Remakes are sometimes necessary. At least Audie Murphy was the perfect casting choice for a continuation of the Destry line. At least this new Destry line is modernized in that he engages the other cast members with a little knowledge of forensics, which came as a (nice) surprise.
Lyle Bettger is every bit as devilish as the bad guy of the original work (Brian Donlevy), and will do anything to make a buck and maintain his hold over a small western town. The town drunk is made sheriff after the former sheriff is murdered when he attempts to stop the bad guy from a land-grabbing deal via a bad hand of poker.
The new sheriff (again, the town drunk) pulls a surprise on the bad guys by sending for Tom Destry's son as his deputy. When Audie Murphy joins his boss (as little Destry), he comes without benefit of a firearm, and bearing a bird cage and a parasol! However, his mild demeanor does achieve some surprising results, and when he is pushed, the firearms come to bear.
Mari Blanchard can't hold a candle to Marlene Dietrich (of the original), but who could? And while Audie Murphy isn't Jimmy Stewart, the final gun battle is a good bit more tense and somber than the original, which I highly enjoyed.
This is one of the best of the B western line put out by Audie Murphy, and in my opinion proves that remakes CAN be done well, with the proper casting and direction. I HOPE modern film makers can find that groove.
This is one of my favorite old westerns, and rates an 8.7/10 on the B Scale. That's about a 5.4/10 on the A Scale from...
the Fiend :.
Lyle Bettger is every bit as devilish as the bad guy of the original work (Brian Donlevy), and will do anything to make a buck and maintain his hold over a small western town. The town drunk is made sheriff after the former sheriff is murdered when he attempts to stop the bad guy from a land-grabbing deal via a bad hand of poker.
The new sheriff (again, the town drunk) pulls a surprise on the bad guys by sending for Tom Destry's son as his deputy. When Audie Murphy joins his boss (as little Destry), he comes without benefit of a firearm, and bearing a bird cage and a parasol! However, his mild demeanor does achieve some surprising results, and when he is pushed, the firearms come to bear.
Mari Blanchard can't hold a candle to Marlene Dietrich (of the original), but who could? And while Audie Murphy isn't Jimmy Stewart, the final gun battle is a good bit more tense and somber than the original, which I highly enjoyed.
This is one of the best of the B western line put out by Audie Murphy, and in my opinion proves that remakes CAN be done well, with the proper casting and direction. I HOPE modern film makers can find that groove.
This is one of my favorite old westerns, and rates an 8.7/10 on the B Scale. That's about a 5.4/10 on the A Scale from...
the Fiend :.