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
Editing by	Michael Luciano
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s)	1963
Running time	114' 42"
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$4,520,000[1]

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 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 [edit]

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

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.^{[citation needed]}

Cast [edit]

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

Production [edit]

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 [edit]

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 [edit]

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 [edit]

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

References [edit]

External links [edit]

• 4 for Texas at the Internet Movie Database
• 4 for Texas at AllRovi
• 4 for Texas at the TCM Movie Database

v t e Rat Pack Members Frank Sinatra Dean Martin Sammy Davis, Jr. Peter Lawford Joey Bishop Humphrey Bogart Associates Shirley MacLaine Lauren Bacall Angie Dickinson Marilyn Monroe Judy Garland Norman Fell Films 4 for Texas Marriage on the Rocks Ocean's 11 Robin and the 7 Hoods Sergeants 3 Some Came Running Texas Across the River Book:Rat Pack

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