James Stewart was a star in films for many years. He made more than his share of movies. Destry Rides Again, was his first starring role in a western: a genre he later transformed. He plays Thomas Jefferson Destry Jr. A plain spoken man, who’s good with a gun. His costar is Marlene Dietrich, who plays Frenchy, a somewhat morally challenged saloon entertainer. Dietrich was a very talented actress, who could hold her own against Garbo, Davis and Crawford. Her singing dancing and acting talents, are on full display in this film.
Tom Destry Jr. is summoned to the lawless town of Bottleneck, by his late father’s deputy, Washington Dimsdale, (CharlesWinninger). Dimsdale has become a drunk, after Tom Destry Sr., was killed. He was murdered by the town boss, Kent, (Brian Dunlevy), who also murdered Destry’s successor. Dunlevy has given a performance that any B-western villain would like. Its because the bad guys have nothing to fear from Dimsdale, the corrupt judge, Hyram J. Slade, (Samuel S. Hinds), swears him in as the sheriff. Tom Destry is laughed at upon his arrival. He is holding a lady’s parasol and a birdcage, for a woman passenger.
Destry not only runs into Kent, but meets Frenchy, a woman who is used to getting her own way. Tom Destry Jr., does not make a good first impression on her. Frenchy gets into a fight, with the jealous wife of a Russian, Savogrin, (Mischa Auer). Destry watches for awhile, and throws a bucket of water on Frenchy. This breaks up the fight, and enrages Frenchy. She leaves angry, but later develops respect and love for Destry.
Destry begins to be taken seriously as a lawman. He encounters men shooting up the town. He admires one of the men’s gun. He asks if he can have it. The man gives it to him. Tom Destry begins shooting and hitting targets. The men are intimidated, and leave. He makes the Russian Savogrin, a deputy. He asks Savogrin and Dimsdale, to bring in the sheriff’s killer, who works for Kent, which they do. The bad guys get very nervous, especially Kent. Judge Slade puts together a crooked jury. Tom Destry Jr., being many things, but not a crooked lawman, summons an out of town judge. This makes Kent and company very paranoid. They plan to set the killer free. Deputy Dimsdale is guarding the prisoner. One of the bad guys shoots him in the back, killing him. James Stewart’s character is appropriately angry, and goes after Kent. The good guys are only a handful, and are outnumbered. In a very good scene, Frenchy rallies the town’s women and they storm the saloon, catching the bad guys off guard. Kent in a desperate move to avoid prison, sees Destry in a vulnerable position, and shoots at him. Frenchy jumps in front of Destry, and is killed. Destry sees Kent and shoots and kills him. After this the stench of corruption leaves Bottleneck, and Destry becomes the sheriff, and falls in love with the woman he met on the stage.
Destry Rides Again rises above B-western movie status. It’s mainly because of its stars. James Stewart does his best as Tom Destry Jr. He has great screen chemistry with Marlene Dietrich. This chemistry carried offscreen with a brief love affair. Marlene Dietrich’s performance of See What the Boys In the Backroom Will Have, stands out in this film. Although she was a box office draw, her career was lagging. Her performance in Destry Rides Again, revived it. It is one of her best. James Stewart worked with some of the best actresses in Hollywood. Marlene Dietrich makes you forget about all of them. This western isn’t really a comedy, but does have comic situations. It is one of the many reasons to see this very enjoyable film.