Destry Rides Again (1939)

100% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(4,602 ratings)

Tom Destry (James Stewart), son of a legendary frontier peacekeeper, doesn't believe in gunplay. Thus he becomes the object of widespread ridicule when he rides into the wide-open town of Bottleneck, the personal fiefdom of the crooked Kent (Brian Donlevy). His detractors laugh even louder when… More Tom Destry (James Stewart), son of a legendary frontier peacekeeper, doesn't believe in gunplay. Thus he becomes the object of widespread ridicule when he rides into the wide-open town of Bottleneck, the personal fiefdom of the crooked Kent (Brian Donlevy). His detractors laugh even louder when Destry signs on as deputy to drunken sheriff Wash Dimsdale (Charles Winninger). But the laughter subsides when Destry casually proves himself a crack shot, despite his abhorrence of firearms. Later, when saloon chanteuse Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich), Kent's gal, takes umbrage at Destry's indifferent reaction to her charms, she vows to make a fool of the new deputy. A huge moneymaker, Destry Rides Again served as a spectacular comeback for Marlene Dietrich, who two years earlier had been written off as "box office poison." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: George Marshall
Written By: Max Brand, Felix Jackson, Henry Myers, Gertrude Purcell
Genres: Western, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 29, 1939 Limited
On DVD: May 6, 2003
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
A close-to-brilliant comedy-Western ... until the end.
David Cornelius, DVDTalk.com
The movie might not be anywhere near as good as its reputation suggests, but as a straight-up cowboy flick with moments of light comic relief, it's a fairly fun picture.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
While not a major film, it's one of those odd Hollywood mixtures where everything comes together just right.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
See what the boys in the back room & Dietrich & Stewart are having...it's great!
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A wonderful comic Western with Stewart and Dietrich at top form. Always a pleasure to watch.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Hollywood at its hokum best.
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
The conceit of the seeming milksop who’s actually tougher than the hooligans was already a cliché when the movie was made, but Destry has a few twists to keep things interesting.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Overrated, but with enough great moments to be a must-see

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

xGary X

When the sheriff of a corrupt frontier town is murdered and replaced with the town drunk, the man calls on the services of the son of a legendary law man only to find that he is a pacifist. James Stewart is at his very best for this, one of his defining roles. His easy going charm and… More
When the sheriff of a corrupt frontier town is murdered and replaced with the town drunk, the man calls on the services of the son of a legendary law man only to find that he is a pacifist. James Stewart is at his very best for this, one of his defining roles. His easy going charm and integrity are a perfect foil for Marlene Dietrich's feisty music hall girl (so brilliantly parodied by Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles) and they have fantastic chemistry together; the cat-fight scene is pure comedy gold. Essentially a story about standing by your principles no matter what the provocation, all the characters are impossible to dislike with some great comic relief provided by a quality supporting cast. Consistently funny with a timeless story of a hero who refuses to resort to violence in the face of adversity, this is one of my all time favourites and a true classic from the golden age.
Eric B

Until recently, I assumed this was just the usual old-fashioned Western. Didn't realize it was funnier than the norm nor, more importantly, just how much "Blazing Saddles" owes to this story (the new sheriff who thwarts the enemy in non-violent ways, the vampy German… More
Until recently, I assumed this was just the usual old-fashioned Western. Didn't realize it was funnier than the norm nor, more importantly, just how much "Blazing Saddles" owes to this story (the new sheriff who thwarts the enemy in non-violent ways, the vampy German saloon singer, the drunken sidekick with past glories...). That said, "Destry" wasn't quite as much of a comedy as I hoped, though the recurrent "I knew a guy" gag is wonderfully droll. And Marlene Dietrich is lots of fun to watch -- she's obviously having a ball with her role.

Cast

            Marlene Dietrich as Frenchy

            James Stewart as Tom Destry

            Mischa Auer as Boris Callahan

            Charles Winninger as Wash Dimsdale

            Brian Donlevy as Kent

            Irene Hervey as Janice Tyndall

            Allen Jenkins as Gyp Watson

            Una Merkel as Lily Belle Callahan

            Warren Hymer as Bugs Watson

            Tom Fadden as Lem Claggett

            Samuel S. Hinds as Judge Hiram Slade

            Billy Gilbert as Loupqerou the Bartender

            Jack Carson as Jack Tyndall

            Richard Alexander as Cowboy

            Billy Bletcher as Pianist

            Virginia Brissac as Sophie Claggett

            Chief John Big Tree as Indian in Saloon

            Dora Clement as Woman

            Bill Cody Jr. as Small Boy

            Harry Cording as Rowdy

            Carmen D'Antonio as Dancer

            Joseph King as Sheriff Keogh

            Bud McClure as Stage Driver

            Edmund MacDonald as Rockwell

            Philo McCullough as Bartender

            Bob McKenzie as Doctor

            William Steele
            
            Harry Tenbrook as Stage Rider

            Ann E. Todd as Claggett Girl

            Minerva Urecal as Mrs. DeWitt

            Lillian Yarbo as Clara

            Lloyd Ingraham as Turner the Express Agent

            Dick Jones as Eli Whitney Claggett

            Loren B. Brown as Juggler

            Harold DeGarro as Juggler
See full cast