Destry *** (1954, Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Lyle Bettger, Lori Nelson, Thomas Mitchell) – Classic Movie Review 8,260

George Marshall remakes his 1939 movie hit Destry Rides Again as a vehicle for Universal’s cowboy star Audie Murphy, starring in the 1954 Technicolor Western film Destry.

In 1954 director George Marshall recycles his own famous 1939 movie hit Destry Rides Again as a vehicle for Universal’s cowboy star, Audie Murphy, now renaming the work simply Destry.

Universal Pictures had already remade Destry Rides Again in colour as the 1950 Western film Frenchie, with a plot that is only loosely based on the 1939 film. This gave Universal another chance they were eager to grab: this time a supposedly very nearly shot-by-shot remake of the 1939 production with the same director, but with the benefit of Technicolor, as with Frenchie.

Destry is perhaps only a modest Western this time, but it is entirely watchable, entertaining and enjoyable even, with a good cast to sell it.

In the old James Stewart-Marlene Dietrich roles, Murphy as the peace-loving sheriff Tom Destry and Mari Blanchard as the barroom chantoose Brandy comparatively cut little ice, though the admirable Murphy is certainly well ahead of his co-star. To be fair, the film is really an Audie Murphy vehicle, and focuses much more on his character than on Brandy, so the likeable Mari Blanchard has a more difficult time.

Murphy and Blanchard are no James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, but there is compensation in the scene-stealing work in the character actor support from the likes of Lyle Bettger, Thomas Mitchell, Edgar Buchanan, Alan Hale Jr and Wallace Ford. Mary Wickes is also fun as the campy Bessie Mae Curtis.

By the way, it might be a close remake but they change the lead female character’s name from Frenchie to Brandy, possibly to disconnect the film from the Frenchie remake.

Also in the cast are Lori Nelson, Lee Aaker, Trevor Bardette, Walter Baldwin, George Wallace, Richard Reeves, Frank Richards, Mitchell Lawrence, Ralph Peters and John Doucette.

it might be a close remake but there is a new screenplay credited to Edmund H North and D D Beauchamp, who write it based on a story by Felix Jackson. This was his 0riginal story from the 1939 film, which was ‘suggested by’ Max Brand’s novel Destry Rides Again, but merely used its title character and even then changed his first name.

George Robinson shoots in Technicolor, whereas the 1939 film Destry Rides Again is in black and white.

The Max Brand story was also filmed in 1932 with Tom Mix, under its full title of Destry Rides Again.

Destry is directed by George Marshall, runs 95 minutes, is made and released by Universal Pictures, is written by Edmund H North and D D Beauchamp, based on a story by Felix Jackson, is shot in Technicolor by George Robinson, is produced by Stanley Rubin, and is scored by Joseph Gershenson, with music by Henry Mancini, Frank Skinner and  Herman Stein.

Release date: December 1, 1954 (US).

The cast

The cast are Audie Murphy as Tom Destry, Mari Blanchard as Brandy, Lyle Bettger as Decker, Thomas Mitchell as Rags Barnaby, Edgar Buchanan as Mayor Sellers, Lori Nelson as Martha Phillips, Wallace Ford as Doc Curtis, Mary Wickes as Bessie Mae Curtis, Alan Hale Jr as Jack Larson, George Wallace as Curly, Richard Reeves as Mac, Walter Baldwin as Henry Skinner, Lee Aaker as Eil Skinner, Anthony Lawrence (as Mitchell Lawrence) as Professor, Frank Richards as Dummy, Trevor Bardette as Sheriff Bailey, Ralph Peters as Bartender, John Doucette as Coward.

The 1930 novel

The 1930 Western novel Destry Rides Again by Max Brand is the story of Harrison ‘Harry’ Destry’s quest for revenge against the 12 jurors whose malice led them wrongfully to convict him of robbery. The plots of the four films are completely unrelated to Brand’s story. Destry’s first name is changed to Tom in the movies, though Joel McCrea plays Tom Banning in Frenchie.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8,260

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