4 for Texas ** (1963, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress, Charles Bronson, Victor Buono, Jack Elam, Richard Jaeckel, Mike Mazurki, Yaphet Kotto, Fritz Feld) – Classic Movie Review 4778

The Rat Pack icons Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin team with glorious sex sirens of the day Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress (Elya and Maxine) as the four characters of the title to romp carelessly through the Wild West in their 1963 comedy Western. It also stars Charles Bronson as an outlaw villain called Matson, Victor Buono as corrupt banker Harvey Burden, and the Three Stooges as comedy relief.

Sinatra plays tough guy Zack Thomas, who hooks up with sharpshooter Joe Jarrett (Martin) and become rivals to open a waterfront casino, starting the bullets flying. But they have to join forces to hold off Matson and Burden to keep their new gambling boat afloat.

You would think the normally acerbic director Robert Aldrich (who also co-produces with Sinatra and co-writes with Teddi Sherman) could have brought a bit of oomph and style to a slack and often pretty tedious movie.

There are too few laughs in the screenplay by Aldrich and Teddi Sherman, though The Three Stooges (Larry Fine, Moe Howard and Curly Joe DeRita) raise a smile doing an ancient routine. Also on the plus side, the sparring Sinatra and Martin are amusing enough, Bronson and Buono add class, and Jack Elam, Richard Jaeckel, Mike Mazurki, Yaphet Kotto, and Fritz Feld are definite assets too.

Also in the cast are Jonathan Hale, Wesley Addy, Marjorie Bennett, Virginia Christine, Percy Helton, Jack Lambert, Edric Connor, Nick Dennis, Paul Langton, Ellen Corby and Bob Steele.

The Rat Pack films all have a number in the title. The others are: Ocean’s 11 (1960), Sergeants 3 (1962) and Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964).

Sinatra said: ‘They’re not great movies, but every movie I’ve made through my own company has made money.’

The original title was 2 for Texas. Ekberg stepped in to role of Elya after Sophia Loren turned down $1 million for four weeks’ work to do it.

It is shot by Ernest Laszlo in 1.85:1 aspect ratio on 35-millimeter Technicolor film. It is scored by Nelson Riddle and designed by William Glasgow.

The trailer has Ursula Andress addressing the viewer in specially shot footage.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4778

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