Destry Trivia Quiz

Answer: Audie Murphy

In each version, Tom Destry is the main character, but the 1939 and 1954 versions follow a different storyline to the 1932 film. Tom Mix plays Destry in 1932 and James Stewart is the star of the 1939 film.

Murphy's Destry is the son of a famous lawman, summoned by the new sheriff in the belief that he has followed in his father's footsteps, and will be able to help rid the town of the bad element that has taken over.

Answer: The town drunk

Decker, the main villain, assumes that he will be able to control the habitually drunken Rags Barnaby (Thomas Mitchell), and therefore has him appointed to the vacant office of town sheriff. It is Rags who sends for help in the person of Tom Destry. He also resolves to remain sober.

The town drunk also becomes sheriff in the 1939 version, but is named Washington Dimsdale, and played by Charles Winninger.

Answer: He doesn't wear a gun.

Destry steps off the stagecoach holding a bird cage and parasol, belonging to fellow passenger Martha Skinner (Lori Nelson), and looking ever so young and frail, in comparison to the expectations of Rags and anyone he's told about Destry. Rags was once Tom's father's deputy, and hasn't seen Tom for many years. Later in the saloon Decker (Lyle Bettger) asks for Destry's gun, and is surprised to discover that the new deputy doesn't wear one.

Tom does show Rags later that he has his father's sidearm, that the senior Destry was wearing when he was shot in the back, in his suitcase. Even later, he proves to the town that he is skilled with a pistol, when he does some target practice in the saloon, using other people's weapons.

Answer: Jack Larson

Jack Larson (Alan Hale Jr.) is a cattleman who has come to town in advance of his herd, and is quick to draw his gun when the driver is careless in the way he handles Larson's belongings. Rags greets him happily, only to discover that this is NOT Tom Destry. Initially skeptical of Destry and his methods, Larson later becomes an ally.

Answer: There was a gun pointed at him.

Doc (Wallace Ford) is always getting into trouble with his wife Bessie Mae (Mary Wickes) for his gambling habit, but is basically a good guy. He tells Tom that he'd have signed the document too, with a gun pointed at him. Destry allows that he would, but would also be just as guilty as Doc, given that it has been discovered that the sheriff was shot. Bailey (Trevor Bardette) had been trying to retrieve Henry Skinner's marker from Decker, after Skinner (Walter Baldwin) lost his ranch to the villain in a rigged poker game.

Answer: Painting portraits

Mayor Sellers (Edgar Buchanan) is in Decker's pocket, and backs the saloon owner up in all of his dealings, including covering up Sheriff Bailey's murder and the appointment of Rags as his successor. His hobby of painting portraits of denizens of the saloon gives him the perfect reason to always be there, and his paint box even gives him a spot to hide the firearm he has earlier denied possessing.

It is Destry who says he collects bullets, when prising spent bullets from the guns of Decker and his henchmen from the wall of the saloon, after having given his display of marksmanship. He later uses these to convince the villains that he knows whose gun fired the bullet that killed Bailey.

Answer: Curly

Though Tom's use of the bullets from the bad guys' guns to prove someone guilty is something of a bluff, Curly acts suspiciously enough when confronted with the 'proof' to make his arrest inevitable. This sets events in motion that lead to the death of Rags Barnaby and the final shoot out in the saloon.

Larson is in a jail cell alongside Curly, but for refusing to pay a toll to cross Decker's ill-gotten land with his cattle. Destry allows him out on parole to look after his herd, with a promise to return by midnight.

Answer: Brandy

Brandy (Mari Blanchard) is the dance hall girl who Decker looks on as his property, but who has a soft spot for the young deputy sheriff. She has been instrumental in Decker's 'winning' the poker game against Skinner, having spilled coffee in the rancher's lap, allowing his hole card to be swapped for a losing card. She now asks Destry to visit her in her rooms, while Decker's men help Curly escape from his cell, killing Rags in the process. Destry hears the gunfire and arrives in time to comfort the dying former town drunk. Tom then retrieves his father's gun from his room, and forms a plan to defeat Decker and his gang.

The character Brandy equates to Marlene Dietrich's bar singer Frenchy in the 1939 movie.

Answer: Doc and Jack

Doc is somewhat reluctant to take up arms, but wants to help Destry. Jack Larson returns to turn himself in as promised, only to find out what has happened to Rags. He joins Doc in storming the saloon through the main doorway, providing both a diversion and needed firepower to defeat Decker and his gang. It is Brandy, however, who takes a bullet for Destry and dies in his arms.

Curly, Mac and Dummy are henchmen of Decker. Rags has already been killed. Rancher Henry Skinner and his young son Eli take no part in the fight.

Answer: Restful

The town's name is mentioned several times throughout the film, usually in such a way as to indicate that the place is anything but restful under Decker's rule. After Destry has defeated Decker and his mob, we see Tom walking along the street with young Eli Skinner (Lee Aaker), both tying knots in a piece of rope, and chatting with townsfolk about how quiet it is. Suddenly shots are heard from the doctor's office, but it transpires that it is Martha Skinner, trying to get Destry's attention with some "promiscuous" shooting.

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