---
title: "Destry Rides Again: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/destry-rides-again/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/destry-rides-again"
critics_score: 83
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Destry Rides Again (1939): what the critics said

Critics' score 83 from 7 reviews: 7 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative.

The reviews are uniformly positive about Destry Rides Again, with praise gathering around its comedy and its leading performances. Dietrich receives particular attention, while Stewart’s pacifist marshal is admired for tackling a lawless town with words and jokes. Radio Times singles out the chemistry between the two stars. The mix of slapstick, wisecracks, songs and melodrama also earns approval, with several accounts treating the film chiefly as lively, satisfying entertainment.

The differences concern emphasis rather than objections, though enthusiasm ranges from solid approval to considerable admiration. Slant Magazine makes the strongest case for looking beyond the comedy, finding a sombre western with thematic depth and praising Marshall’s saloon staging and the challenge to masculine mythology. No substantive criticism of the film emerges from the supplied accounts, although some are only partial descriptions, so the apparent agreement is clearer on strengths than on possible weaknesses.

## Radio Times — Tony Sloman

Rating 5/5. 

The review says the comedy western has universal appeal. It praises Dietrich’s performance and the chemistry she shares with Stewart.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-f27598/destry-rides-again/)

## Slant Magazine — Chuck Bowen

Rating 4.5/5. 23 April 2020. 

Bowen sees the film as more than a spoof: a beautiful, somber western with substantial thematic depth. He especially praises Marshall’s staging of the saloon and the climactic revolt, highlighting the women’s challenge to the town’s mythology of manliness.

[Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review-george-marshall-destry-rides-again-on-criterion-blu-ray/)

## Time Out — GA

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 

The available description presents it as a marvellous comedy Western. It singles out Stewart’s pacifist marshal, who tames the lawless town with words and jokes.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/destry-rides-again)

## Variety — Variety Staff

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 31 December 1938. 

The review calls the film plain, good entertainment, elevated beyond an ordinary western. It singles out Marlene Dietrich’s performance as the element that makes it a class item.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1938/film/reviews/destry-rides-again-1200412085/)

## Empire — David Parkinson

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 31 March 2006. 

Parkinson presents the film as an entertaining Western that playfully subverts James Stewart’s clean-cut image. He singles out its mix of slapstick, wisecracks, songs and melodrama.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/destry-rides-review/)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 November 1939. 

The headline indicates a positive verdict, highlighting Marlene Dietrich’s performance in the western. The blocked article text prevents identifying any further praise or criticism.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/30/archives/the-screen-in-review-marlene-dietrich-reaches-a-high-in-horse-opera.html)

## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 27 May 2008. 

The critic calls the movie great despite finding no extras on the DVD. The review singles out the lack of extras as a disappointment, while recommending the film itself.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/dvdreview/destry-rides-again-dvd-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/destry-rides-again.md