Destry Rides Again

A 'kitchen sink' movie in the sense that everything is thrown in and then a lot of it breaks.

"Cowboy without a gun" is a great idea, so much so that it's a tremendous disappointment when it's abandoned almost immediately.

Classic Western which manages to encompass suspense, comedy, romance, tenderness, vivid characterization, horseplay, songs and standard Western excitements, without moving for more than a moment from a studio main street set. It starts with a sign reading 'Welcome to Bottleneck' and an outburst of gunfire; it ends with tragedy followed by a running joke. Hollywood expertise at its very best.

Now this is a fine Western comedy. It's got the same leisurely attitude of Rio Bravo but with more laughs and better drama (though the songs might be superior in the Hawks film). It works because it manages to blend its unbridled fun with touching characterization. The progression of Marlene Dietrich's character is unexpected amongst the lighthearted tone of most of the movie but is ultimately the crux of the film's success.

Entertaining mix of genres, funny and tense when it has to be. It falters somewhat at the end when it jams a ton of cliches together rather clumsily, but what precedes it makes up for a lot.

Absolute classic

Worth watching if only for Marlene Dietrich's uniquely awful performance. The voice of an Angel!

If only because of the always awesome Jimmy Stewart, this movie is worth watching. The racial stereotypes and song and dance numbers were pretty grating, though.

The premise (a folksy, anti-gun lawman has to clean up an Old West town) is an inherently compelling twist on the genre's tropes & the 2 leads are both great in their roles. However Dietrich's old-fashioned musical numbers aren't my thing & the film's too light to ever feel much is at stake. There's also an overly long catfight that must've been sexy back then. The film's best moments are the anachronisms w/ exceedingly progressive ideas like the anti-gun message & women cleaning the town up.

A fun western with some appreciable comic elements. I enjoy James Stewart quite a bit as the moralistic deputy. Unfortunately the film loses itself towards its finale.

Not a lot to say here. A great Western that's consistently hilarious, entertaining, and well-paced. Score is not a grade.

Stagecoach might've been the more technically impressive Western of 1939, but Destry is far more fun to watch, with Dietrich's allure and Stewart's charisma being a welcome change from the stern self-seriousness of John Wayne. A successful mix of comedy, musical and Western, whose progressive political messages (such as arguing that police shouldn't own guns) are unfortunately offset with some outdated racial stereotypes.

Jimmy Stewart is of course as charming as all heck and Dietrich, though a bit cheesy and overdone at times, is also good fun to watch (apart from a couple bad song and dance numbers). Certainly there were a few annoying jokes and the racial stereotyping made for some uncomfortable watching (though luckily only had about a minute of screentime), but overall it is, if not desperately funny, certainly a charming film and good fun.

A truly overlooked gem. A film that didn't take itself too seriously but managed to run through humour, suspense, drama, muscic, dance and some believable characterisation. Clearly a strong influence on Blazing Saddles (as far as Dietrich's numbers go) this manages to keep the lighter side of life at the fore without becoming too frothy. Solid as a western or a light comedy this is worthy of inclusion in any western collection.

Decent fun, and worht it just to improve Blazing Saddles to be honest.

Stewart's Destry is a character for the ages. Lots of heart and humour in the film, somewhat marred by the awkward song scenes and a disappointing finale which we can attribute to the conventions of the time.

very typical 30's movie (blends all from different genres). surprised by the "collective action" at the end. (why did they have to wait so long then?) thinking with the russian fool again, Americans always try to be "populist" while being authentically anticommunist at the same time.

Pretty amazing that one of the definitive film spoofs of westerns would be made before many of the classics of the genre. Dietrich and Stewart have a lot of chemistry in all their scenes, and Donlevy always makes a good villain. It's uneven in spots (I didn't really care for the Russian side-plot), but there's more good than bad here.

If I had to pick a role model, it would be James Stewart. At least his typical film personage, like the one in this old-school western. His character is the seemingly harmless man of integrity, who gets a task of cleaning up a town full of baddies. Dietrich plays a dame in this film, and frankly, I found her very annoying, especially the singing scenes. Forgettable film, only made worthwhile by Stewart's presence.

Great old western.

Entertaining, amusing (but dated) western. James Stewart is charming and Marlene Dietrich memorable.

At times a little goofy, ultimately cheesy, but otherwise very well-made comedy-western, with Jimmy Stewart in what is possibly the most fitting role of his career.

Stewart is his typical comic self here, but as usual with an edge toward the meaningful. His character's stance on gun-free law enforcement probably wouldn't play so well in many corners of American society today, and yet the challenge to model peaceableness in the face of law-breaking is one that we all need to grapple with. Dietrich is good here, as is Charles Winninger, and all the cast are helped by the light touch of the writing and Marshall's peppy pacing.

First 'girl power' western?! Damn slick gunslinging exploit with James Stewart bringing his goofy self to a outlaw town! A deputy sheriff without shooters, but with the gift of the gab. Charles Winninger, the town drunk, as the shirt wrenching sheriff. And Marlene Dietrich as the most glittering saloon girl you'll ever see!!! Overflowing with humor, bar brawls and gender confusion. Watch out for that chick fight! And Mischa Auer own personal fight about who wears the pants in the family....

Dammit Blazing Saddles, I now can't see Marlene Dietrich perform without hearing Lily Von Stupp. This is a decent western on the comedy end of things.

Western comedy with mostly grating humour, including some tiresome racial stereotypes, but the charm of Stewart and his clever strategising raises it above banality. Deitrich was good besides her unintentionally hilarious musical numbers (deservedly spoofed in Blazing Saddles) and there is also a rather novel way to end a mass shootout. Occasional switches to a more serious tone just don't fit. You'd be better off watching Garner in 'Support Your Local Sheriff'.

A hidden Western gem. It's funny, clever and well, it's one of the true Westerns out there and I believe Jimmy and Marlene were rising stars at the time or already were.