DESTRY RIDES AGAIN

US, 1939, 94 minutes, Black and white.
James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Mischa Auer, Charles Winniger, Brian Donlevy.
Directed by George Marshall.

Destry Rides Again was a classic western of the late thirties. Based on a popular western novel by Max Brand, it was directed by action director George Marshall. It had some songs by Frederick Hollander and Frank Loesser.

The film was outstanding in its cast, and the strange combining of quiet James Stewart with Marlene Dietrich. Dietrich had some typical songs and put them over with verve. There in a strong supporting cast. The film was remade in the fifties, almost scene for scene. However, at this time it was a star vehicle for Audie Murphy who was very popular in westerns in the early fifties.

The direction was once again by George Marshall. There had been an early sound version in the thirties with Richard Dix and the film Frenchie with Shelley Winters was a variation on the same theme. Destry is considered a classic western and has all the popular ingredients that have become the conventions over the decade.

1. The film is considered something of a classic western comedy. Why? Its impact today?

2. The film and its status In 1939, the stars and their reputation at the time, black and white photography, the use of sets and studio work, the fast paced action style of westerns at, the time, the songs and the impact of Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart and his personal style? How well did they blend for a successful western?

3. Comment on the western conventions used, the way that they were used, the use, narrative, satire, pace? How enjoyable? As a setting for basic western themes?

4. Comment on the picture of the conventional lawless towns how convincingly was it presented, the streets, families, respectable citizens, the last Chance Saloon, the world of gambling, weak sheriff, drunk marshall, corrupt mayor etc.? Kent running the town? Frenchie and her role? How well portrayed was this American town?

5. The conventional people, Kent and his henchmen, the ordinary citizens trying to stand up for their rights, Frenchie, the women of the town, Destry himself, Wash?

6. The irony of the administration of justice and the sense of lawlessness in the town when Wash is made marshall? The surprise of his taking the job seriously, his calling in of Destry? The themes of lawlessness and
law and order?

7. The impact of James Stewart as Destry? Not a typical looking western hero? His reputation, his style, his wariness in using violence? His wanting to use common sense and reason? His patience, his gentleness, his confrontation of people and their ridicule of him? What style of American hero for a western?

8. How did the film show his good relationship with people? How convincing?

9. The inevitability of confrontation, the occasion for this, the importance of the people banding together to help him, the final use of the gun in the American west? The violence of the showdown and its inevitability?

10. The contribution of Frenchie? Marlene Dietrich’s personality, her laughter, her songs and their various insertion during the film, her fight, especially with the woman, her relationship with Kent, her ridiculing Destry and then her respect for him, her giving her life for him? The typical heart of gold saloon woman? As a conventional ingredient of a western? How much better done?

11. Kent as a villain, his style, his violence, his death?

12. The film's presentation of the values of law and order? A conventional western but in some sense archetypal? The influence of the film over the decades?