Destry (1954)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Max Brand (suggested by novel "Destry Rides Again")
Felix Jackson (story)

Release Date:

1 December 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

From the roaring , raucous, rowdy pages of the best-loved legend of the West!

Plot:

In the old West, a small frontier town is being controlled by ruthless mob boss Decker (Lyle Bettger) and his cronies...

Plot Keywords:

Ballistics | Beautiful Woman | Crooked Gambling | Song | Saloon Singer

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Aug. 2

8:15 AM

AMC

Cast

Audie Murphy	...	Tom Destry
Mari Blanchard	...	Brandy
Lyle Bettger	...	Phil Decker
Thomas Mitchell	...	Reginald T. 'Rags' Barnaby
Edgar Buchanan	...	The Honorable Hiram J. Sellers, Mayor
Lori Nelson	...	Martha Phillips
Wallace Ford	...	Doc Curtis
Mary Wickes	...	Bessie Mae Curtis
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Jack Larson
George Wallace	...	Curly Adams
Richard Reeves	...	Mac
Walter Baldwin	...	Henry Skinner
Lee Aaker	...	Eli Skinner
Mitchell Lawrence	...	The Professor
Frank Richards	...	Dummy

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #17121, General Audience) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Quotes:

Tom Destry: Folks, I hate to interrupt your fun, but I got something important to say to you. I just found out how Sheriff Bailey died.
Phil Decker: I understood Bailey died of a heart attack.
Tom Destry: That seems to be the rumor around town. If he did die of a heart attack, that's because he heard a bullet coming at him.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Destry Rides Again (1939)

Soundtrack:

Empty Arms

enjoyable enough

This movie will always suffer from comparisons to the original classic of 1939. Of course Audie Murphy is no James Stewart and I'm sure he never attempted to be. Honestly, what's the point of doing a remake if it only sets out to mimic the original actors? Surely we want to see something a little different, a little new and fresh! Audie brought his own easy-going, modest and likeable style to the role, playing Destry with his trademark understatement. Don't get me wrong, I love the original and I love James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich but it was brave to attempt a remake and, for the most part, this wasn't a bad attempt. We mustn't forget that Audie Murphy wasn't a natural actor, he was invited to Hollywood on the back of his military career and all American good looks. He got a lot of tough breaks and was seldom offered quality scripts or challenging roles as the industry had little faith in his ability as an actor, but he does a pretty good job here. And yes, he looks good in this one too!