4 for Texas

4 for Texas

Theatrical poster
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Produced by Robert Aldrich
Written by Teddi Sherman
Robert Aldrich
Starring Frank Sinatra
Dean Martin
Anita Ekberg
Ursula Andress
Charles Bronson
The Three Stooges
Music by Nelson Riddle
Cinematography Ernest Laszlo
Edited by Michael Luciano
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates
  • 1963 (1963)
Running time
114 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $4,520,000[1]
Box office 1,367,490 admissions (France)[2]

4 for Texas is a 1963 American western comedy starring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Anita Ekberg, Ursula Andress, and featuring screen thugs Charles Bronson and Mike Mazurki, with a cameo appearance by Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges (Larry Fine, Moe Howard and Curly Joe DeRita). The film was written by Teddi Sherman and Robert Aldrich, who also directed.

Plot

In 1870, a shipment of $100,000 being transported by stagecoach to Galveston, Texas, is the object of a tug-of-war in the desert between Zack Thomas (Frank Sinatra) and Joe Jarrett (Dean Martin), who first must stave off an outlaw band led by Matson (Charles Bronson).

Later, in Galveston, Thomas and Jarrett become rivals in a bid to open a waterfront casino. Each has a new romantic attachment as well, with the beauties Elya (Anita Ekberg) and Maxine (Ursula Andress), respectively. They eventually must join forces to hold off the villainous Matson and a corrupt banker, Burden (Victor Buono), to keep their new gambling boat afloat. The role of Elya was originally intended for Sophia Loren who had already worked with Sinatra in The Pride and the Passion. Although she was offered $1,000,000 for four weeks of work, Loren turned the part down.

Cast

Production

The film was announced in 1960 as Two for Texas.[3]

4 for Texas was filmed in 1.85:1 aspect ratio on 35-millimeter Technicolor film. Its promotional trailer features Ursula Andress in specially shot footage addressing the audience.

Release

The film had its U.S. premiere on December 18, 1963. Forty-three years after its original premiere, 4 for Texas was presented at the Turin Film Festival on November 12, 2006.

Home media

Its first DVD release arrived on November 20, 2001 and the second release (as part of The Rat Pack collection of Ocean's 11 and Robin and the 7 Hoods) was on June 13, 2006.

Awards and nominations

It was nominated for the Golden Laurel as "Top Action Drama", ultimately coming in fourth.

See also

References

  1. Alain Silver and James Ursini, Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich?, Limelight, 1995 p 262
  2. French box office results for Robert Aldrich films at Box Office Story
  3. Scott, J. L. (1960, Nov 01). Texas yarns follow in wake of 'alamo'. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/167789381?accountid=13902

External links

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