Sunday, November 13, 2005

Movie review - "Four for Texas" (1963) ***

Robert Aldrich didn’t care for this jokey western he made in the 60s, an attempt to reprise the success of Vera Cruz. It is surprising, despite the film’s relative lack of success, because this is a good fun Western made in the right spirit. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin have a good time as the heroes who double cross each other, then team up to fight Charles Bronson. 

Bronson’s villain is perhaps little too little a threat: he is bested twice within the first 20 minutes!

The film sags around 30 minutes in, but perks up with the introduction of Ursula Andress at her most sexy and alluring. What a goddess! Some good brawls and good gags. Victor Buono adds his full bellied support.

1 comment:

NoelCT said...

If I remember, his dislike was largely due to a lot of changes Sinatra and the studio forced on him. You should track down the novelization by Dan Cushman which is based on Aldrich's original script. It's a bit grittier and deeper, but still funny.