Boring

Admirable film.

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Awful remake of a great film.......the film lacks everything that made the original so great........

RELEASED IN 1954 and directed by George Marshall, "Destry" is about a tough Western town run by corrupt local mogul Decker (Lyle Bettger) and the Mayor who's in league with him (Edgar Buchanan). They appoint a drunk as the new Sheriff (Thomas Mitchell) because they know he'll be easy to control, but the Sheriff hires as his deputy the out-of-town son of an expert lawman for whom he used to work (Audie Murphy). Unfortunately, when Destry (Murphy) comes to town he quickly becomes a laughing stock because he refuses to even carry a gun! The film is a remake of Marshall's 1939 hit "Destry Rides Again," which was a remake of the 1932 movie of the same name, a closer rendition of Max Brand's novel. Marshall desired to do the film again because he wanted to do it in color and thought he could improve upon it. While most critics say "Destry" is inferior I give it the edge because (1.) it's in color, (2.) Murphy is stalwart as the humble-yet-confident protagonist, and (3.) Mari Blanchard is hotter than Marlene Dietrich as the saloon entertainer and has the mojo to pull off the challenging role. Blanchard's saloon babe of dubious character is counterbalanced by Lori Nelson's character.Another thing I appreciate about "Destry" is that it supports the concept of LIMITED pacifism, which is the ideology that one should only resort to violence when there's no other recourse, after more peaceable means have been sought and proved ineffective. This, by the way, is what Christ and the early church subscribed to, as detailed in the New Testament, not the idea of TOTAL pacifism, which is the idiotic mindset that a person should NEVER resort to violence in any form, even when loved ones and innocents are threatened.The Messiah's teaching on "turning the cheek" didn't refer to responding to criminal acts and, particularly, not to a law officer responding to potentially violent criminality. Slapping someone on the cheek was considered a personal insult in 1st century Near East and therefore when Jesus instructed people to "turn the cheek" he was simply illustrating that ignoring an insult a couple of times (you only have two cheeks) is a matter of wisdom & self-control and is a good way to stave off unnecessary strife, which effectively squelches the escalation of violence (not always, but generally speaking). It helps prevent you from being victimized by fools who want to draw you into their darkness and ruin your day (or week or life). This was nothing new at the time because the Old Testament taught the same principle (e.g. Proverbs 19:11).THE MOVIE RUNS 95 minutes and was shot at Universal Studios, Universal City; Janss Conejo Ranch, Thousand Oaks; and Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California. WRITERS: Edmund H. North & D.D. Beauchamp from Felix Jackson's story based on Brand's book.GRADE: A-

Western comedy with George Marshall's inspired direction . This spirited realization that never flags results to be a potpourri of Western , comedy , irony and action . A peaceful and milksop cowboy named Tom Destry performed by the good-mannered Audie Murphy cleans up an uncontrollably lawless Western town . The mild and unarmed Tom is appointed as deputy by the crusading sheriff , the battle-loving drunk called Barnaby (well played by Thomas Mitchell) . These were the adventures , fighting , laughing and brawling from a peace-loving stranger named Destry . He had a grudge to settle , a town to tame and two woman fighting to make him their man . At the small town rules the powerful villain Decker (Lyle Bettger previously played by Brian Donlevy) . There Tom meets Brandy , a beautiful dancer (Mari Blanchard in a similar interpretation to Marlene Dietrich) . Tom makes Brandy change her brand . A hard-boiled Brandy with a difference -rouged but rugged- who fights , yells , yodels her way , sharp-nailed to love . When a tough western town needs taming , the mild-mannered son of the famous hard-nosed Tom Destry gets the job . From the roaring pages of Max Brand's immortal classical comes the story of the day the West will never forget .., the day Destry carried a gun . This Universal-International-Picture gets Western action , shootouts , a love story , musical numbers and a breathtaking final confrontation at the saloon . This is a classic Hollywood Western , print in Technicolor , it turns out to be a mixture of thrills , brawls , crossfire and humor . Audie Murphy gives a sympathetic acting as a sheriff helper , new deputy's mild exterior masks a fierce determination to see justice done, this brawling Western turned him movie career all around the world and became him a box-office again . Murphy won more tan 20 medals , being the most decorated American soldier , including the Congressional Medal of Honor and he was also awarded five decorations by France and Belgium . Murphy starred a great number of Westerns as ¨The kid from Texas¨, ¨Cimarron Kid¨, ¨Gunpoint¨, ¨Night Passage¨, ¨The Gunrunners¨, ¨Posse from Hell¨, ¨Gunfight at Comanche¨, ¨Rifles Apaches¨, ¨The Unforgiven¨, ¨Red badge of courage¨, ¨Legend of Sam Ward¨, ¨Whispering Smith¨, ¨40 Guns at Apache pass¨ , ¨Texas kid¨ , among others . Being usually directed by Jesse Hibbs who directed various Audie Murphy vehicles such as : this ¨To hell and Back¨ (1955) , ¨World in My Corner¨ (1956) , ¨Ride a Crooked Trail¨ (1958) , ¨Medal of Honor¨ and ¨To Hell and Back¨. Support cast is frankly nice , providing splendid interpretations . Thomas Mitchell ideally cast as sheriff shows his usual delicious fair play for comedy . Lovely acting of Mari Blanchard as the stubborn Saloon girl at a similar role to previous Marlene Dietrich , she is the dance hall entertainer who sings on the bar some vintage songs , including new catchy tunes. And excellent Lyle Bettger as the crooked gambler and Lori nelson as Martha , the trusting sweetheart. This motion picture was professionally directed by George Marshall in colorful style , though has a few flaws . He realized a great number of films , especially Westerns . His first Western was ¨Wild Gold¨(1934) and he subsequently directed ¨Destry rides again¨ with James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich in which years later he would make a remake titled ¨Frenchie¨ with Audie Murphy and Marie Blanchard . As George Marshal introduces hilarious elements and amusement in his Westerns , such as ¨Texas¨ , ¨Fancy pants¨, ¨Advance to the rear¨, and also directs Musical Westerns as ¨Red Garters¨ and ¨The second greatest sex¨ . Being particularly known for his co-direction of the epic Western ¨How the west was won¨ along with Henry Hathaway and John Ford . This is the fourth of the quartet adaptations based on the novel by Max Brand . The novel was adapted for a Broadway musical starring Andy Griffith and opened at the April 23 , 1959 at the Imperial Theatre and ran for 472 performances . And several cinematic renditions : the first was titled by American exhibitors as ¨ Justice rides again (1932)¨ with Tom Mix and the role of Tom Destry was originally intended for Gary Cooper , but he wanted more money than the producers were willing to pay him . It was then offered to James Stewart , who took it in ¨Destry rides again¨(1939) , along with Marlene Dietrich , Charles Winninger , Thomas Mitchell ; the following version released in 1951 under title ¨ Frenchie ¨ and this fourth take on exhibited in 1954 also directed by George Marshall with Audie Murphy and Marie Blanchard in similar characters to James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich .

When a man claims that he has been cheated out of his ranch in a game of poker by saloon owner Phil Decker the Sheriff goes to investigate; at first Decker seems reasonable even saying that he will return the man's ranch but as the sheriff turns to leave he is shot in the back. The town is clearly in Decker's pocket or terrified of him as the doctor certifies that the sheriff died of a heart attack and the mayor appoints Reginald T. 'Rags' Barnaby, the town drunk, as his replacement. What they didn't suspect was that Rags would take the job seriously; swearing to stop drinking and appointing Tom Destry, son of a legendary no nonsense lawman, to be his deputy. Rags is in for a disappointment when Destry arrives though...he emerges from the stagecoach unarmed and carrying a birdcage and a parasol! Decker's heavies have a good laugh when they see him; clearly he has made a poor first impression. He isn't quite the joke everybody things though and when he hears rumours about the old sheriff he starts to investigate; asking the right questions and even collecting bullets for a forensic examination. Inevitably though he will eventually have to strap on a gun and face Decker the old fashioned way... a western can't just end with an arrest! As well as having villains to deal with a western needs some potential love interest and here it is provided by Brandy; the saloon singer who helped Decker cheat at cards and Martha Phillips the nice girl he is clearly 'meant to be with'.As I've yet to see 'Destry Rides Again' I can't say how this compares but I did find this to be an enjoyable western; Audie Murphy is ideal in the role of the soft spoken Destry as he doesn't look like a traditional Hollywood tough guy despite an actual war record that proves he was more heroic than better known western stars. It helps that he was supported by s fine cast Lyle Bettger is suitably unpleasant as Decker, Thomas Mitchell was entertaining as Rags and Mari Blanchard was just right as Brandy; the bad girl who might just come good. There isn't a huge amount of action but what there is is pretty good and there is plenty of tension as we know our hero is unarmed most of the time.. there is also a rather entertaining fight between Brandy and another woman that ends with both of them getting soaked when Destry pours a bucket of water over them. With a good story, solid action and a surprising number of laughs I'd say this is well worth watching if you are a fan of the genre and a must see for fans of Audie Murphy.