Destry Rides Again

Destry Rides Again is probably best remembered for Marlene Dietrich’s performance as a burlesque entertainer. Frankly that’s about all it should be remembered for, as although a huge hit in its day, now it now seems a rather humdrum affair.

Originally filmed in 1932 with Tom Mix (and again in 1950 and 1954), in this version  producer Joe Pasternak transposes Dietrich’s Lola from the 1930 German classic, The Blue Angel, in an effort to revive her flagging career. James Stewart does his wily hayseed schtik as Tom Destry, a deputy sheriff who doesn’t believe in guns. He is called to the lawless town of Bottleneck by the sheriff (Charles Winninger) who used to be his Dad’s deputy. Dad was a legendary lawman who helped clean up Tombstone (presumably the Earps hadn’t been told) but was shot in the back for his troubles. So son Tom is a milk-drinking pacifist.

It’s a good premise for comedy and might have been quite engaging in its day with Stewart making his first appearance in a Western but at least in hindsight we’ve seen him play this character so many times that’s its tiresome. What's worse is that the story is lamely handled. Dietrich is supposed to be a moll to Brian Donlevy’s villain, Kent. a woman who doesn’t bat an eyelid at murder but she falls for clean-livin' Tom in a flash. And Tom is supposed to be agin' guns but when his pal, Wash, gets killed by Kent, he starts blasting away without hesitation and bumps Kent off like a mixamatosed rabbit. Dietrich singing "See What The Boys In The Back Room Will Have" is worth remembering, and for some, her cat-fighting with Una Stewart, but unless your critical faculties are dulled by the glow of nostalgia or you have an appetite for slapstick, this is of marginal interest.

 

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