Destry Rides Again (1939)

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... See full summary »

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Felix Jackson (screen play), Gertrude Purcell (screen play),

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Mischa Auer

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlene Dietrich	...	Frenchy
James Stewart	...	Tom Destry Jr.
Mischa Auer	...	Boris
Charles Winninger	...	Washington Dimsdale
Brian Donlevy	...	Kent
Allen Jenkins	...	Gyp Watson
Warren Hymer	...	Bugs Watson
Irene Hervey	...	Janice Tyndall
Una Merkel	...	Lily Belle
Billy Gilbert	...	Loupgerou
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Judge Slade
Jack Carson	...	Jack Tyndall
Tom Fadden	...	Lem Claggett
Virginia Brissac	...	Sophie Claggett
Edmund MacDonald	...	Rockwell (as Edmund Macdonald)

Storyline

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. But what the mayor doesn't know is that Dimsdale was a deputy under famous lawman, Tom Destry, and is able to call upon the equally formidable Tom Destry Jr to be his deputy. Featuring a career reviving performance from Marlene Dietrich as bar singer Frenchie, which could well have been the inspiration for Madeline Kahn's "Blazing Saddles" character, Lili Von Schtupp.

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | deputy | sheriff | singer | town drunk | 

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Taglines:

They make the fighting sinful west blaze into action before your eyes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian

Release Date:

29 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cidade Turbulenta

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was selected to the National Film Registry, Library of Congress, in 1996

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Goofs

When Destry first demonstrates his ability with a firearm by shooting at the knobs on the sign, he shoots a total of seven times. Although he is holding two Colt "Six-shooters", one in each hand, he fires only the pistol he holds in his right hand. Thus, he fired one round more than the gun could hold.

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Quotes

Washington Dimsdale: Oh, Tom! Look here! Look at this post! Soaked through and through with the blood of Sawtooth McGhee. Yeah, he objected to a petticoat a neighbor's wife was wearing... and they fit to a draw. Both are buried in the same grave.
Tom Destry Jr.: Sawtooth and the petticoat?
Washington Dimsdale: No! Sawtooth and the neighbor! And four innocent bystanders!

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Connections

Referenced in Lust, Caution (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Little Joe, the Wrangler"
(1939) (uncredited)
Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Music by Friedrich Hollaender
Sung by Marlene Dietrich
Sung by the children near the end

User Reviews

courage does not come out of a gun

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.