The Destry Fights
Westerns were one place where movie catfights took place during the 3ls, 40s, and 50s. Two such moves where
Destry Rides Again (1939) and
Destry (1954). In spite of it’s title
Destry Rides Again was shot first in black and white whilst
Destry was the remake in color. Both had similar entertaining salon catfights between a wife and the saloon owner. Both suffered from the rather too commonplace practice of interrupting the fight before it can to a conclusion. In both cases water from a mop pail is poured on the fighters by Destry. What a spoil sport.
Since both fights ended without a clear winner I would like your opinions on the following if the fights had been allowed to go on until there was a clear winner. In this case I am asking you to judge the fight based on the characters and not on the actresses themselves:
- Who wins the Destry Rides Again fight
- Who wins the Destry fight
- Which fight is better, the Destry Rides Again fight or the Destry fight
- Who is sexier, Marlene Dietrich (Frenchy) or Mari Blanchard (Brandy)
The combatants for
Destry Rides Again are:
Marlene Dietrich (Frenchy – saloon owner)
Dob: 27 December 1901 (37 or 38 at release)
Height 5’6” (1.68 m)
Measurements: 35-24-33
Una Merkel (Lily Belle ‘Callahan’ - wife)
Dob: 10 December 1903 (35 or 36 at release)
Height 5’3“(1.6 m) or 5’4” (1.63 m) =
Measurements: Not found
The following videos show the fight. I think it is clear which one is Frenchy (Marlene Dietrich) and which one is Lily Belle ‘Callahan’’ (Una Merkel).
Youtube Video:
Flickr videos (in two parts):
The combatants for
Destry are:
Mari Blanchard (Brandy – Saloon owner)
Dob: 13 April 1927 (27 yo) or 13 April 1923 (31 yo) (Most sources giver 1927)
Height: 5’7” (1.70 m)
Weight : 121 lbs (55 kb)
Measurements: 34-24-36
Mary Wickes (Bessie Mae Curtis -wife)
Dob: 13 June, 1916 (39 yo) or 13 June 1910 (44) (Most sources gie 1916)
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
Weight: Not found
Measurements: Not found
The following videos show the fight. I think it is clear which one is Brandy (Mari Blanchard) and which one is Bessie Mae Curtis (Mary Wickes).
Youtube Video:
Flickr videos (in two parts):