Destry Rides Again is one of the finest westerns of James Stewart’s career, but its remake (simply titled Destry) is surprisingly an underrated gem — starring a perfectly cast Audie Murphy. From Winchester ’73 to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Stewart appeared in some of the greatest western movies ever made. He was in the sprawling ensemble of How the West Was Won and he co-starred in John Wayne’s final western, The Shootist. Released in 1939, Destry Rides Again is one of Stewart’s best contributions to the genre.
Set in the lawless town of Bottleneck, Destry Rides Again sees the mild-mannered son of a gunfighter being named sheriff. While he initially seems hopelessly ineffective, he proves to be just what the town needs. A lot of movies from that era play as stiff and slow-paced by today’s standards, but Destry Rides Again is a lively, fast-moving western adventure. Stewart gives a hilarious performance as the quintessential role of his career, and director George Marshall deftly blends action and humor.
Destry Is A Worthy Remake Of James Stewart’s Destry Rides Again
It’s An Almost Scene-For-Scene Remake Of A Classic, But It’s Surprisingly Great
In 1954, Marshall remade his own movie in color. He dropped the second and third words from the title and retold the story simply as Destry, with Murphy taking over for Stewart. Destry is clearly a remake of Marshall’s previous adaptation of Max Brand’s novel, since it’s nothing like the book or the original 1932 movie, and it’s practically a scene-for-scene remake of the 1939 version. Like 2010’s True Grit remake, Destry is a rare western remake that lives up to its predecessor.
Along with John Ford and Henry Hathaway, George Marshall was one of the three directors of
How the West Was Won
.
The timeless story of a new sheriff coming in to put an end to a lawless town’s corruption is just as effective in the remake as it was in the original. Marshall doesn’t add anything superfluous in this retelling; he keeps the plotting just as poignantly simplistic as it was in his first stab at the Destry story. The biggest difference is that this version was shot in color, which adds an extra layer of liveliness and vibrancy to the proceedings.
Audie Murphy Was The Best Possible Replacement For James Stewart In Destry
Murphy Shares Stewart’s Subversive Everyman Charms
Murphy, a western staple, was the perfect casting choice for the Stewart role. No one can replace Stewart, but Murphy is about as close as a replacement can get. Both Murphy and Stewart subvert western movie stereotypes when it comes to the “tough guy” gunslinger archetype. Their on-screen persona is closer to the affable everyman, like Tom Hanks. Their heroes are lovable and inspiring, but they don’t have the bravado of Wayne’s characters. Destry Rides Again is a masterpiece of the western genre, but Destry is a worthy successor to it.
Destry is a 1954 Western remake of Destry Rides Again, with Audie Murphy as the lead. The film stars Mari Blanchard, Thomas Mitchell, Lori Nelson, and Lyle Bettger, presenting a story marked by classic Western themes and character dynamics.
- Director
- George Marshall
- Writers
- D.D. Beauchamp
- Cast
- Audie Murphy , Mari Blanchard , Lyle Bettger , Thomas Mitchell , Edgar Buchanan , Lori Nelson , Wallace Ford , Mary Wickes , Alan Hale Jr. , George D. Wallace , Richard Reeves , Walter Baldwin , Lee Aaker , Anthony Lawrence , Frank Richards , Trevor Bardette , Ralph Peters , John Doucette , Tex Driscoll , Charles Perry
- Runtime
- 95 minutes
