Copyright 8 December 1939 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Rivoli: 29 November 1939. U.S. release: 29 December 1939. Australian release: 25 April 1940. 10 reels. 8,453 feet. 94 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Kent, a suave gambler (Brian Donlevy) runs the lawless frontier town of Bottle Neck, utilizing the services of his barroom entertainer, Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich), to cheat suckers like Lem Claggett (Tom Fadden) out of their ranches so that he can collect a tariff on all cattle driven through. When Sheriff Keogh (Joe King) learns that Claggett has been cheated at cards, he tries to enforce the law but is shot, and in the commotion the Mayor of Bottle Neck, Hiram J. Slade (Samuel S. Hinds), informs the patrons of the Last Chance Saloon that the sheriff has gone out of town. He and Kent appoint Wash Dimsdale (Charles Winninger), the town drunk, as the new sheriff. Wash, once deputy to the famous lawman Thomas Jefferson Destry, suddenly reforms and sends for his old pal's son Tom (James Stewart) to come to Bottle Neck as his deputy. The mild-mannered Mr Destry arrives by stagecoach with Janice Tyndall (Irene Hervey) and her headstrong brother Jack (Jack Carson), a cattleman. Wash introduces Tom to the townsfolk in the Last Chance Saloon, and when Kent tries to take Tom's guns away from him, they learn that he doesn't carry any. Frenchy hands the new deputy a mop and pail to help clean up Bottle Neck. The town thinks Destry is too mild a deputy to be a threat to Kent's gang, but he nevertheless attempts to clean up Bottle Neck by looking for Sheriff Keogh's body.NOTES: "Max Brand" is the pseudonym of Frederick Faust. His novel was previously filmed in 1932 with Tom Mix as Destry opposite Claudia Dell's Frenchy. In 1954 Universal remade the film simply as Destry with Audie Murphy in the title role opposite Mari Blanchard. Many of the novel's plot devices turn up in other westerns, for example The Boy from Oklahoma (1954), Frenchie (1950). Universal's top boxoffice attraction of 1939-40.COMMENT: In any other year but 1939, Destry Rides Again would have figured mightily on the nation's "Ten Best" lists. A smash with both critics and public, it marked a turning point in Dietrich's career, re-establishing her as a major star. As this hard-as-nails bar belle, she is ideally cast. Her song, "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have", became a classic which is now synonymous with her name. In the title role, James Stewart is also absolutely perfect. The definitive version of the novel, this one is not only lavishly produced, but forcefully directed. Brisk film editing carries the viewer with admirable celerity through necessary but dull continuity scenes in order to concentrate our attention on the much more interesting material when Dietrich and Stewart strike sparks, and such fine character actors as Charles Winninger, Samuel S. Hinds, Allen Jenkins and Warren Hymer have their charismatic innings.OTHER VIEWS: Destry Rides Again presents Marlene Dietrich as a Blue Angel of the Far West. Not only does she play Frenchy with panache and style, but she emerges here as a fine comedian, registering just as strongly in the comic sequences as in the dramatic. In short, she is marvellous. - Francois Timmory in L'Ecran Francais (translated by J. H. Reid).

Destry is a great western that came out in 1939, one of the best years in film history. It's a great western drama with a lot of comedy elements about a gunless deputy who comes in to clean up the town of Bottleneck.James Stewart was an interesting choice for the lead as young Destry, the son of a lawman who's given up his guns and wants to clean up the town peacefully. (You'll have to watch the movie to see how that works out).The supporting cast is great with a lot of comedic characters and classic old west bad guys. I fell hard for Marlene Dietrich when I first saw this movie as a kid. If you're a fan of classic westerns, this one should be in your top ten.

"Destry Rides Again" is the oft filmed story of a non gun toting lawman who cleans up a frontier town. It was previously filmed in 1932 with Tom Mix and later in 1950 as "Frenchie" with Joel McCrea and in 1954 as "Destry" with Audie Murphy.This version which came out in the movies' best year 1939, stars Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart. This film recharged her career and Stewart was just emerging as a major star.The town of Bottleneck is a lawless place under the control of gambler Kent (Brian Donlevy) who with his cronies and Frenchie the "saloon singer" (Dietrich) are cheating honest ranchers out of their properties by luring them into poker games.Rancher Lem Claggett (Tom Fadden) is the latest victim. When he loses his ranch, Sheriff Keogh (Joe King) is murdered trying to get the man's ranch back. Kent has Judge Slade (Samuel S. Hinds) appoint town drunk Washington Dimsdale (Charles Winniger) as the new sheriff. Dimsdale however, takes his job seriously and sends for Tom Destry Jr. (Stewart), the son of his former friend Tom Sr.Destry is at first a laughing stock until he demonstrates his prowess with six shooter. Frenchie it seems has a heart of gold and starts to take a liking to Tom. Young Janice Tyndall (Irene Hervey) also has her eye on Tom. Barfly Boris (Mischa Auer) loses his pants to Frenchie in a poker game which results in his wife Lilly Belle (Una Merkel) charging into the saloon and having a slam bang fight with Frenchie.Following a tragic event Tom becomes angered, straps on his father's guns and.....................................................To me, there was just too much light comedy in light of the seriousness of the story. The likes of Auer, Billy Gilbert As the bartender and Allen Jenkins and Warren Hymer as Donlevy's boys is just too much comedy relief. Even Winniger's character has comedic traits. Jack Carson, who would soon become known for his comedic roles, plays a rough and tough rancher who is at first mistaken for Destry.Dietrich's character was hilariously parodied by Madeliene Kahn in "Blazing Saddles" (1974)to the point that Dietrich's performance is overshadowed to modern viewers. It did however, get her back into the spotlight as she would follow this film up with two with John Wayne. James Stewart was just starting to be seen as a major star. He would appear in the classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" the same year and win an Academy Award the following year for "The Philadelphia Srory".Despite it's faults, this film is still looked upon as a true classic.

Every movie that Marlene Dietrich done quite often she not portrait the character very well...she play itself in almost all movies...in this case happened the same she played a singer who knew all about what's going on table of cards...so suddenly appears the handsome like James Stewart and she turn back to your old pals....frankly is hard to believe,this why Dietrich wasn't take seriously in cinema,apart Rancho Notorious and Blue Angel which she was great...so in my opinion Dietrich was Overrated in your career,she also was arrogant and unfriendly most of actors and actress didn't like to work with her...l know why!!