4 for Texas (1963)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Teddi Sherman (written by) &
Robert Aldrich (written by)

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Western | Comedy

Tagline:

They're Busting Up The West Like It's Never Been Busted Up Before!

Plot:

Frank Sinatra plays a tough guy who hooks up with fellow rat packer Dean Martin to open a casino in this western. |

Plot Keywords:

Casino | Riverboat | Texas | Banker | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Frank Sinatra	...	Zack Thomas
Dean Martin	...	Joe Jarrett
Anita Ekberg	...	Elya Carlson
Ursula Andress	...	Maxine Richter
Charles Bronson	...	Matson
Victor Buono	...	Harvey Burden (President, Galveston Savings & Trust)
Edric Connor	...	Prince George (carriage driver)
Nick Dennis	...	Angel
Richard Jaeckel	...	Pete Mancini
Mike Mazurki	...	Chad (Zack's bodyguard)
Wesley Addy	...	Winthrop Trowbridge
Marjorie Bennett	...	Miss Emmaline
Virginia Christine	...	Elya Carlson's maid
Ellen Corby	...	Widow
Jack Elam	...	Dobie

Also Known As:

Four for Texas (USA) (alternative spelling)
Two for Texas (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo | Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | West Germany:12 (f) (re-rated) | West Germany:16 (nf) (original rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #20571) | Canada:PG (video rating) | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Mojave, California, USA

Company:

Sam Company

Trivia:

Director Robert Aldrich intensely disliked Frank Sinatra's non-professional attitude and tried unsuccessfully to have him dismissed from the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Joe goes up to the bar with Zack and asks for brandy, his left hand is around the hat on the counter with his right hand touching his lips. In the subsequent shot both hands are in different positions.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Joe Jarrett: Take a good look at him. He's the bad guy. And Joe Jarrett - that's me, and Zack Thomas, we're the good guys.
Matson: Let's go.

Movie Connections:

Edited into La classe américaine (1993) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Jesus Loves Me

The Far West has never been far out!

Bronson—in this supposed comedy-western—as 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…