Sunday, January 29, 2012

124. Destry Rides Again

Destry Rides Again
1939
Directed by George Marshall


The thing about 1939 is that it is such a big year for film that I have seen most of the movies on the list from that year.  This means that this is about my fourth review in a row and I still have three or four to go.  I am getting slightly nonsensical and so I apologize.

It has been awhile since I have seen this but I didn't like it enough to watch it again.  I am not a big Western fan but once I find a good one, I fall in love with it.  This is not one of those films.  There is nothing particularly wrong with it; in fact, the acting is quite good.  I desperately wish, though, that Marlene would stop singing.  It is not pleasant for anybody, 

This film stars Jimmy Stewart.  Movie test time, and if you are true fan, you will get this right.  When Jimmy Stewart comes on screen is he:
a. experienced and savvy
b. naive and emotional
If you guessed a, get off this blog immediately.  Actually, don't because I have very few readers.  Anyway, this movie was funny at times but overall it was the same old same old.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Marlene and Jimmy had an affair during the filming of this movie.  Apparently, he got her preggers and she had to have an abortion.  I am scandalized!
The fight scene wasn't choreographed and both women had bruises for weeks but they filmed it in one take.

Bar scene, in case you are a guy and get turned on when women beat the living shit out of each other.


6 comments:

  1. I LOVED this movie. The whole time I so pleased that they were underestimating Jimmy Stewart. I was like, yeah, laugh it up everyone! I agree that her singing wasn't great...but overall a great Western. I did think that Tyndall seemed too much like a late 1930's gangster. He definitely belonged in a Cagney film, and seemed out of place in a Western

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    1. Wow, you are totally right about Tyndall. Good insight!

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  2. Was it not pretty obvious that the girl fight was lurid catering to a male audience? Not the highlight of the movie. Both Stewart and Dietrich did better than this.
    Naughty story about their affair.

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  3. Or was he...
    c) Experienced and savvy but giving the impression of being naive and emotional

    I really liked this, although the climactic sequence did seem a bit like the women from Monty Python

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