PIC of the Week – Destry Rides Again
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
The Criterion Collection has such a wonderful eclectic library, and their latest is a gem barely remembered by most audiences under 40. Sad to think anybody would bypass this movie due to age, it being a western and/or being filmed in black & white. Destry Rides Again is an obvious inspiration for two very famous comedic westerns, Blazing Saddles and Support Your Local Sheriff. Both films had big laughs, but Destry contains something more…a big heart, thanks to James Stewart, the stalwart epitome of morality and modesty. Something we are dearly lacking these days.
The lawless town of Bottleneck has just lost a sheriff thanks to the unscrupulous dealings of several conspirators that include Kent the nefarious saloon owner, his trashy dance hall queen, Frenchy and the crooked town mayor, Hiram J. Slade. To seal the town’s fate, the mayor appoints the town drunk, Washington Dimsdale, as the new lawman.
What no one counts on is the drunk stops drinking and has a goal to clean up the town with a deputy he’s calling in from out of town. This deputy comes with a notorious reputation: his father, Destry, was known as the man that cleaned up Tombstone, a gunfighter no one wanted to face, and his son was said to be a chip off the old block. Well, not quite.
Destry Jr. prefers not to carry a gun and likes to disarm people with his charm and long stories. This throws the outlaws for a loop and they can’t figure out how to deal with this lawman who prefers to keep the peace without the aid of firearms. A very amusing premise that proves to be a comic delight.
Three writers took enormous liberties with the famed Max Brand novel that was originally translated to the screen seven years earlier with a far more straight forward tone with cowboy star Tom Mix. The writers and director Marshall take the route of satirizing a lot of old Hollywood western tropes with very funny results. James Stewart is perfection as Destry Jr., catching us off guard with his off-handed ways, and he is perfectly matched with the smooth and deadly hellcat Frenchy, played by Marlene Dietrich.
A little background on the wonderful talent. After scoring big with such earlier films like You Can’t Take It With You, It’s a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Stewart rode off of his Frank Capra roll to saddle up with director George Marshall. Marshall proved to have a knack for odd-ball comedy, from W.C. Fields going to battle with a dummy in You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (a big favorite of mine) to Bob Hope cracking jokes with Paulette Goddard while dodging spirits in The Ghost Breakers. The amiable Stewart was teamed up with, of all people, Marlene Dietrich, whose career was floundering at the time.
Dietrich was better known for her husky voice, striking looks and the high dramas she was associated with starting with her big hit in 1929, The Blue Angel. But, her star power waned within a ten year period until she poked fun of herself with the comical farce of a western in Destry Rides Again. She even has the chance to sing a couple of numbers and anyone having seen Blazing Saddles will know Madeline Kahn’s inspiration of wonderful hilarity. Dietrich is naturally funny, makes a great femme-fatale, and by today’s standards will have you howl when she begins to sing her throaty sullen songs.
Destry Rides Again has a new digital 4K transformation by Universal Pictures which had Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg as consultants. The results are sparkling. The print looks practically brand new and will not make you think twice over any other copies out there, including old Universal releases. Okay, so this is a film made in the late ’30s and grain is to be expected. But, it’s so minute the picture is not hampered one bit. The clarity is remarkable and we can only wish other great classics can eventually receive the same treatment. Yes, there may be a minor scratch here or there, but the overall effect is first rate.
The liner notes state, “the original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the 35 mm nitrate composite fine-grain,” this adds up to a vibrant sound quality that is far from feeling like an old film. Dialogue is crisp and the atmospheric effects are beautifully realized. The outcome actually ends up being surprisingly immersive.
Special features may not be what we are use to from Criterion, but will be thankful what we get with this classic comedy…
• New interview with critic Imogen Sara Smith
• New interview with Donald Dewey, author of James Stewart: A Biography
• Illustrated audio excerpts from a 1973 oral-history interview with director George Marshall conducted by the American Film Institute
• Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1945, featuring James Stewart and Joan Blondell
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme
For anybody that loves to laugh or appreciates a very clever story, this is the film for you. Set aside any prejudices you may have for westerns or old films. Destry Rides Again breaks the mold and will win over your heart. And, if you don’t want to add it to your library, you can always access the streaming network, Peacock and view this wonderful 4K restoration. You can also access the film at Prime, Vudu, Fandango, Google Play and Apple TV at the nominal price of $3.99. But, for those cinephiles and Criterion collectors…
Lowest Price – $19.99 – Amazon and Barnes & Noble (1/2 price off Criterion through end of November)
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
