124. Destry Rides Again (1939)

Running Time: 94 minutes
Directed By: George Marshall
Written By: Felix Jackson, from novel by Max Brand
Main Cast: James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Charlie Winninger, Brian Donlevy, Mischa Auer

STEWART AND DIETRICH MAKE A MARVELOUS PAIR

Jimmy Stewart is back, this time in a Western, alongside Marlene Dietrich and the two together make a great pair. As someone who hasn't seen a whole lot of Westerns, this one was one that I thoroughly enjoyed and the character of Tom Destry was a great one.

Following the death of the reigning sheriff of Bottleneck, after being shot down by gambler Kent, the crooked mayor and his even crookeder (is that a word?) sidekick, saloon owner and gambler, Kent, appoint the town drunk as the new mayor. They spread the lie that the former mayor was called out of town on business, never to return. The crooked duo feel that with the drunk as the peacekeeper in Bottleneck, that they'll be able to get away with anything. But the town drunk, who's name is Washington Dimsdale, decides that he's going to give up the drink and take his job seriously, with his first order of business being bringing in Tom Destry, a formidable enemy for the criminals of Bottleneck. Eventually Destry arrives and when he helps a woman off the stagecoach, by carrying her parasol and cage of doves, the townspeople get their first look at Destry, holding the items and from there on in he's a laughing stock. Destry further cements his character as a goody two shoes, by declaring that he doesn't believe in guns, due to the fact that his father was killed after being shot in the back. Sheriff Dimsdale has second thoughts about Destry, but Destry won't leave and sticks to his guns...or no guns.

Later Destry finds himself acquainted with the saloon singer Frenchy (Dietrich playing almost the same character she does in "The Blue Angel) and the two don't hit it off at first. After a wrestling match ensues between Frenchy and the wife of a man who lost his pants to Frenchy in a poker game, Destry cools the ladies off with a bucket of water and Frenchy follows that up by throwing everything in site at Destry. Destry keeps his cool throughout the film though, mainly by carving napkin rings out of wood and telling tales of men he once knew. He tries to keep the peace, but eventually the crooked ways of Kent and the mayor get the best of him and he's forced to show his claws and investigate the true whereabouts of the former mayor of Bottleneck.

Stewart plays his usual role here, as the goody two shoes with a heart of gold, but tough if need be. The character of Destry, in my eyes, held a lot of depth and had many different aspects about him. He had a no guns policy, yet he was the best shooter that anyone had ever seen. Also, the napkin ring carving and his little stories added even more of a depth to this character, who was a good man and someone you wanted to have on your side. Stewart and Dietrich played well off of each other and had an amazing load of chemistry, a duo that I really enjoyed seeing put together. Jimmy Stewart seems to have an amazing ability to suck me into his films and make me enjoy them, as I can't even think of a Jimmy Stewart film that I don't enjoy. "Destry Rides Again" was no exception, and eventhough I'm not the most knowledgeable of Western watchers, I really liked this one a lot. Another thing that came to me while watching this film, was that while this movie was made in the days of the "Code", it seemed to really push the envelope, especially in the form of Frenchy. The wrestling match that breaks out between Frenchy and the other woman is really risque, especially considering that they end up drenched and half clothed.

RATING: 7.5/10 Bring on more Jimmy Stewart! Actually my all-time favorite James Stewart movie doesn't even show up in the '1001' book and that would be "The Shop Around the Corner".

NEXT UP: Only Angels Have Wings...More Cary Grant and this time he has Jean Arthur and Rita Hayworth with him. VA-VA-VA-VOOM! Review will be up later tonight, probably very late.

March 1, 2010 6:15pm