Review of Destry Rides Again (1939) by Corrinabing B — 14 Sep 2011

I've always loved a good Hollywood western. True, the genre does lend itself to clichés, with many films reusing scenarios and plot points from other films. But there's a good reason for this; if something still works, you might as well keep using it. And Destry Rides again works. With its blend of humor and action, and a talented cast featuring Jimmy Stewart, Destry is one of the better westerns from Hollywood's golden age.

When the sheriff of Bottleneck 'becomes unavailable' after sticking his nose into the local badman's business, the crooked mayor appoints Wash, the town drunk to fill his shoes. But Wash does them one better by sending for the John Destry, son of the legendary Tombstone Sherriff. Only it turns out the younger Destry (Stewart) is hardly the spitting image of his pa. He's soft-spoken, shy, and doesn't like guns. In short, not the most promising material. But together it's up to them to stop a diabolical land scheme and bring law and order to Bottleneck.

What makes Destry work, especially in its comic elements, is Jimmy Stewart's one-of-a-kind acting. In his hands, Tom Destry is almost two characters. In public he's the kind of nice guy who chokes up around the ladies, wonders why everybody can't just get along, and blithely responds to most situations with an amusing anecdote. But in close company, he's one of the sharpest detective's in the west. Come to think of it, he rather reminds me of the Scarlett Pimpernel, or perhaps Douglas Fairbanks in Mark of Zorro.

Plus Destry Rides Again has everything a good western should: Gunfights, bumbling deputies, saloon scenes aplenty, and a couple of semi-obligatory musical numbers. In fact, just about any western cliché from the period can be found here. Destry is after all, a parody of its contemporaries. As such it works best when it's being completely screwball, as with the guy who lost his pants and can't find new ones, or the hilarious bar-room catfight. And I was quite impressed by the ending, when the villain is defeated using a plot device never seen before or since in a western.

The action scenes and investigative bits also work well, the attempts at establishing a love interest not so much. It can also get a bit sappy at times; although this is forgivable considering that it was made in '39. Overall, Destry Rides Again is a solid comedy western, suitable for the whole family.