"Destry" is a remake of the classic 1939 western "Destry Rides Again" which starred James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich. This version has Audie Murphy and Mari Blanchard as the leads.
Right away the two movies suffer in comparison. Murphy is certainly no Stewart and Blanchard doesn't even come close to Dietrich. If you take "Destry" on its own merits however, it's not all that bad.
The story involves a non-gun toting deputy sheriff (Murphy) who is brought to town to clean it up by town drunk Thomas Mitchell who was "appointed" as sheriff by villains Lyle Bettger and Edgar Buchannan following the murder of the former lawman (Trevor Bardette). Into the mix comes Blanchard (woefully miscast) in the Dietrich part as Bettger's girlfriend and saloon singer. Naturally she falls for Murphy and well, you know the rest.
Murphy does his best in the role of Tom Destry, but when you come down to it it is the excellent supporting cast that make this film watchable. Mitchell stands out as "Rags" and Wallace Ford and Mary Wickes as the town doctor and his overbearing wife are also very good. There's a knock-down, drag-out fight between Blanchard and Wickes that is well done. Bettger is suitably oily and sinister as the chief villain and Buchanan does a good turn as the Mayor.
Interestingly enough Alan Hale Jr. plays a character called "Jack Larson". This was the same character played by Jack Carson in the original. Also it was curious that both films were directed by George Marshall.
"Destry" tries on a "B" Plus budget to re-do a classic but in the end is just another in the series of Murphy westerns released during the 50s.
Right away the two movies suffer in comparison. Murphy is certainly no Stewart and Blanchard doesn't even come close to Dietrich. If you take "Destry" on its own merits however, it's not all that bad.
The story involves a non-gun toting deputy sheriff (Murphy) who is brought to town to clean it up by town drunk Thomas Mitchell who was "appointed" as sheriff by villains Lyle Bettger and Edgar Buchannan following the murder of the former lawman (Trevor Bardette). Into the mix comes Blanchard (woefully miscast) in the Dietrich part as Bettger's girlfriend and saloon singer. Naturally she falls for Murphy and well, you know the rest.
Murphy does his best in the role of Tom Destry, but when you come down to it it is the excellent supporting cast that make this film watchable. Mitchell stands out as "Rags" and Wallace Ford and Mary Wickes as the town doctor and his overbearing wife are also very good. There's a knock-down, drag-out fight between Blanchard and Wickes that is well done. Bettger is suitably oily and sinister as the chief villain and Buchanan does a good turn as the Mayor.
Interestingly enough Alan Hale Jr. plays a character called "Jack Larson". This was the same character played by Jack Carson in the original. Also it was curious that both films were directed by George Marshall.
"Destry" tries on a "B" Plus budget to re-do a classic but in the end is just another in the series of Murphy westerns released during the 50s.