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Destry Rides Again
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by Universal Studios
Sales Rank: 15372
Price: $14.98
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Marlene Dietrich purrs through sexy songs, and Jimmy Stewart succumbs to her sultry, androgynous ways in this seminal Western with more than a touch of comedy. He plays your average nice guy who turns out to have something special up his sleeve when confronted by a gang of bad guys. He tames the banditos and wins dance-hall girl Dietrich's heart with his nonviolent ways. You may think you have seen this before, and most likely you have. Based on the 1930 novel by Max Brand, the plot has been copied repeatedly. However, this atmospheric 1939 delight stands far above its imitators. This is the movie in which Dietrich, wearing full saloon-gal regalia, sings, "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have." It was remade with Audie Murphy in 1954 as <i>Destry</i>, but that version lacks the charisma provided by Stewart and Dietrich. <i>--Rochelle O'Gorman</i>
Viewer Reviews
Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart make a great combination in "DESTRY RIDES AGAIN". This movie was directed by none other than George Marshall (who would remake it in 1954 starring Audie Murphy), was suggested by the novel "Destry Rides Again" by Max Brand, and co-starred Brian Donlevy, Mischa Auer, Charles Winninger, and Una Merkel. The basic story is quite simple, actually. The brawling town of Bottleneck is run with an iron fist by Donlevy, and one night, the town sheriff Keogh is "mysteriously" killed, and a new sheriff Washington Dimsdale (Winninger) previously the town drunk, is appointed for the job. But he feels that by himself, he will not be enough, so he summons Tom Destry, Jr. (Stewart) to come and help him out. What eventually happens in the end I would not dream of telling, but I feel that much more of the film is devoted to the development of character and comedy between the cast members than there is time devoted to the main story itself. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that. If the movie was too plot-laden, it would have no life, personality, or originality to it at all. In fact, there is a sprinkling of the story here and there, but it does in no way bog us down. Consider the scene where Jack Tyndall (Jack Carson) threatens Destry by telling him that he will take the law into his own hands if he has to. Destry fires right back at him by saying that he will not, and then he proceeds to tell one of his entertaining stories about the cement worker friend who was once an opry singer but is now the cornerstone of the post office in St. Louis, Missouri because he fell into the cement. "He should have stuck to his trade. You better stick to yours." George Marshall was one of the great directors who could do plot and character at the same time. He shows how people do not trust Destry to regain the town, but in the same scene, shows Destry's fondness for telling stories and Tyndall's general mule-headed nature. Other classic scenes are the great catfight between Merkel and Dietrich, the gunfight towards the end, and the last scene where the credits roll while that great music is playing. The last scene is also one of my favorites from the whole film as Destry says "Speaking of marriage...". Janice Tyndall, who obviously liked him throughout the whole film, replies with "Yes, Tom?". By the eagerness in her facial expression and her voice, she apparently thought he was going to propose. But instead, he takes us all by surprise by saying "I had a friend once...". What a great film. One of the best!
NO SPECIAL FEATURES
Also Recommended: "MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON" (1939), "MADE FOR EACH OTHER" (1939), "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" (1946), "WINCHESTER '73" (1950), HARVEY (1950)
THIS REVIEW IS DEDICATED TO ANYONE, LIVING OR DEAD, INVOLVED IN THE MAKING OF "DESTRY RIDES AGAIN".
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