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Destry Rides Again (1939)

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Movie Info

Tom Destry (James Stewart), son of a legendary frontier peacekeeper, doesn't believe in gunplay. Thus he becomes the object of widespread ridicule when he rides into the wide-open town of Bottleneck, the personal fiefdom of the crooked Kent (Brian Donlevy). His detractors laugh even louder when Destry signs on as deputy to drunken sheriff Wash Dimsdale (Charles Winninger). But the laughter subsides when Destry casually proves himself a crack shot, despite his abhorrence of firearms. Later, when

May 6, 2003

MCA Universal Home Video

Cast

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (0) | DVD (5)

A close-to-brilliant comedy-Western ... until the end.

September 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies | Comment

The movie might not be anywhere near as good as its reputation suggests, but as a straight-up cowboy flick with moments of light comic relief, it's a fairly fun picture.

July 7, 2008 Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | Comment
DVDTalk.com

While not a major film, it's one of those odd Hollywood mixtures where everything comes together just right.

June 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid

See what the boys in the back room & Dietrich & Stewart are having...it's great!

October 25, 2004 Comment

A wonderful comic Western with Stewart and Dietrich at top form. Always a pleasure to watch.

January 7, 2004 Comment
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Hollywood at its hokum best.

December 26, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The conceit of the seeming milksop who’s actually tougher than the hooligans was already a cliché when the movie was made, but Destry has a few twists to keep things interesting.

June 27, 2003 Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | Comment
Decent Films Guide

Overrated, but with enough great moments to be a must-see

September 24, 2002 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Destry Rides Again

When the sheriff of a corrupt frontier town is murdered and replaced with the town drunk, the man calls on the services of the son of a legendary law man, only to find that he is a pacifist. James Stewart is at his very best for this, one of his defining roles. His easy going charm and integrity are a perfect foil for

November 5, 2006
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

Until recently, I assumed this was just the usual old-fashioned Western. Didn't realize it was funnier than the norm nor, more importantly, just how much "Blazing Saddles" owes to this story (the new sheriff who thwarts the enemy in non-violent ways, the vampy German saloon singer, the drunken sidekick with past

October 31, 2009
Eric Broome

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Der große Bluff (DE)
  • Destry Rides Again (1939) (UK)
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