IMDb RATING
5.5/10
3.8K
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Zack Thomas is a tough guy who hooks up with Joe Jarrett to open a casino.Zack Thomas is a tough guy who hooks up with Joe Jarrett to open a casino.Zack Thomas is a tough guy who hooks up with Joe Jarrett to open a casino.
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Bronsonin this supposed comedy-westernas outlaw leader Matson who works for crooked banker Victor Buono, helps start the film off on a high note of action
He and his henchmen attack a stagecoach whose passengers include Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra
After repulsing the bandits, Zack (Sinatra) discloses a bag containing $100,000, and Joe (Martin) unexpectedly relieves him of the money at gunpoint
In Galveston, Joe deposits the money in a bank run by Harvey Burden (Buono), a thief who has supported Zack's efforts to become the town's gambling king
When Zack arrives in town, Matson tries to kill him, but Joe interferes, saving Zack's life Then Zack learns that Joe intends to compete with him by converting an abandoned riverboat into a gambling saloon Outraged, he raises a gang, intending to take over the boat on opening night But Burden has plans of his own
Much of the plot, such as it is, is taken up with the comic rivalry between Martin and Sinatra, involving with womanizing and gambling The three Stooges doing one of their ancient routines provide a gay moment Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress are an absolute pleasure to look at And if you want to know the answer of Joe to Ursula's commentary: "You didn't notice what I'm wearing," don't miss this nice, civilized picture
After repulsing the bandits, Zack (Sinatra) discloses a bag containing $100,000, and Joe (Martin) unexpectedly relieves him of the money at gunpoint
In Galveston, Joe deposits the money in a bank run by Harvey Burden (Buono), a thief who has supported Zack's efforts to become the town's gambling king
When Zack arrives in town, Matson tries to kill him, but Joe interferes, saving Zack's life Then Zack learns that Joe intends to compete with him by converting an abandoned riverboat into a gambling saloon Outraged, he raises a gang, intending to take over the boat on opening night But Burden has plans of his own
Much of the plot, such as it is, is taken up with the comic rivalry between Martin and Sinatra, involving with womanizing and gambling The three Stooges doing one of their ancient routines provide a gay moment Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress are an absolute pleasure to look at And if you want to know the answer of Joe to Ursula's commentary: "You didn't notice what I'm wearing," don't miss this nice, civilized picture
Meeting each other on a stagecoach full of money where they both defend it from Matson's attack, Zack Thomas and Joe Jarrett immediately get off to a bad start when Jarrett steals the money. When the two later come up against each other in the town where Zack is in charge under the control of the corrupt banker Harvey Burden. However while they plot against each other, bigger forces in the town have a much darker conspiracy.
I watched this as a reasonable fan of the rat pack and their cocky, wise-cracking sense of humour that they usually bring to their films. However here that is almost totally lacking. With the exception of the opening 15 minutes, the film is almost totally devoid of fun. The film opens with Jarrett and Thomas against each other in a simple robbery, however it later meanders through cat and mouse games (which don't work) until it gets to the obvious conclusion (which is so lazy that it even ends with Martin saying `and, oh yeah, this is the end').
None of the action or dialogue is even remotely funny or fun. The whole vehicle had the same kind of movement that Martin's steamer displays heavy, sluggish and relentlessly moving forward no matter what, these things are not good qualities in a comedy western. I really wanted to like the film, but there was even too little of value for me. The two leads are OK but really have nothing to work with at all, they have one reasonable scene together at the start but from then they are just freewheeling along. Support from Charles Bronson, Jack Elam, Andrews, Buono and the Three Stooges is all pretty wasted and no one is really given very much to work with at all.
Overall this is an example of a poor film from the Rat Pack lifeless, self indulgent and lacking in fun or wit, made solely on the basis of the two stars being famous and thus bringing an audience with them when the film plays. A bit more wit and sparky dialogue in the script and the loss of some running time could have vastly improved what is really a pretty poor film.
I watched this as a reasonable fan of the rat pack and their cocky, wise-cracking sense of humour that they usually bring to their films. However here that is almost totally lacking. With the exception of the opening 15 minutes, the film is almost totally devoid of fun. The film opens with Jarrett and Thomas against each other in a simple robbery, however it later meanders through cat and mouse games (which don't work) until it gets to the obvious conclusion (which is so lazy that it even ends with Martin saying `and, oh yeah, this is the end').
None of the action or dialogue is even remotely funny or fun. The whole vehicle had the same kind of movement that Martin's steamer displays heavy, sluggish and relentlessly moving forward no matter what, these things are not good qualities in a comedy western. I really wanted to like the film, but there was even too little of value for me. The two leads are OK but really have nothing to work with at all, they have one reasonable scene together at the start but from then they are just freewheeling along. Support from Charles Bronson, Jack Elam, Andrews, Buono and the Three Stooges is all pretty wasted and no one is really given very much to work with at all.
Overall this is an example of a poor film from the Rat Pack lifeless, self indulgent and lacking in fun or wit, made solely on the basis of the two stars being famous and thus bringing an audience with them when the film plays. A bit more wit and sparky dialogue in the script and the loss of some running time could have vastly improved what is really a pretty poor film.
It was great... for about 20 minutes.
What this movie lacks is about everything you want in a western. a few minutes action and a whole lot of crap.
A pampered cowboy and a thief who spent most of their time around two blond girls with skippy clothes and little brains...
..add to that a fat banker and a riverboat and you have your story.
Seriously that's about as interesting as it gets.
If your highest wish is to see Frank Sinatra get pedicure.. than this is probably the movie for you. But if you're looking for an action filled western... then I propose you look somewhere else.
What this movie lacks is about everything you want in a western. a few minutes action and a whole lot of crap.
A pampered cowboy and a thief who spent most of their time around two blond girls with skippy clothes and little brains...
..add to that a fat banker and a riverboat and you have your story.
Seriously that's about as interesting as it gets.
If your highest wish is to see Frank Sinatra get pedicure.. than this is probably the movie for you. But if you're looking for an action filled western... then I propose you look somewhere else.
Though it starts off slow and at times is a bit cheesey, this Rat Packer film is actually a lot of fun and the story line is actually pretty good. This film is a must see for Ursula Andress fans. Her performance is great and she is wonderful at being sensual without appearing slutty. She also looks amazing; I have never wanted to be Dean Martin so much in my life.
4 for Texas is directed by Robert Aldrich who also co-writes the screenplay with Teddi Sherman. It stars Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andess and Charles Bronson. Music is by Nelson Riddle and cinematography by Ernest Laszlo.
Plot follows the shenanigans of two rivals played by Sinatra and Martin who have designs on a waterside casino. Bandido Charles Bronson is on their tails while Ekberg and Andress file in for romantic interests.
Aldrich disliked the film (the director famously couldn't get on with Sinatra), its reputation is decidedly lukewarm and The Three Stooges make an embarrassingly pointless cameo, 4 for Texas is a distinctly average comedy/western. The star power keeps it watchable, with rat packers Deano and Frank constantly trying to score machismo points - Ekberg & Andress lighting up the screen with natural beauty - Bronson in solid villain role, and it's pleasingly photographed by Laszlo. Yet it's a mundane screenplay and the run time needed to be cut by at least half an hour. It's also such a waste to not have Aldrich (is this the same guy who directed Ulzana's Raid and Vera Cruz?) show his skills at action construction, especially since the soggy story needed some perk- me-ups!
One to chalk off of your Aldrich/Rat Pack film lists, then, where once viewed, it's unlikely that anyone but hard core fans of the stars will want to revisit. 5/10
Plot follows the shenanigans of two rivals played by Sinatra and Martin who have designs on a waterside casino. Bandido Charles Bronson is on their tails while Ekberg and Andress file in for romantic interests.
Aldrich disliked the film (the director famously couldn't get on with Sinatra), its reputation is decidedly lukewarm and The Three Stooges make an embarrassingly pointless cameo, 4 for Texas is a distinctly average comedy/western. The star power keeps it watchable, with rat packers Deano and Frank constantly trying to score machismo points - Ekberg & Andress lighting up the screen with natural beauty - Bronson in solid villain role, and it's pleasingly photographed by Laszlo. Yet it's a mundane screenplay and the run time needed to be cut by at least half an hour. It's also such a waste to not have Aldrich (is this the same guy who directed Ulzana's Raid and Vera Cruz?) show his skills at action construction, especially since the soggy story needed some perk- me-ups!
One to chalk off of your Aldrich/Rat Pack film lists, then, where once viewed, it's unlikely that anyone but hard core fans of the stars will want to revisit. 5/10
Did you know
- TriviaAnita Ekberg and Ursula Andress did nude screentests, Hollywood's first. However, the Hays Board removed all nudity from the finished film.
- GoofsAfter the stagecoach wreck in the desert, as one of the principals is speaking to the others, in what should be a pristine desert background, a passing car is briefly visible at center screen left.
- Quotes
Zack Thomas: They tell me them boots ain't built for walking.
Joe Jarrett: They ain't exactly house slippers
- Alternate versionsWhen originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'A' rating. All cuts were waived in 2002 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.
- ConnectionsEdited into La Classe américaine : Le Grand Détournement (1993)
- SoundtracksWhen The Saints Go Marching In
(uncredited)
Traditional
- How long is 4 for Texas?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,520,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 2h 4m(124 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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