Welcome to the lawless, western town of bottleneck, where the men are out of control and the women are even worse. Without a hero, a true cowboy, the town will never be fit for decent people's habitation. Enter Thomas Jefferson Destry to save the day. Just the name is enough to let us know what a true and virtuous gentleman this Destry will be. If anyone can restore justice to Bottleneck, it will be Destry. We, like the townsfolk, are surprised and amused when the stagecoach rolls into town and Destry is not the man who immediately pulls a gun and starts shooting down troublemakers, but is instead the slight fellow holding a parasol and a canary for a lady. a true gentleman indeed, we see, but not the type necessary to clean up Bottleneck. Or so we think. Then, to make matters worse, we learn that the new sherriff doesn't even carry a gun! Destry's wit is his sharpest weapon, and his respect for the law knows no bounds. He believes in law and ourder. Without guns.

When the time comes, however, we learn that Destry is quite capable with a six-shooter. He simply prefers level headed conflict resolution. Not the typical rock'em sock'em hero, he is nonetheless the true gentleman cowboy.