Destry Rides Again (1939)

When a tough western town needs taming, the mild-mannered son of a hard-nosed sheriff gets the job.

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	...	Thomas Jefferson 'Tom' Destry Jr.
Mischa Auer	...	Boris Alexandrovich Callahan (Savogrin)
Charles Winninger	...	Washington 'Wash' Dimsdale
Brian Donlevy	...	Kent
Allen Jenkins	...	Gyp Watson
Warren Hymer	...	Bugs Watson
Irene Hervey	...	Janice Tyndall
Una Merkel	...	Lily Belle Callahan Savogrin
Billy Gilbert	...	Loupgerou
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Judge Hyram J. Slade
Jack Carson	...	Jack Tyndall
Tom Fadden	...	Lem Claggett
Virginia Brissac	...	Ma 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:

deputy | sheriff | singer | bar shootout | lawlessness | 

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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:

Destry Rides Again

Filming Locations:

Kernville, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$345,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The corrupt character Judge Slade is played by Samuel S. Hinds, who would once again play alongside Jimmy Stewart 7 years later as George Bailey's incorruptible father in It's a Wonderful Life.

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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

Tom Destry Jr.: He reminds me of a little kid I used to know. He done in both his pa and ma with a crowbar.
Washington Dimsdale: No!
Tom Destry Jr.: Yes, he did. Now the judge said to him, "Do you got anything to say for yourself?". And the kid said, "Well I just hope that Your Honor has some regard for the feelings of a poor orphan."

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Connections

Featured in Stars of the Silver Screen: Marlene Dietrich (2013)

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Soundtracks

There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Traditional folk song
Performed by Lillian Yarbo

User Reviews

Movies just don't get any better

This movies had three strikes against it at Oscar time. 1)It was made in 1939 arguably the single year when more great films came out than any other year, 2) It was a western(no western had won best picture since "Cimaron" and would not again until "Dances With Wolves"and 3) It was a comedy and movie fans know how well comedy movies do at Oscar time. I know people who simply will not watch a black and white film or an old movie. Well, in my opinion, this movie has a story that is thoroughly enjoyable and stands up well even today. It has an excellent cast not only in the lead roles but also in the supporting cast. So, anyone who might not watch this film because it is not color is cheating themselves of an enjoyable film. And for any who just don't watch a film just because it is old, may I suggest that if you haven't seen a movie it is new for you. As for myself, I just did not endorse this film, but I put my money where my mouth is and forked over the greenbacks not once but twice. I got the film on VHS, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Upon finding it newly released on DVD, I got it again. The picture quality in the DVD is great. I'm a little surprised that there were no special feature extras included since these kind of bonuses are so common with DVD releases. But I suppose that would be like criticising a painting because of a lack of a fancy frame. This film certainly deserved to sweep the Oscars, and probably would have in a different year. 'Nuff sed.