from Tombstone to Bottleneck . The film starts with a label captioning ¨ Welcome to Bottleneck ¨ and a traveling leads to a Saloon called ¨ Last Dance ¨ where rules the powerful nasty played by Brian Donlevy . There James Stewart/Johnny meets Frenchie/Marlene Dietrich . Johnny makes Marlene change her brand . A hard-boiled Dietrich with a difference -rouged but rugged- who fights , yells, yodels her way , sharp-nailed to love.

This is a classic Hollywood Western , it turns out to be a mixture of action , fights, shootouts and humor. Lovely acting of Marlene Dietrich as the impulsive Saloon girl, she sings on the bar vintage songs as ¨ See what the boys in the back room will have ¨ and ¨ Little Joe the wrangler ¨ by Frederick Hollander and Frank Loesser and musical score by Frank Skinner. Dietrich , in her post-Stemberg moment , was labeled as Box-Office poison but this brawling Western turned her movie career all around the world and became her a hot actress again . James Stewart ideally cast as unarmed sheriff shows his usual delicious fair play for comedy , in a similar interpretation to ¨ Mr. Smith goes to Washington ¨ who recently starred. This spirited realization that never flags results to be a potpourri of Western , comedy , irony and action .

This is the second of four adaptations based on the novel by Max Brand , the first was titled by American exhibitors as ¨ Justice rides again (1932) ¨ with Tom Mix and the third version released in 1951 under title ¨ Frenchie ¨ and fourth take on exhibited in 1954 also directed by George Marshall with Eddie Murphy and Marie Blanchard in similar characters to James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich.

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10/10

A Classic Western in Old Bottleneck

Ron Oliver22 April 2000

`Howdy, Stranger! Let me show you around the town of Bottleneck. Folks here can be plumb rowdy on occasion. Over there's the saloon - it's run by a right pretty gal named Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich). She's a real spitfire - don't get her riled. We like to say she runs the town, but we all know the real boss is her lover, Kent (Brian Donlevy), a mean, slick hombre who's buying -or stealing- all the land straight across the valley; he means to charge for each head of cattle run through here. Our last sheriff (Joe King) disappeared real mysterious like, and the mayor (Samuel S. Hinds), who's in cahoots with Kent, appointed the town drunk (Charles Winninger) as the new sheriff. He's surprised us all by bringing in as his deputy Tom Destry (James Stewart), son of the famous lawman who was shot in the back a few years ago. The boy looks kind of sheepish, but I'll bet he's got some backbone to him, just like his old man. Yes, sir, if Kent gives him any trouble we just might get to watch while DESTRY RIDES AGAIN.'

This is one of the great Western films, with all the pieces falling into place. It's got a sense of humor & does not take itself too seriously. And the women are as strong as the men, unusual in a Western: Dietrich & Una Merkel have the best fight in the film and it's the entire body of townswomen, lead by Merkel & Dietrich, who take matters into their own hands at the conclusion to thrash the bad guys.

All of the above named cast is excellent (this was considered a comeback of sorts for Dietrich, after her parade of elaborate, but not terribly popular, costume epics; Stewart is a delight as his usual laconic self.) Jack Carson is also on hand as a tough cattleman. Lighter moments are handled by Mischa Auer, as a Russian émigré who wants to be a cowboy, and Billy Gilbert, as a temperamental barkeep.

Dietrich gets to sing three splashy, dance hall numbers: `Little Joe', `You've Got That Look' and, most famously, `See What The Boys In The Back Room Will Have'.

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6/10

Without Guns

sol-28 February 2016

Laughed at when he announces his intention to clean up a corrupt town without using firearms, the mild-mannered son of a famous sheriff soon proves his worth in this western comedy starring James Stewart. While Gary Cooper was reportedly the first choice for the role, the part seems tailor-made for Stewart with his trademark soft manner of talking and milquetoast vocal mannerisms. There is a lot to like about the way he uses his brains rather than brawn to solve problems and the film has several genuinely funny moments along the way. The movie takes a very long time to warm up though; Stewart does not appear until around twenty minutes in and even then he does not dominate the film with a lot of time also dedicated to Marlene Dietrich's pub singer. Dietrich provides at least a couple of memorable tunes, but for the most part, she is nowhere near as interesting as Stewart and the romantic sparks between the pair are less enticing than the problems that he manages to resolve without drawing a gun. Dietrich's final scene is great though, and in fact the overall film manages to fit in a dramatic edge near the end with amazing finesse. Then again, every dramatic note that the film hits works; it is the only the comedy (with lots of messy brawling) that is rather hit and miss. Hal Mohr (who shot 'Underworld U.S.A.' for Sam Fuller) does a very good job shooting Stewart in close-up towards the end and Stewart's silent, solemn looks nicely convey more than words ever possibly could. This may be far from Stewart's best film, but he is as good as ever here.

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10/10

Pure gold from the golden age

frankventrola19 February 2004

Quite simply one of the best Hollywood Studio movies ever made. A pure delight from start to finish with every H'wd cliche lovingly brought indelibly to life and light. Stewart is superb, the cast of character actors delightful - especially Billy Gilbert, Charles Winninger, Samuel Hinds, and Mischa Auer. And the deliciously wicked Dietrich as Frenchy - is as good as it gets in Hollywood. Strong story points, snappy dialogue, good production, genuinely touching moments, great songs, the best fight scene in pictures (between the dames), and an endearing concept of brains (or brave intentions) over brawn. But the palm d'or goes to the fast paced direction of George Marshall for making a film which never fails its clear-eyed material.

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7/10

See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have!

bsmith55526 April 2017

Warning: Spoilers

"Destry Rides Again" is the oft filmed story of a non gun toting lawman who cleans up a frontier town. It was previously filmed in 1932 with Tom Mix and later in 1950 as "Frenchie" with Joel McCrea and in 1954 as "Destry" with Audie Murphy.

This version which came out in the movies' best year 1939, stars Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. This film recharged her career and Stewart was just emerging as a major star.

The town of Bottleneck is a lawless place under the control of gambler Kent (Brian Donlevy) who with his cronies and Frenchie the "saloon singer" (Dietrich) are cheating honest ranchers out of their properties by luring them into poker games.

Rancher Lem Claggett (Tom Fadden) is the latest victim. When he loses his ranch, Sheriff Keogh (Joe King) is murdered trying to get the man's ranch back. Kent has Judge Slade (Samuel S. Hinds) appoint town drunk Washington Dimsdale (Charles Winniger) as the new sheriff. Dimsdale however, takes his job seriously and sends for Tom Destry Jr. (Stewart), the son of his former friend Tom Sr.

Destry is at first a laughing stock until he demonstrates his prowess with six shooter. Frenchie it seems has a heart of gold and starts to take a liking to Tom. Young Janice Tyndall (Irene Hervey) also has her eye on Tom. Barfly Boris (Mischa Auer) loses his pants to Frenchie in a poker game which results in his wife Lilly Belle (Una Merkel) charging into the saloon and having a slam bang fight with Frenchie.

Following a tragic event Tom becomes angered, straps on his father's guns and.....................................................

To me, there was just too much light comedy in light of the seriousness of the story. The likes of Auer, Billy Gilbert As the bartender and Allen Jenkins and Warren Hymer as Donlevy's boys is just too much comedy relief. Even Winniger's character has comedic traits. Jack Carson, who would soon become known for his comedic roles, plays a rough and tough rancher who is at first mistaken for Destry.

Dietrich's character was hilariously parodied by Madeliene Kahn in "Blazing Saddles" (1974)to the point that Dietrich's performance is overshadowed to modern viewers. It did however, get her back into the spotlight as she would follow this film up with two with John Wayne. James Stewart was just starting to be seen as a major star. He would appear in the classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" the same year and win an Academy Award the following year for "The Philadelphia Srory".

Despite it's faults, this film is still looked upon as a true classic.

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8/10

Stewart is one of a kind!

djrein15 May 2002

This movie is basically a good movie made very good by James Stewart. Most impressive is that it was made in 1939. The movie has a cast of characters that are very believable in their roles. The humor is ahead of its time. I am not quite sure why I loved this movie so much, but if you want to know why everyone seems to love Stewart's films, just watch this one! Western movie buffs must-see this movie ]

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6/10

See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have

Prismark107 December 2016

This is a hybrid comedy western musical but to me it is rather dark as people are cheated out of their land, shot dead but it has a few laughs and the butt of the joke is James Stewart.

He plays Tom Destry jr, the new deputy in Bottleneck, sent for by elderly family friend Dimsdale who has been appointed as sheriff as the last one was shot dead for asking too many awkward questions.

Dimsdale worked under Destry's father who was a famous and feared lawman. Bottleneck is overrun by the likes of Kent (Brian Donleavy) a wicked landowner with a vicious mob who cheat people out of their land in a rigged game of cards. Kent is helped out here by Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich) the local saloon singer and good time girl. He also has the town mayor on his side.

They initially find Destry to be a figure of fun, even a coward. He does not carry a gun for a start and seems to be an easy going country hick. They soon find out that Destry is here to enforce law and order and willing to use guile and cunning before he reaches for a gun.

Stewart uses his easy charm for full effect, Dietrich is great as Frenchy but she is really a bad girl as she is in cahoots with Kent so you know she is never going to get it on properly with Destry despite the flirting. Her character and the film really did inspire Blazing Saddles.

Still despite the levity it does lead to a violent showdown. The film did introduce a seamy side to westerns with glamorous sexy females rather than spunky tom boys. It just does not feel like a spoof to me or a comic western but it is enjoyable without being po-faced.

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5/10

Mostly the same-old-same-old

blott2319-112 February 2022

Destry Rides Again is everything I expect from your stereotypical Western. It is focused on an honest lawman hoping to clean up the corruption in a small town, and doesn't deviate too far from the formula. Unfortunately, because it felt so familiar it was also somewhat boring. The most interesting or exciting aspects of the film are where it avoids cliche by trying something different. I really appreciated the idea of a man who would not seek to create law and order with his gun like so many before him. A more pacifistic approach was intriguing, and I really wish they had found a way to push that all the way through the film. It's fascinating to me when I see a man finding ways to get people that live by the gun to obey the law without using a gun himself. I also appreciated the one scene where he upheld the law even though it offered an advantage to the "bad guys."

Those are the small victories I found in Destry Rides Again. The only other bright spot is the mere fact that they cast James Stewart in the lead role. I find his portrayal of this type of do-gooder to be extremely endearing. It suits him well, and makes what could otherwise be a bland character into someone I enjoy. He also is a somewhat unlikely man to fill the role of tough-as-nails lawman, so it works for the story they're trying to tell. Otherwise, I simply wasn't locked into the plot of this film. I can recall minor scenes, but I wasn't fully drawn into the story. It's the type of movie that I fear I will forget about soon and someone will mention the title in a couple years and I'll find myself struggling to remember if that's a movie I actually watched. I suppose that's better than being memorable for being a terrible film, and it wasn't so boring that I fell asleep or anything. I just wanted more from Destry Rides Again than the film had to offer.

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Movies just don't get any better

olds234729 June 2003

This movies had three strikes against it at Oscar time. 1)It was made in 1939 arguably the single year when more great films came out than any other year, 2) It was a western(no western had won best picture since "Cimaron" and would not again until "Dances With Wolves"and 3) It was a comedy and movie fans know how well comedy movies do at Oscar time. I know people who simply will not watch a black and white film or an old movie. Well, in my opinion, this movie has a story that is thoroughly enjoyable and stands up well even today. It has an excellent cast not only in the lead roles but also in the supporting cast. So, anyone who might not watch this film because it is not color is cheating themselves of an enjoyable film. And for any who just don't watch a film just because it is old, may I suggest that if you haven't seen a movie it is new for you. As for myself, I just did not endorse this film, but I put my money where my mouth is and forked over the greenbacks not once but twice. I got the film on VHS, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Upon finding it newly released on DVD, I got it again. The picture quality in the DVD is great. I'm a little surprised that there were no special feature extras included since these kind of bonuses are so common with DVD releases. But I suppose that would be like criticising a painting because of a lack of a fancy frame. This film certainly deserved to sweep the Oscars, and probably would have in a different year. 'Nuff sed.

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8/10

Stewart gets handed the mop and cleans up the town

kayester11 December 1998

Jimmy Stewart, in the title role, is a pleasure to watch and listen to. The economy he brings to the role is surpassed only by his drollness. Marlene Dietrich is magical and when she and Stewart get together, it may not be exactly sparks but there sure is some heat.

This is one of the finer westerns of the period. It holds up very well into the 90s. The supporting characters are well cast and bring a nice feel of variety to the tiny town of Bottlenck.

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10/10

Perfect blend of comedy and drama

stevedone11 January 2003

I have seen this movie many times and am always awed by it. I always get teary eyed as well when Marlene Dietrich wipes off the lipstick to kiss Jimmy Stewart before she dies. I like the James Garner remakes real well, but they don't compare to Destry. A True Classic

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6/10

Destry Jr.

AaronCapenBanner8 October 2013

George Marshall directs this popular western comedy as Jimmy Stewart plays Tom Destry Jr., son of a famous lawman whose former deputy(now town drunk) is made Sheriff of the corrupt western town of Bottleneck, run by a ruthless man named Kent(played by Brian Donlevy)and aided by saloon singer Frenchy(played by Marlene Dietrich) who just murdered the most recent sheriff, who had been asking too many questions about Kent's corrupt gambling house. When Destry Jr. arrives, people are shocked at the mild-mannered man they see, who doesn't like to use guns, but instead his wit! They then dismiss him as a threat, but that turns out to be a mistake...

OK western spoof(of sorts) is amusing but hardly a comedic gem, and not very credible either, with an all-too predictable romance between Frenchy and Destry. Still, it's amiable enough, and Stewart is quite good.

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8/10

Picks Up Steam And Has A Wild Finish

ccthemovieman-11 May 2006

Warning: Spoilers

The first part was a little slow to me but once you get past it, this is an entertaining film which was popular with a lot of people, including this reviewer, who actually liked it better the second time around.

Marlene Dietrich plays a role typical for her, an edgy saloon singer named "Frenchy," and except for her singing, which I never thought was very good, she's great to watch. James Stewart ("Thomas Jefferson Destry Jr.") also plays his normal role as the peaceful hero as does the too loud-and-obnoxious Charles Winniger (Destry's uncle).

The ending is famous, a strange one in which the town's women storm the bad guys in a bar, culminating with Dietrich and Una Merkel fighting it out! It's very unrealistic but memorable and certainly fun to watch.

All-in-all, a pretty fast-moving film which offers a little bit of everything: action, romance, drama, comedy....and a lot of good, known supporting actors I didn't even mention. This is one of the classics of a very famous year in films.

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7/10

James Stewart's First Western

gavin694211 January 2016

Kent, the unscrupulous boss of Bottleneck has Sheriff Keogh killed when he asks one too many questions about a rigged poker game that gives Kent a stranglehold over the local cattle rangers. The mayor, who is in cahoots with Kent appoints the town drunk, Washington Dimsdale, as the new sheriff assuming that he'll be easy to control.

The film was James Stewart's first western (he would not return to the genre until 1950, with "Broken Arrow" and "Winchester 73"), and was also notable for a ferocious cat-fight between Marlene Dietrich and Una Merkel, which apparently caused a mild censorship problem at the time of release. Stewart is strong here, and while good in any genre, he really seems at home in westerns.

According to writer/director Peter Bogdanovich, Marlene Dietrich told him during an aircraft flight that she and James Stewart had an affair during shooting and that she became pregnant and had the baby surreptitiously aborted without telling Stewart. (This has nothing to do with the film itself, but what a juicy tidbit.) This is a great film in general, even if it has not aged as well as it maybe could have. I could not help but wonder while watching it if it was the inspirational for the "Andy Griffith Show" episode about the sheriff without a gun...

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10/10

This film reminds me of a fella I once knew.......

Mike-7646 December 2004

Warning: Spoilers

Gambling hall owner Kent practically runs the rowdy town of Bottleneck and is driving all the ranchers and homesteaders to ruin by imposing tariffs on all cattle passing through and acquiring ranches through poker games, where Kent has his main saloon hall girl Frenchy work the cheating. One of the ranchers who lost his place in a game gets the sheriff to confront Kent, but is killed and the body disposed of. Needing a sheriff, Kent appoints Washington Dimsdale, the town drunk, to the position thinking he'll be a yes man, but Dimsdale takes the position seriously, saying he'll send for the son of the famous law man Tom Destry as a deputy. Destry, Jr. arrives, but to the dismay of Dimsdale he is a peaceful, anecdote reciting man. Destry has an idea of what's going on and tells Dimsdale that Kent and his mob can be legally rounded up pending they find the body of the late sheriff. Tom, Dimsdale, and Boris (hen-pecked wife of the owner of the boarding house) trick Kent into revealing the location of the body, and arrest Gyp Watson for the murder. Kent has the crooked Judge Slade preside over the murder case, but Tom sends for a federal judge to take the case. Kent knows now that he must free Watson from jail before he will talk. Excellent movie from start to finish with great and lively performances by the entire cast, spirited direction from Marshall, enjoyable script (nice anecdotes from Stewart), and great musical numbers. One highlight of the film is the barroom catfight between Frenchy (Dietrich) and Callhan (Merkel). Rating, 10.

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7/10

Iconic Western.

rmax3048232 August 2007

Warning: Spoilers

It's full of dash, action, and comedy. James Stewart as Thomas Jefferson Destry is the new deputy Marshal in Bottleneck, sent for by his elderly friend Wash to help clean up the town and get rid of dirty evildoers and murderers like Brian Donleavy and his gang. When Destry arrives on the stagecoach, the whole town waits tensely as he climbs out. WHAT? Tom Destry, son of the gol-dangdest gunslingin' Marshal north of the Picketwire, steps delicately down from the coach, carrying a parasol and a birdcage. (He's helping a lady with her baggage.) Waal, turns out Destry is an easy-going kinda fella, fond of tellin' stories about friends of his, has a hobby of carvin' napkin rings. Don't tote no guns, neither.

Everybody has a good laugh at Destry's expense -- and Destry good-naturedly joins in. But we know better. We know that James Stewart is light years away from the fairyhood the opening scenes suggest. He's in Bottleneck not to shoot people but to enforce law and order and jail folks for infractions. And it isn't too long before he begins to demonstrate that he has the motor skills to do the job, and the cojones to boot. First he dumps a bucket of water over Frenchie (Marlene Dietrich), the saloon gal who is in the middle of a fight. Then he borrows some guns from Donleavy's gang and shoots the knobs off a distant roulette wheel. Whew! What a surprise! In the end he does accomplish his goal, though it costs him the lives of a few friends. The lesson is left unspoken -- his no-guns, law enforcement approach didn't work and violence was the answer.

Stewart is pretty good, not that the role calls for much in the way of fireworks. He has an engaging way of dangling his fingers when he gestures. Not his hand -- his long thin fingers, a slight wave or tremor. Marlene Dietrich, whom I respect as a woman, has charms that consistently elude me on screen, except for "The Blue Angel," in which she is a ratty seductress. She doesn't seem to have much range as an actress and her features sometimes take on the sheen of an ice sculpture.

But that's carping. This movie is an icon and must be seen. In particular, everyone must see Dietrich singing, "See What the Boys in the Back Woom Will Have," and jiggling her vocal chords with thumb and forefinger as she parodies a vibrato.

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10/10

courage does not come out of a gun

soneill3 March 2006

a witty and wise western for grownups, destry rides again shows us that brains will always triumph over bullying brawn. tom destry is a fellow ahead of his time, intelligent and secure enough in his masculinity and identity to cheerfully withstand the taunts of the goons who mock him for being the town marshall who won't carry a gun. jimmy stewart in the title role is sweet, strong and almost unendurably sexy, poking gentle fun at himself but full of a secret strength that his enemies don't see till it's far too late. this movie will thrill you, tickle you and then break your heart in a thousand little pieces. one of the greats, and not to be missed.

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6/10

Hammy

TanakaK14 March 2011

I'm sorry, but I have to agree with "Deborah S"s comments of Sept, 2010.

I am a deeply involved classic film lover with over 3,000 titles in my personal library. I, too, had not seen this film until tonight. And I, too, was disappointed. I couldn't have said it better than Deborah S: the show thing seemed like a hammy school play, constantly laughing at its own silliness. It was just noisy and unfunny with most performances being delivered as he-he skits.

Obviously Deborah S and I are in the minority here. But don't be surprised if you, too, find yourself more annoyed than entertained by this film.

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1/10

Surprisingly awful

HotToastyRag3 June 2021

I was unprepared for how awful Destry Rides Again would be. I'd been warned that although a classic, it didn't stand the test of time well. But I didn't think it would stink so terribly. Every single gag went on twice as long as it should have, from barfights to muttering asides to drunken explosions to silly stories. The pace was shockingly slow and not self-aware.

You'll see a big cast in the movie, but they don't make it worthwhile. James Stewart plays a pre-The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance character: a deputy sheriff who refuses to use a gun and comes across as wimpy. His delivery is quite irritating, though, as he uses half George Baily and half Elwood P. Dowd. I know he hadn't made either of those movies yet, but it spoils the magic a bit. Brian Donlevy is the crooked gambler in town who killed the last sheriff, but he's too handsome to really root against. Charles Winninger is the town drunk promoted to sheriff for the sole purpose of being useless. He has a lot of screen time, but I wonder if he got tired of being cast as drunken Irishmen. Mischa Auer is a bad gambler and wannabe cowboy who's meant to constantly make the audience laugh, but his delivery is slow and the lines aren't good to begin with.

Marlene Dietrich is Brian's girlfriend and the head saloon girl, and although she looks sufficiently filthy and haggard to be a prostitute in the Wild West, she also looks like a joke. Her extremely curly wig is ridiculous, making her look like a blonde Raggedy Ann. Her acting is also appallingly awful, as if she'd never made a movie before. In one scene, she mercilessly throws everything in sight at James Stewart. Instead of looking mad, she merely looks like she's searching for her next prop. In another, she's supposed to grab Jimmy's lapels and try to stop him from leaving the room. But in the line before he even starts to move, she clutched his coat to make sure she'd have a good grip when the time came. I'm surprised director George Marshall kept the take with such an amateur action front and center in the camera's sight.

You'll also see a young Jack Carson, Una Merkel, Samuel S. Hinds, and Allen Jenkins. I know you'll want to see it; it's a classic. But now that I've detailed everything wrong with it, you don't have to. Rent another western tonight, for my sake.

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