4 For Texas (1963)

Set in 1870 Texas, a shipment of $100,000 from a stagecoach accident is stolen by a passenger (Dean Martin). But the stagecoach driver (Frank Sinatra) wants that money back so that he can buy a riverboat and turn it into a floating casino. Throw in a corrupt banker (Victor Buono) and a vengeful gunfighter (Charles Bronson) and there's trouble ahead. Directed by Robert Aldrich (FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX). Aldrich not only directed this film but he co-wrote it and produced it so the blame for this mess rests squarely on his shoulders. Aldrich's specialty is dark and tough films like KISS ME DEADLY, THE BIG KNIFE, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? and THE DIRTY DOZEN so what he saw in this anemic comedy western puzzles me. Although they had done stellar work in dramatic films in preceding movies, by this stage of their career both Sinatra and Martin were lazy and coasting on their images. Their star power remains intact but one could hardly call it acting. Even Aldrich ended up disliking the final product. Anita Ekberg and Ursula Andress provide eye candy (and not much else) as Sinatra's and Martin's romantic interests respectively. With Richard Jaeckel, Mike Mazurki, Wesley Addy, Virginia Christine, Arthur Godfrey and the Three Stooges.