4 for Texas

source: 4 for Texas

4 for Texas

What is so annoying about this film is that so much talent gets completely wasted. Frank and Dino play more or less variations of themselves and demand devoted admiration from anybody else, especially the chicks. Hints at self-irony are so understated that it gives the impression "we may poke fun at ourselves but we really do think that we are absolutely fabulous". In other words: this is a typically vain rat-pack effort. Looking at the remaining cast: Charles Bronson plays his villain straight, but too straight: this is a comedy after all, and he appears to have entered the frame from a different picture. The only creditable performances belong to the reliable Victor Buono, and to Ursula Andress who is simply ravishing, easily out-shining Anita Ekberg.

This was one of the most pathetic attempts at comedy to ever come out of Hollywood. A more silly script has never been written and a performance has rarely been done so badly. I did enjoy the 3 Stooges, but I have to wonder why they lowered themselves to this level. And Charles Bronson! They made a mockery of one of the greatest bad guys ever. Dean and Frank are much better than this bunk.

Frank Sinatra plays Texas big-shot who teams up with saloon-owner Dean Martin to thwart an evil banker; Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress play--what else?--the bosomy love-interests. Comedic western directed and co-written by the uneven Robert Aldrich, who doesn't seem to notice that Sinatra and the gang are running precariously low on steam. Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peter Lawford aren't around this time, but the supporting cast does include Charles Bronson, Richard Jaekel, Mike Mazurki and Victor Buono, as well as a cameo by The Three Stooges (!). Star-vehicle is curiously talky and slow on adventure, not to mention laughs. *1/2 from ****