Destry Rides Again

1939

1h 34m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

186

YOUR RATING

Rate

POPULARITY

Play trailer

1 Video

43 Images

Western

Comedy

Tom Destry, 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.

Directors

George Marshall

Writers

Gertrude Purcell(screenplay by)

Felix Jackson(story by)

Henry Myers(screenplay by)

Stars

James Stewart

Marlene Dietrich

Mischa Auer

See production, box office & company info

Videos1

Trailer
Watch Destry Rides Again - Trailer

Photos43

Top cast

Tom Destry Jr.

Frenchy

Boris

Washington Dimsdale

Kent

Gyp Watson

Bugs Watson

Janice Tyndall

Lily Belle

Loupgerou

Judge Slade

Jack Tyndall

Lem Claggett

Sophie Claggett

Rockwell (as Edmund Macdonald)

Lillian Yarbo

Clara

Joe King

Sheriff Keogh

Dickie Jones

Claggett Boy

Directors

George Marshall

Writers

Gertrude Purcell(screenplay by)

Felix Jackson(story by)

Henry Myers(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

User reviews3

Review

Featured review

8/10

Welcome to Bottleneck. Deputy Tom Destry Jr. (James Stewart) rides in to Bottleneck and sets about ridding the town of its riff-raff elements - without guns! Based on the novel by Max Brand, Destry Rides Again simultaneously spoofed the Western genre whilst reinvigorating Marlene Dietrich's flagging career. At first glance it seemed an odd casting choice to choose Dietrich as the bawdy saloon chanteuse, Frenchy, especially since Paulette Goddard was originally cast for the role. But it really comes off, where Dietrich's loud and brusque portrayal perfectly plays off of Jimmy Stewart's laid back and gentle mannered Destry performance. The role of Destry is tailor made for Stewart, his everyman charm sits perfect for a character who is at first painted as a wimp, he drinks milk - he carries no guns, but who better than Stewart to fully realise a character that uses brains over brawn to great effect? A film of this type, though, is only as good as its villain, and thankfully Brian Donlevy steps up to the plate with a suitable grumpy sneer, it's a fine performance from a very undervalued performer. Directed by the highly experienced George Marshall, Destry Rides Again is chock full of the elements that make a good family film even better than it should be, jokes a plenty, goodies and baddies, songs and quality slices of drama, all combine here to make this a very entertaining and rewarding picture indeed. While for those into girl power really need to check out the ending of this picture for sure. Little Joe, Little Joe... 8/10

John Chard28 Aug, 2014