Destry

• Directed by George Marshall
• December 1, 1954 (US) / January 19, 1955 (Los Angeles)
• Based on the 1930 novel Destry Rides Again by Max Brand

When a Western town’s sheriff dies under mysterious circumstances, the son of a famed gunman is called in by the new sheriff to set things right. I think I have seen this movie before.

Having watched the star-making film Destry Rides Again featuring Audie Murphy’s Night Passage co-star Jimmy Stewart I decided to give Destry a try. I assumed it would be an unconnected story involving the character of Tom Destry (Audie Murphy). What I got was a nearly beat-for-beat remake of the 1939 film that George Marshall also directed though of a decidedly more humorous nature fitting with the nature of Marshall’s career at the point this version of the story was released.

Marshall engages in bits of humor that one would find very old black-and-white movies. This version is no comedic farce but is no hardened drama for the time. Murphy is the straight man with other seasoned performers handling the jokes.

Continuing the theme of Murphy working with great Classic Hollywood talent, Destry features Thomas ‘Uncle Billy’ Mitchell as Rags Barnaby who is the new sheriff looking to Tom for help, noted character actor Edgar Buchanan plays the corrupt Mayor Sellers, noted character actress Mary Wickes is Bessie Mae Curtis, and Alan ‘The Skipper’ Hale Jr. is in the part of Jack Larson.

The problems/issue of the story are caused by local card-shark-with-a-land-scheme Phil Decker (Lyle Bettger) in cahoots with saloon owner Brandy (Mari Blanchard). So much happened over card games in old Westerns. Anywho, a simple start to good movies generally. The idea is to grab up all the grazing land so they (the baddies) can extort a fee per head of cattle passing through.

Like in the ’39 film, Destry is the antithesis of the law man of the time. He is much more soft-spoken and more intellectual than the tough talking gunslinging individual that was generally shown in films. The film is a little bit more of an investigation than a story about him using guns and bullets to solve problems. Destry because of the death of his father has an aversion to weapons though he can certainly handle them. He’s a crack shot with just about anything, and it’s the demonstration thereof that throws the entire population off-balance and demonstrates the characters capability.

Murphy-as-Destry is charming as well as tough but never strongly in either direction. Without the threat of lead poisoning Murphy is forced to act tough in other ways than drawing a gun on a character. With a sly smile and a bit of self-assured cockiness Murphy puts Destry consistently in charge of the situation.

Murphy sells the inspirational nature of Destry. As the story goes and Destry does not succumb though unarmed, he gets others to believe in themselves and stand tough. Murphy also does well with demonstrating the crafty nature of the character by getting the occasional baddie to tip their hand as he bluffs his way into getting info or solving a problem.

Martha (Lori Nelson) who arrives in town on the same stage as Destry is just this side of a schoolmarm with Brandy who is a fine girl being a singer in a saloon run by the shady guy who’s come up with the land scheme. Both make a pretty good case for being the one that Destry will end up with.

The action, both comedic and dramatic, is entertaining to watch. The only moment when Murphy really engages in some silliness is a little flat. His skills certainly lay in being the tough Western character rather than pulling off something as silly as hitting people in the face with a mop. Then again such a thing has been a tried-and-true staple of slapstick from the early days and even by then it was getting a little old.

As essentially a remake of Destry Rides Again it manages to stand strongly on its own much like Don Knotts’ remake of The Paleface. You may know it’s a remake, but it doesn’t feel like a bad imitation. It’s just a different version of the story.

Destry is a good movie. Exciting, funny, and genuinely entertaining.