Destry (film)

Destry is a 1954 American western film directed by George Marshall and starring Audie Murphy, Mari Blanchard, Lyle Bettger and Thomas Mitchell.

Destry
Theatrical release poster by Reynold Brown
Directed byGeorge Marshall
Screenplay byEdmund H. North
D.D. Beauchamp
Story byFelix Jackson
Based onDestry Rides Again by Max Brand
Produced byStanley Rubin
StarringAudie Murphy
Mari Blanchard
Lyle Bettger
Lori Nelson
Thomas Mitchell
Edgar Buchanan
Wallace Ford
Mary Wickes
Alan Hale Jr.
CinematographyGeorge Robinson
Edited byTed J. Kent
Music byHenry Mancini
Frank Skinner
Herman Stein
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release dates
  • December 1, 1954 (1954-12-01) (United States)
  • January 19, 1955 (1955-01-19) (Los Angeles)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.5 million (US)[1]

This, the third film to utilize the title character of Max Brand's novel Destry Rides Again, is a color remake of the black-&-white 1939 Marlene Dietrich and James Stewart film version. Indeed, Halliwell's Film Guide calls it an "almost scene-for-scene remake."[2] Both films were directed by George Marshall and have a plot bearing no resemblance to Brand's novel or the original 1932 film adaptation.

Plot

The sheriff (Trevor Bardette) of a small western town dies of a 'heart attack' and the crooked mayor, The Honorable Hiram J. Sellers (Edgar Buchanan), and leading crook Phil Decker (Lyle Bettger) appoint the town drunk, Reginald T. "Rags" Barnaby (Thomas Mitchell), as the new sheriff, believing that he will be easily controlled by them. Rags, however, immediately announces he is giving up drinking and refuses to accept Decker as his new deputy, telling them that he has someone else in mind: Tom Destry, the son of a famed two-fisted lawman.

Destry (Audie Murphy) arrives on the stagecoach with great fanfare, but Rags is disappointed to find out that unlike his father the son is a young man who refuses to carry a gun. Destry prefers friendly persuasion and use of the law over violence. Destry finds out that the previous sheriff may not have died of a heart attack as had been claimed; he suspects that the sheriff was murdered while trying to resolve a land dispute, and he sets about finding out how the sheriff actually died. After Decker orchestrates a public display of humiliation, with the help of his girlfriend Brandy (Mari Blanchard), against the new deputy, Destry tricks them into unloading their weapons and then surprises them all: while he prefers non-violence, he is expertly proficient with a gun, turning the tables on the perceived sentiment against him with an impressive sharp-shooting display. All the while his public bravado was merely a cover to collect evidence for analysis.

Eventually it becomes clear that Decker shot & killed the sheriff in order to further his plans to obtain all the land necessary to control and exploit the transit of cattle over those properties. With the help of gunfighter Jack Larson (Alan Hale Jr.), who had earlier come to blows with Destry but ultimately comes to a respectful accord with the new deputy, arrests from Decker's gang are made and it seems evident that Decker will be arrested for the murder. However a jailbreak is committed, on Decker's orders, and Barnaby is killed in the jail. Destry finally abandons his resolve to seek orderly resolution and heads to the saloon with gun in hand. A shootout follows, in which Decker, his gang, the mayor and even Brandy (who sacrifices herself to save Destry) are killed. With law and order restored, Destry is appointed the new sheriff.

Cast

References
  1. 'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1955', Variety Weekly, January 25, 1956
  2. John Walker, ed. (1994). Halliwells Film Guide 10th edition. Harper Collins. p. 288. ISBN 0-00-638389-0.
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