Destry Rides Again (1939)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Felix Jackson (screenplay) &
Gertrude Purcell (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

29 December 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Western

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Kent, the unscrupulous boss of Bottleneck has Sheriff Keogh killed when he asks one too many questions...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Poker | Singer | Arrest | Eviction

Awards:

1 win

Cast

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)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Russian

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #5972) | UK:PG | Norway:16 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Sweden:15 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was adapted for a Broadway musical starring Andy Griffith and opened at the April 23, 1959 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 472 performances.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

Quotes:

[Boris has bet and lost his pants in game of poker]
Boris: Frenchy, think of my position. I've met every king in Europe!
Frenchy: Now you've met two aces in Bottleneck. Off with your pants.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Go, Bulldogs! (#7.6)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have

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.