tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post400103112602888927..comments2024-01-25T07:08:17.130-05:00Comments on 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die: Destry Rides Again (1939) **1/2Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-34648211718207435682013-02-05T13:25:18.148-05:002013-02-05T13:25:18.148-05:00Okay on the expansion and clarification. I think h...Okay on the expansion and clarification. I think he's called a pacifist in the begging because he doesn't proscribe to violence. His character obviously evolves on this point by the end of the film. Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-65334821883674450432013-02-05T10:34:28.485-05:002013-02-05T10:34:28.485-05:00This review needs some clarification and expansion...This review needs some clarification and expansion.<br /><br />Why Thomas Jefferson Destry is called a "pacifist" is beyond my understanding. It isn't just his recognition that a gun won't protect him from being shot in the back, but realizing that the law has to stand on something other than the threat of force. At the end, he has no trouble strapping on guns to protect innocent people from those who do not respect the law.<br /><br />Jimmy Stewart largely abandoned his "Aw, Shucks" persona in his later career, particularly in the Anthony Mann films where he often played complext, conflicted, and not-always-likable characters.<br /><br />By the way, the ONLY thing Max Brand's novel has in common with this film is the name of the saloon. The stories couldn't be more different. I'm currently reading the novel, mostly to see what the original is like, and partly with the thought of writing a screenplay, as it has never been filmed. (Correction. The 1932 Tom Mix version does seem to follow the novel.)William Sommerwercknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-38315822029223519792012-10-23T16:31:03.494-04:002012-10-23T16:31:03.494-04:00It was definitely her calling! It was definitely her calling! Kimberly J.M. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09078951928157843937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-90504770341735722792012-10-21T15:27:21.377-04:002012-10-21T15:27:21.377-04:00Have you noticed the similarity between the charac...Have you noticed the similarity between the characters of Dusty and Lola in Der Blaue Engel? Maybe it was Dietrichs real calling to be a showgirl of seedy bars. <br />I think you liked this movie better than me, but it was still a good movie to see. It cannot be all bad with Jim Stewart. Nice review.<br />TSorensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12208153011927807857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-2001006674387438792011-05-24T00:01:23.845-04:002011-05-24T00:01:23.845-04:00Excellent review. Haven't seen this one yet bu...Excellent review. Haven't seen this one yet but as soon as I learned that Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich had starred in a Western together it immediately went on my must-see list. I'm not a big fan of the Western genre, but if any film can change my mind, I'm sure this is it. Your review only reinforced my belief. Great contribution to the blogathon!<br /><br />-CarolineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-19522347424921715562011-05-17T01:44:47.962-04:002011-05-17T01:44:47.962-04:00I really enjoyed reading your post on this movie. ...I really enjoyed reading your post on this movie. I've never been a particular fan of Westerns, but this one is less "dusty" (for lack of a better term) than some of the others I've tried to sit through before--I think it's the elements of humor and Dietrich's fiery performance that make it more palatable to non-Western fans.Brandiehttp://trueclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-74647403167896944322011-05-16T21:17:25.562-04:002011-05-16T21:17:25.562-04:00The older I get, the more I find to like about Die...The older I get, the more I find to like about Dietrich. With that said, this film has always been a favorite of mine because of the offbeat casting that turned out to be brilliant. So many classic scenes -- the catfight scene is rousing and funny, and I love Stewart's amused reactions to it. Thanks for the review!Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-34046191823651784202011-05-16T16:19:09.685-04:002011-05-16T16:19:09.685-04:00Kim, I feel a little more comfortable about saying...Kim, I feel a little more comfortable about saying this since others have preceded me, but I never really liked Dietrich (please, don't hurt me!) In feeling that way, I never saw what sounds like a fabulous movie, one in which I think I would like her. I may know all about the plot now, but that won't hinder my eagerness to see this. The cast is great, the catfight and saloon songs must be a sight to see, and I love Stewart. I also have to mention one of my favorite villains, Brian Donlevy. With your really wonderful review, you may have made a Dietrich fan out of me!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-13550081471871101422011-05-16T15:04:09.735-04:002011-05-16T15:04:09.735-04:00The Frank Skinner score is one of the best for a w...The Frank Skinner score is one of the best for a western. Its main title was used in other Universal westerns throughout the 1940s.Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-56386481797611030452011-05-16T05:47:01.470-04:002011-05-16T05:47:01.470-04:00Thanks for a spot-on review! While this was a grea...Thanks for a spot-on review! While this was a great film for Stewart, it was a most important one for Dietrich. Count me among those who always say they are not crazy for her until I see her in a movie!FlickChickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17351624749230610755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-54593731647394066962011-05-16T02:04:36.928-04:002011-05-16T02:04:36.928-04:00Kim, one of my favorite James Stewart performances...Kim, one of my favorite James Stewart performances and one of my all-time favorite Westerns, even if it is more or less a send-up of the genre. Besides Una Merkel, it has quite a few other character greats, but I especially like Charles Winninger as the tipsy sheriff who sends for Destry to be his deputy.R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-37257228703379654942011-05-16T01:36:01.551-04:002011-05-16T01:36:01.551-04:00Great piece, Kim. An absolute classic, even ground...Great piece, Kim. An absolute classic, even groundbreaking – and I wonder if Destry's reputation for launching Dietrich’s comeback has overshadowed the movie itself. At the time Dietrich, Garbo and Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford and others had been labeled “box office poison” (turned out not to be true about any of them). When producer Joe Pasternak approached her about the role, she was inclined to turn it down because it was, after all, “a Western.” It was her mentor and friend Josef von Sternberg who advised her to take it. Some have called hers the greatest comeback in Hollywood history. I don’t know about that, but Dietrich was back on top and on her way to becoming a legend.The Lady Evehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963115499930520653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-7238913942648335322011-05-15T20:13:59.627-04:002011-05-15T20:13:59.627-04:00Destry Rides Again was probably one of the earlies...<b>Destry Rides Again</b> was probably one of the earliest classic films I remember watching and I loved it then--a recent re-viewing of it on Encore Westerns just confirmed my affair. It's the movie I always point to when any of my fellow cineastes dismiss director George Marshall as a hack because he really knew his way around a comedy and is able in <b>Destry</b> to blend it so well with the Western elements.<br /><br />It's the cast in this movie that makes it one of my very favorites, though--you have Stewart and Dietrich, of course, but there's also longtime faves like Una Merkel (love that catfight!), Mischa Auer and the peerless Billy Gilbert as bartender. I seriously considered doing this one for the blogathon before I was distracted by shiny objects so kudos on a job well done.Ivan G Shreve Jrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04067177808320053382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-44802914918618189072011-05-15T19:55:53.134-04:002011-05-15T19:55:53.134-04:00Kim, your write-up on DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is excell...Kim, your write-up on DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is excellent, with such stellar attention to detail that it could be a movie treatment. Our family loves Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart, and it's always nice when people remember what impressive range both of these fine actors have. Thanks to your terrific blog post (and the whole CMBA 1939 Blogathon! :-)), DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is another classic film that I loved long ago and realize I must revisit very soon!DorianTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01357778472575080022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-58262166471427210972011-05-15T19:36:33.774-04:002011-05-15T19:36:33.774-04:00Kim,
I'm not a big western fan but I watched t...Kim,<br />I'm not a big western fan but I watched this because Stewart and Dietrich are good enough to see in just about anything. I found it really enjoyable. <br /><br />I love any film where Dietrich sings and her costumes in this one were great.<br />A fun review!<br />PagePagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063277863578004836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-86959558586691579142011-05-15T16:22:38.770-04:002011-05-15T16:22:38.770-04:00I never think of myself as a big Dietrich fan, but...I never think of myself as a big Dietrich fan, but then you remind me of "Destry Rides Again" and I find the admiration. I enjoyed your take on a classic.Caftan Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05936895555808823221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-64765396953263376482011-05-15T15:08:51.576-04:002011-05-15T15:08:51.576-04:00I just recently saw this one and enjoyed your deta...I just recently saw this one and enjoyed your detailed review. Some great illustrations too, especially that still of Stewart and Dietrich drinking coffee. Must say I think this is Stewart's movie all the way and falls off a bit in the scenes where he isn't present - for me Dietrich gives a better and warmer acting performance in 'The Spoilers', though, having said that, her songs in this are great.Judyhttp://movieclassics.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-83711768147672476002011-05-15T14:21:11.139-04:002011-05-15T14:21:11.139-04:00Marlene is fabulous in this movie - she's one ...Marlene is fabulous in this movie - she's one of my favorites, and I love her raunchy good humor here, so different from her glamorous von Sternberg look. It's interesting to look at DRA & its pacifistic views in terms of its historical context, w/Europe on the brink of WW2. Thanks for your excellent review!grandoldmovieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10773085288675763855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-78789183675568216392011-05-15T13:01:48.568-04:002011-05-15T13:01:48.568-04:00Kim, this is another great review and a perfect ch...Kim, this is another great review and a perfect choice for the CMBA's Classic Movies of 1939 Blogathon. Marlene is fabulous in DESTRY (I'm not a huge fans of hers, but think she's excellent in this, WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, and RANCHO NOTORIOUS). However, DESTRY RIDES AGAIN is a James Stewart movie for me. He gives a low-key, charming performance...a stark contrast to the kind of characters he would play in the Anthony Mann Westerns. Interestingly, though, he has a relationship with a character very similar to Frenchy in Mann<br />s THE FAR COUNTRY and the result is the same.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672005424133365490.post-9124770952389517422010-04-29T16:12:46.768-04:002010-04-29T16:12:46.768-04:00Hey Kim,
Super blog as always I saw this about a m...Hey Kim,<br />Super blog as always I saw this about a month ago and was pleasently suprised at Marlene Dietrichs and Jimmy Stewarts performances.As you said it is hilariously entertaining on several levels and I enjoyed them all.Thanks for the great review!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com