Destry

Plot synopsis:
The sheriff of a small western town dies of a 'heart attack' (actually shot in the back) and the crooked mayor, The Honorable Hiram J. Sellers (Edgar Buchanan), and leading crook Phil Decker (Lyle Bettger) appoint the town drunk, Reginald T. "Rags" Barnaby (Thomas Mitchell), as the new sheriff, believing that he will be easily controlled by them. Rags, however, announces he is giving up drinking and refuses to accept Decker as his new deputy, telling them that he has someone else in mind: Tom Destry.
Destry (Audie Murphy) arrives on the stagecoach with great fanfare, but Rags is disappointed to find out that he is a very young man who refuses to carry a gun. Destry prefers friendly persuasion and use of the law, over violence. Destry finds out that the previous sheriff may not have died of a heart attack as had been claimed. He suspects that the sheriff was murdered while trying to resolve a land dispute, and he sets about finding out how the sheriff actually died. He tricks Decker's men into passing their guns to him in the bar and empties all bullets with some impressive sharp-shooting onto a wall-mounted game. He then retrieves the bullets for analysis.
Eventually it becomes clear that Decker killed the sheriff in order to further his plans to obtain all the land necessary to control and exploit the transit of cattle over those properties. The sheriff is killed in the jail and suspects are missing. Decker sets up an ambush in the saloon for Destry. During a gun battle in the saloon, Brandy gets shot dead trying to block Decker's fire, but Decker is killed too. Destry restores law and order to the town.

Tags: good versus evil, cult, murder

Review:
Destry -- director George Marshall's remake with Audie Murphy of Destry Rides Again, which starred Jimmy Stewart -- is one of the rare exceptions.
But, given a good script and good direction, Audie Murphy was a far better actor than his many B movies would lead one to expect, and Destry was one of his best performances.The fact that director George Marshall chose to remake his black and white Jimmy Stewart hit, Destry Rides Again, in Technicolor with Audie Murphy as Destry clearly indicates that Marshall felt his original film could be equaled or improved upon.
Both the original and the remake are good westerns but, if one can get past bias toward Jimmy Stewart -- and his co-star Marlene Dietrich -- and evaluate the movies purely on their merit, I believe that Audie Murphy's Destry is the better film.
Because, it followed behind the 1939 classic, Destry rides again, the 1954 movie, titled Destry, was given very little credit for being a good film.
Most movie critics, of the time, was more determined to compare the performances of Marlene Dietrich and James Steward, to that of Audie Murphy and Mari Blanchard.
Of course there is no comparison to the kind of acting talent that Steward and Dietrich had, but Destry was still a very good film that did justice to the original version.
Whenever the studios cared enough to surround Audie Murphy with top-quality supporting players (such as Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, Alan Hale, Jr., and Lyle Bettger in this film), Audie's performances always rose to the level of those around him.
Everyone is good in this movie, with very little of the over-acting that was the style then.I saw the Dietrich/Stewart version many years ago...I've never liked Marlene Dietrich and never understood what the big deal with her was, but Jimmy Stewart tops the list of my favorite actors, so it surprises me that I honestly can't remember a single scene from their film.
Mari Blanchard is absolutely stunning in this film.As for the technical end, I found the directing good, the script devoid of the usual brainless dialog and plot holes that many B Westerns of the time seemed burdened with, and the score was not intrusive.
The humor is derived from the real situations, but never descends into broad comedy with pratfalls and nonsense.Many Audie Murphy films are good for a single viewing and can be forgotten, but "Destry" is definitely worth repeat viewing.
It stars Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Lyle Bettger, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan and Lori Nelson.
Music is by Joseph Gershenson and cinematography by George Robinson.When the sheriff of a small frontier town is shot and killed in mysterious circumstances, mob boss Decker (Bettger) and the crooked mayor (Buchanan) appoint the local drunk, Rags Barnaby (Mitchell), as sheriff.
Thinking it will be easy to control the town now, Decker is surprised to learn that Barnaby has sent for help in the form of Tom Destry (Murphy), the son of a famous hard nosed lawman.
However, when Tom arrives, he isn't exactly the all conquering macho lawman the town were expecting, in fact he doesn't even carry a gun!OK, when judged against the James Stewart/ Marlene Dietrich starring Destry Rides Again from 1939 (also directed by George Marshall), this Audie Murphy led remake is standard stuff.
The third attempt at adapting Max Brand's novel (there was also a Tom Mix version in 1932), George Marshall's movie has good production values, is well represented by the cast and all told is an amiable way to spend an afternoon.
It's Not That Bad. OK, it's probably not a good idea to try to remake a classic as with this film and George Marshall's "Destry Rides Again".............but don't sell it too short.
Sometimes remakes do turn out for the best and Audie Murphy was a perfect in the casting of another edition of the Destry saga.
Audie uses some forensic science to clean up the town and the final gunfight is played a bit more seriously than in the James Stewart-Marlene Dietrich classic.For those who haven't seen either film, a certain crooked saloon keeper/ town boss has been grabbing land by hook or crook and kills the sheriff who's opposing him.
Mitchell is the town drunk, but Mitchell fools them and sends for the son of legendary lawman Tom Destry to be his deputy.When Audie Murphy as Destry comes to town it's without wearing firearms, but in his own quiet way Audie gets results.Of course saloon girl Mari Blanchard ain't a patch on Marlene Dietrich, but that's pretty stiff competition for anyone.
Edgar Buchanan is the mayor and does his usual foxy and calculating part and we're not quite sure where he'll wind up in the end.Destry is one of Audie Murphy's better B westerns from the Fifties and it shows with the right casting, a classic can be done well a second time..
fNo sooner had the big budget To Hell and Back been released than everyone began to wonder if Audie Murphy, who played himself in that autobiographical flick about his WWII experiences, might be on the way out of B westerns and into major movies.
No such thing, though - later that same year, Murphy was back in a better-than-average remake of the classic Destry Rides Again - this time, with the title shortened to the character's name, doubtless because that was in vogue at the time: Shane (Alan Ladd), Hondo (John Wayne), Jubal (Glenn Ford), etc.
While this film may never come close to the heights of the earlier A movie starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, it sure rates far and above the average oater of that time.
Murphy is actually far more close to the descriptions of Tom Destry in the original novel than was Stewart, and while Mari Blanchard isn't Marlene Dietrich (who was?), she is pretty terrific as the exotic saloon girl whose cynical attitude melts whenever she's around the likable young marshal.
Destry Rides Again was very good, and Jimmy Stewart certainly has a cowboy persona, but that's not the first image that comes to mind when we think of this great actor.Audie Murphy, on the other hand couldn't be more cowboy - Texas born and a super-hero FOR REAL, not the phony John Wayne type, and what's even better is that he's not a strapping hulk, he's an unassuming, charming, perpetual kid with a quiet inner strength.
However with a culture of silence, gun crime widespread and the town in the grip of the sultry and dangerous Brandy, can Destry make an impact?Just to prove that modern Hollywood does not have the sole rights to the concept of the totally unnecessary remake, we have this film made 15 years after the definitive version starring Stewart and Dietrich; and true to form, this version is just that  unnecessary.
A peaceful and milksop cowboy named Tom Destry performed by the good-mannered Audie Murphy cleans up an uncontrollably lawless Western town .
Audie Murphy gives a sympathetic acting as a sheriff helper , new deputy's mild exterior masks a fierce determination to see justice done, this brawling Western turned him movie career all around the world and became him a box-office again .
Lovely acting of Mari Blanchard as the stubborn Saloon girl at a similar role to previous Marlene Dietrich , she is the dance hall entertainer who sings on the bar some vintage songs , including new catchy tunes.
His first Western was ¨Wild Gold¨(1934) and he subsequently directed ¨Destry rides again¨ with James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich in which years later he would make a remake titled ¨Frenchie¨ with Audie Murphy and Marie Blanchard .
It was then offered to James Stewart , who took it in ¨Destry rides again¨(1939) , along with Marlene Dietrich , Charles Winninger , Thomas Mitchell ; the following version released in 1951 under title ¨ Frenchie ¨ and this fourth take on exhibited in 1954 also directed by George Marshall with Audie Murphy and Marie Blanchard in similar characters to James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich ..
Audie Murphy is just fine as the gun shy sheriff Tom Destry taming a rowdy town and a boisterous dance hall girl without violence.
She also has a rough and tumble fight with character actress Mary Wickes which Destry gets involved in.The supporting cast which includes Lyle Bettger, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan and Wallace Ford are all adequate..
the actor as a man was the most decorated American soldier in real life it is a shame that people in the film world recognised that he was a major player in making the film world wake up and start to make movies with a bit of feeling an humanity in them, the role he played in destry was a role that showed us to live not by the gun but by the word and it is a lesson that is still prevalent in todays world..
"Rides Again" with Stewart is fun but decorated war hero Audie Murphy is more believable in the role of "Destry." In fact, any time the skinny and frail Stewart plays a tough guy it is very hard to accept - even though you want to because of his undeniable charm and quality acting ability.
World War II hero Audie Murphy assumes the role that western icon Tom Mix created in the 1932 black & white version of Universal Studios' "Destry Rides Again" and that James Stewart recreated later for director George Marshall in the black & white 1939 remake "Destry Rides Again" as an easy-going lawman that prefers to ask questions first and sling lead second in the Technicolored rehash retitled "Destroy," ostensibly based on Max Brand's novel "Twelve Peers." There is a mite more irony in the casting of Murphy as a deputy sheriff who guzzles milk rather than liquor and shuns shooting irons than either Mix or Stewart.
Murphy squares off in this flavorful comic remake with actor Lyle Bettger, the epitome of 1950s' western villainy who went on to lock horns with the likes of Burt Lancaster in "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) and Clayton Moore in "The Lone Ranger." Bettger fares even better as the smiling but slimy varmint that mustached Brian Donlevy played in "Destry Rides Again." The same cannot be said for raven-haired beauty Mari Blanchard who cannot hold a candle to the volatile Marlene Dietrich from the 1939 version.
Determined to clean up the crooked town of Restless, Rags recruits the son of legendary lawman, Tom Destry (Audie Murphy) to help him.
At least this new Destry line is modernized in that he engages the other cast members with a little knowledge of forensics, which came as a (nice) surprise.Lyle Bettger is every bit as devilish as the bad guy of the original work (Brian Donlevy), and will do anything to make a buck and maintain his hold over a small western town.
And while Audie Murphy isn't Jimmy Stewart, the final gun battle is a good bit more tense and somber than the original, which I highly enjoyed.This is one of the best of the B western line put out by Audie Murphy, and in my opinion proves that remakes CAN be done well, with the proper casting and direction.
RELEASED IN 1954 and directed by George Marshall, "Destry" is about a tough Western town run by corrupt local mogul Decker (Lyle Bettger) and the Mayor who's in league with him (Edgar Buchanan).
They appoint a drunk as the new Sheriff (Thomas Mitchell) because they know he'll be easy to control, but the Sheriff hires as his deputy the out-of-town son of an expert lawman for whom he used to work (Audie Murphy).
The film is a remake of Marshall's 1939 hit "Destry Rides Again," which was a remake of the 1932 movie of the same name, a closer rendition of Max Brand's novel.
While most critics say "Destry" is inferior I give it the edge because (1.) it's in color, (2.) Murphy is stalwart as the humble-yet-confident protagonist, and (3.) Mari Blanchard is hotter than Marlene Dietrich as the saloon entertainer and has the mojo to pull off the challenging role.
"Destry Rides Again" (1939) is regarded as a classic western by some, and as a film made enjoyable by the enchanting James Stewart (and sultry Marlene Dietrich) by the rest of us.
Like the Melanie Griffith remake of "Born Yesterday", a poor performance in the leading role reveals the story (sheriff of a tough town doesn't want to shoot anyone) to be a weak little thing unable to stand without someone the stature of Mr. Stewart to hold it up.
From now having seen the original about 30 times more than the remake: the remake's colour is OK but the original b&w, lighting and therefore atmosphere was way better; characterisation and acting in the original was topnotch, believable and trod a fine comedic line perfectly, acting was OK in the remake but characterisation was almost non-existent; the original script was slavishly followed except the remake didn't want to trash the expensive sets and props for the final fight scene; the songs sung by Marlene Dietrich became world famous classics, in the remake the songs were brash and instantly forgotten.I still enjoyed this version, only it's a colourful pale imitation of the classic original, imho one of the best films ever made.
"Destry" is a remake of the classic 1939 western "Destry Rides Again" which starred James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich.
The story involves a non-gun toting deputy sheriff (Murphy) who is brought to town to clean it up by town drunk Thomas Mitchell who was "appointed" as sheriff by villains Lyle Bettger and Edgar Buchannan following the murder of the former lawman (Trevor Bardette).
Murphy does his best in the role of Tom Destry, but when you come down to it it is the excellent supporting cast that make this film watchable.
"Destry" tries on a "B" Plus budget to re-do a classic but in the end is just another in the series of Murphy westerns released during the 50s..
Murphy is the peace-loving son of a fighting father, sent for by the new sheriff, Thomas Mitchell, after the murder of a former lawman shot in the back...Mitchell is the hopeless drunk Rags Barnaby ("A man's got to choose between th' bottle and th' badge!"), put in his post by a corrupt Mayor (Edgar Buchanan), so that the ruthless saloonkeeper Lyle Bettger can run the small town as he pleases...
Such is the plot, but it is George Marshall's well-paced direction, and the solid acting of the principals and supporting players, which turned this updated version into a very entertaining comedy Western..The beautiful Mari Blanchard essays the Marlene Dietrich role as the delightfully dance-hall girl, while Lori Nelson is the good girl with whom Murphy ultimately settles down....
Mari Blanchard lacks the exotic fire of Marlene Dietrich, and sweet looking Aydie Murphy doesn't have the acting chops of James Stewart.
The always wonderful Mary Wickes gets the part of the doctor's tough wife who gets into a scrape with Blanchard and seems to mop the floor with her, unlike Una Merkel tried with Dietrich.Thomas Mitchell is excellent as the former deputy, now town drunk, made sheriff after Bettger kills the previous one.
As well as having villains to deal with a western needs some potential love interest and here it is provided by Brandy; the saloon singer who helped Decker cheat at cards and Martha Phillips the nice girl he is clearly 'meant to be with'.As I've yet to see 'Destry Rides Again' I can't say how this compares but I did find this to be an enjoyable western; Audie Murphy is ideal in the role of the soft spoken Destry as he doesn't look like a traditional Hollywood tough guy despite an actual war record that proves he was more heroic than better known western stars.
It helps that he was supported by s fine cast Lyle Bettger is suitably unpleasant as Decker, Thomas Mitchell was entertaining as Rags and Mari Blanchard was just right as Brandy; the bad girl who might just come good.
It would have been interesting to see who Destry might have picked if Brandy made it to the end of the picture.I've always been a little on the fence about Audie Murphy as an actor.
Thomas Mitchell is once again great in his role as the lawman who brings in Destry to help him clean up the town.
Probably because Audie and George Marshall made many average films, Destry did not get the praise it deserved from the critics..
James Stewart was also perfectly cast as Tom Destry.VIEWER'S GUIDE: An unsavory fight between two women plus the usual "A"-western violence make this film unsuitable for children.COMMENT: While it is not a patch on the 1939 movie, Destry emerged in 1994 (the first time it was shown in color on local television) as solid entertainment.
Audie Murphy makes a most suitable Destry, and there are equally sound character portrayals from the likes of raspy-voiced, crookedly smiling Lyle Bettger (our favorite heavy of the 1950s — and cast here in a major role), venal Edgar Buchanan (always a reliable player, but we like him best as the sort of frighteningly comic, seedy villain he plays here), Wallace Ford as a henpecked medico and Alan Hale as a brawny but not over-bright trail boss.As for Mari Blanchard, she plays well enough, but lacks the gusto of her dubbed singing voice.
The tale is so entertaining, so appealing in its values, that it's easy to overlook the fact that it's a remake of a 1939 movie starring Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich.Apparent wimp, Murphy, is hired as deputy sheriff to clean up the rough-and-tumble and thoroughly corrupt town of Restless, which he does, although not without the deaths of a few friendlies.Murphy was short and retained his boyish good looks and modest demeanor for fifteen years or so after he returned from the war.