Destry Rides Again
The only thing the film Destry Rides Again has in common with Max Brand’s popular novel by the same name is just that, the name. It is a familiar story of a town, Bottleneck (?), caught under the thumb of corruption by an outlaw saloon owner Kent (Brian Donlevy) and a crooked mayor. The situation goes from bad to worse when the sheriff is murdered. The mayor appoints the town drunk sheriff, figuring he will be easy to control.
The new sheriff sobers up to take the job seriously. He deputizes the son of a legendary lawman, Tom Destry Jr. (Jimmy Stewart) to assist in cleaning up the town. An accomplished shootist, young Destry tries the non-violent approach. He catches the eye of dance hall girl Frenchie (Marlene Dietrich), who happens to be romantically involved with the outlaw saloon owner, setting up what becomes a lethal love triangle.
Destry unravels the sheriff’s murder arresting one of the gang members as the killer. The rest of the gang storms the jail to free the prisoner, killing the new sheriff in the process. Destry straps on his guns and leads the town folk in an assault on the saloon where the gang is holed up. While the gun battle rages, Destry sneaks into the saloon looking for Kent. Kent gets the advantage and takes aim at Destry. Frenchie makes her choice and steps between them taking the fatal shot meant for Destry. Destry avenges her, killing Kent.
Destry was the first of Jimmy Stewart’s western. His laid back, mild mannered character created a role he would play many times. The film rescued Dietrich’s career from a moribund period of mediocrity, though her sophisticate persona didn’t wear convincingly on dance hall girl Frenchie.
Destry Rides Again is enshrined in the Library of Congress Film Registry for its historic and cultural significance.
Next Week: Stage Coach ‘39
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Ride easy,
Paul
The new sheriff sobers up to take the job seriously. He deputizes the son of a legendary lawman, Tom Destry Jr. (Jimmy Stewart) to assist in cleaning up the town. An accomplished shootist, young Destry tries the non-violent approach. He catches the eye of dance hall girl Frenchie (Marlene Dietrich), who happens to be romantically involved with the outlaw saloon owner, setting up what becomes a lethal love triangle.
Destry unravels the sheriff’s murder arresting one of the gang members as the killer. The rest of the gang storms the jail to free the prisoner, killing the new sheriff in the process. Destry straps on his guns and leads the town folk in an assault on the saloon where the gang is holed up. While the gun battle rages, Destry sneaks into the saloon looking for Kent. Kent gets the advantage and takes aim at Destry. Frenchie makes her choice and steps between them taking the fatal shot meant for Destry. Destry avenges her, killing Kent.
Destry was the first of Jimmy Stewart’s western. His laid back, mild mannered character created a role he would play many times. The film rescued Dietrich’s career from a moribund period of mediocrity, though her sophisticate persona didn’t wear convincingly on dance hall girl Frenchie.
Destry Rides Again is enshrined in the Library of Congress Film Registry for its historic and cultural significance.
Next Week: Stage Coach ‘39
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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Jean
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Jul 12, 2020 09:40PM
I liked Jimmy Stewart as a cowboy. His easy go lucky persona makes him very likeable but vulnerable at the same time. But once his feathers are ruffled he is someone to be reckoned with.
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