Destry Rides Again



Directed by George Marshall and starring James Stewart and Marlene Dietrich, Destry Rides Again is set in Bottleneck, a lawless town run by corrupt saloon owner, Kent (Brian Donlevy), who finds himself at odds with the new pacifist deputy sheriff, Tom Destry, Jr. (James Stewart).

Inspired by Max Brand's novel of the same name, Destry Rides Again was Stewart's first western -- laced with comedy and musical numbers -- and helped revive the career of Marlene Dietrich. The 1939 film was was one in a long line of remakes -- it was a remake of a 1932 Tom Mix-ZaSu Pitts vehicle of the same name and was itself remade in 1954 as Destry.

Destry Rides Again was added to the National Film Registry in 1996.