Marwene!

Destry Rides Again (1939) is a re-watch for us. We mainly wanted to see the amazing opening sequence. Under the title, we take a long tracking shot down the street of a wild west town, with cowboys on horseback firing pistols, and barfights busting out of the saloon, with dancing girls trying to reel the boys back inside. It's a bravura performance by director George Marshall.

We go inside the saloon to find the owner, Brian Donlevy, in a card game, trying to win the deed to a ranch. Just before the showdown, his gal Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich) spills some coffee and switches some cards on the rancher. When the rancher comes back with the sheriff, Donlevy shoots him dead offscreen - that is, convinces him to "leave town".

Since the town needs a new sheriff, Donlevy convinces the mayor, Samuel S. Hinds, to appoint the town drunk, Washington "Wash" Dimsdale (Charles Winninger). He has been bending everyone's ear about how things were when he was Sheriff Destry's deputy, so they figure it will be fun to watch him try it himself. But Wash sobers up, and calls for Destry's son to come to town to be his deputy.

So Destry shows up, but he's not a rootin', tootin' he-man - he's Jimmy Stewart. He's soft-spoken and doesn't even carry a gun. Figures someone could get in trouble that way. But just to be friendly, he borrows Donlevy's gun and shoots the balls off a decorative doo-dad from across the street. 

And when Donlevy throws Frenchy at him, he's very polite - and friendly. 

So it's Donlevy vs. Stewart - Stewart wants to convict Donlevy fair and square, and Donlevy keeps underestimating Stewart. Meanwhile, Frenchy gets in at least one catfight, rollicking all over the saloon. The bartender is played by Billy Gilbert, in barely a bit part. Our favorite from Palm Beach Story, Mischa Auer, is called Callahan by everyone, because that was his wife's (Una Merkel) first husband's name, and it's easier. He loses his pants to Frenchy at cards. And for every situation, Stewart "once knew a feller who...". 

Lots of fun, full of quirky characters, great lines, evil bad-guys, beautiful women, fist fights, gun battles, and Marlene Dietrich singing "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have". About the only downside is her other song, "Little Joe". It's tiresome and repetitive, and shows up too many times in the movie.