John Chard
August 28, 2014
8
Welcome to Bottleneck.
Deputy Tom Destry Jr. (James Stewart) rides in to Bottleneck and sets about ridding the town of its riff-raff elements - without guns!
Based on the novel by Max Brand, Destry Rides Again simultaneously spoofed the Western genre whilst reinvigorating Marlene Dietrich's flagging career. At first glance it seemed an odd casting choice to choose Dietrich as the bawdy saloon chanteuse, Frenchy, especially since Paulette Goddard was originally cast for the role. But it really comes off, where Dietrich's loud and brusque portrayal perfectly plays off of Jimmy Stewart's laid back and gentle mannered Destry performance.
The role of Destry is tailor made for Stewart, his everyman charm sits perfect for a character who is at first painted as a wimp, he drinks milk - he carries no guns, but who better than Stewart to fully realise a character that uses brains over brawn to great effect? A film of this type, though, is only as good as its villain, and thankfully Brian Donlevy steps up to the plate with a suitable grumpy sneer, it's a fine performance from a very undervalued performer.
Directed by the highly experienced George Marshall, Destry Rides Again is chock full of the elements that make a good family film even better than it should be, jokes a plenty, goodies and baddies, songs and quality slices of drama, all combine here to make this a very entertaining and rewarding picture indeed. While for those into girl power really need to check out the ending of this picture for sure.
Little Joe, Little Joe... 8/10
This was very interesting and I enjoyed it significantly. It's weird watching very early James Stewart--he's not what one would consider a conventional romantic male lead--and this is a very bizarre Western/comedy/musical. Anything starring Dietrich of this vintage is priceless, no doubt. Very weird, especially considering America's ever-present right-to-bear-arms controversy, watching a film like this, too. A purely magical film that's essential to own and re-watch for any Stewart, Dietrich or Western enthusiasts--and a strong reason why 1939 was the greatest year ever for American cinema.
Brian Donlevy ("Kent") and Malrene Dietrich ("Frenchy") pretty much run the town of Bottle Neck. Everyone comes to their saloon where they blow off steam and where she regularly serenades them with some toe-tappers. Upstairs, "Kent" runs a crooked poker game and together they fleece gullible old "Claggett" out of his ranch. He goes to the sheriff who promises to intercede, and pretty soon the town drunk has a new job! This new sheriff "Dimsdale" (Charles Winninger) worked for the original "Destry" back in the day, so determined to clean up the town for good, he sends for his son "Tom" (James Stewart). Nobody is prepared for the rather dapper gent who disembarks from the stage without a gun. Everyone assumes he is going to be a bit of a washout, but of course there is more than one way to skin a cat - as we are about to discover. Stewart is on good form in this much more subtle and enjoyable western. He plays a perfect foil to the undoubted star in Marlene Dietrich whose face just lights up the screen, and whose voice with "See what the boys in the backroom..." and "Little Joe" has that legendary tone to it that has this raucous crowd eating out of her hand. There is a solid and entertaining supporting cast, and though the conclusion is maybe a bit rushed, it all ends the only way it can and Emmeline Pankhurst would have been proud.
