Tre contro tutti

If you are reading this you probably know how much fun this Rat Pack

film is to watch. You probably also have not seen it in years thanks to United Artists who own the rights. I don't think it will be made available for sale anytime soon. This is one of my favorites from this genre of film making. The reason is that I love the Rat Pack , western movies and comedies. But I think you have to be a big fan of the Rat Pack to have much interest in the film. This is why I don't think we will see it released for sale to the public. There are some folks selling copies of VHS & DVD (taped from reel). I would use caution when buying because I have spent money on some pretty bad versions over the years.

This movie has had trouble being massed reproduced in this country, thus a VHS copy is something of a rare collectible. In the style of the pre 1970 western, this is pretty typical fare, stereotypical handling of Native Americans, 2 dimensional characterization, and lots of shooting. However, aside from that, the plot develops at a nice pace, although the plot (a very rough adaptation of Gunga Dinh) runs thin at times but overall does manage to hold one's interest. Fans of the Rat Pack will note that this may be their weakest movie together, but the boys are all there and working together, so how bad can this movie really be?

Sergeants 3 is the second and last true rat pack film because it is the only other one with all the rat packers in the cast besides Ocean's 11. I guess that's just how it is for us purists.

Anyway Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Peter Lawford are three U.S. cavalry sergeants in the days of the old west and I have to say they would have been right at home with Forrest Tucker and Larry Storch at Fort Courage. They're good fighting men, but can't quite deal with the discipline the army imposes.

They make the acquaintance of Sammy Davis, Jr. who is a newly freed slave out in the west who'd like to join the cavalry.

If this all starts to sound familiar it should because it's the plot for the RKO classic Gunga Din. And it's the reason this film hasn't been seen for years and is not out on VHS or DVD. I was fortunate to see it in the theaters way back in the day.

It's got quite a few laughs in it, the majority of them as I remember gathered by Dean Martin. He's got the part Cary Grant played in Gunga Din. Dino's persona exactly fits the role he has. Talk about undisciplined, he was lucky he had a career in the military.

The film is also memorable for the presence of three of Bing Crosby's sons by his first marriage. I have absolutely no doubt that they got cast in the film as a favor by old blue eyes to the old groaner. Philip, Dennis, and Lindsay Crosby had a quartet act with older brother Gary and they had a celebrated breakup with him. Now they were trying to get going as a trio and not having any more success.

This was also Peter Lawford's last film with the pack. Sinatra broke off relations with him completely after that famous incident when President Kennedy refused to stay at his place while in Los Angeles and opted for Bing Crosby's estate. Frank took it out on Lawford who really had nothing to do with that at all. It marked the beginning of Sinatra's rightward march into the Republican party.

Sergeants 3 is funny, not a great film by any means, but all the cast did far worse stuff. But it curiously enough marks the high point of the fabled rat pack. After this film, a whole lot of events happened including a presidential assassination and things were never the same.

"Sergeants 3" was released in the time when the Rat Pack of Hollywood, Sinatra, Martin, Lawford, Davis, Bishop, etc. were in style. This may not have been one of their strongest movie efforts, but the fans of those stars and the viewing public could enjoy the tale, if it could be found, or copies made.

While serving as a retelling of the Gunga Din story, set in the Old West, the boys do put some honest effort in having Sinatra, Martin, and Lawford attempt to put down an Indian uprising, led by Henry Silva. Sammy Davis adds a delightful role as the lad that gets caught up in the action, while Joey Bishop plays an upright member of the cavalry that just can't accept the violations of rules committed by the Sergeants 3.

Would be good to see, just one more time.

Why oh why can I not get a copy of this film? I can remember seeing it at the cinema many years ago. As has previously been stated, not one of the Rat Pack's best, but a very entertaining film. I can still recall many of the scenes, especially when Peter Lawford was climbing on the roof to put dynamite down a chimney and the scene when Sammy Davis Jr was buried up to his neck in the sand. As with all the Rat Pack movies, the humour is always bubbling, just beneath the surface. I would love to have my own VHS copy. Please, please does anyone know if there is one available anywhere?