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:

THE GREATEST CAST EVER CORRALLED for a frontier drama like you've NEVER seen in all your born days!

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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

James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich had an affair with lasted for the duration of filming. She later claimed that she had to have an abortion after Stewart made her pregnant.

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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: Frenchy, am I really Sheriff?
Frenchy: Sure you are!
Washington Dimsdale: Then I'm off the liquor. A man's got to choose between the bottle and the badge.

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Connections

Referenced in World on a Wire (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Previn's Stomp"
(uncredited)
Written by Aleth Hansen

User Reviews

Pure gold from the golden age

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.