Destry Rides Again -

Marlene Dietrich’s "Frenchy" is far more than a typical saloon girl. She is the true power broker of Bottleneck, using her wit and stage presence to manipulate the men around her. The Unexpected Delights of DESTRY RIDES AGAIN (1939)

James Stewart’s portrayal of Tom Destry Jr. broke the mold of the typical frontier lawman. Unlike his legendary father, a famous gunslinger, Destry Jr. arrives in the lawless town of Bottleneck with a parasol in one hand and a carving knife in the other—busy making napkin rings. Destry Rides Again

: This role proved Stewart could handle rugged action, paving the way for his later gritty Westerns like The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance . The Power of Frenchy Marlene Dietrich’s "Frenchy" is far more than a

: Despite his peaceful exterior, he is a crack shot, demonstrating his lethality only when pushed to the limit. broke the mold of the typical frontier lawman

: He refuses to carry a gun, preferring to disarm enemies with long-winded anecdotes and quiet logic.

is the rare classic that successfully rewrote the rules of the Western genre while it was still being defined. By blending sharp wit, subversive gender roles, and a pacifist hero, it saved the Western from the "B-movie" doldrums of the 1930s. The Reluctant Hero: Tom Destry Jr.