Hollywood discovered the not so subtle parody western in the mid-60's and produced several that have become true comedy classics; "Support Your Local Sheriff", "Cat Ballou", and "The Brothers O'Toole". Mel Brooks followed a few years later with "Blazing Saddles", the sub-genre's best ever.
But for each one that has become a classic there are several best-forgotten releases that just didn't work. "Texas Across the River" (1966) is one of the better of these secondary efforts; not a total loss but far short of being the complete package.
I wonder what goes through the mind of a relatively astute 21st century viewer when viewing something like "Texas Across the River" for the first time. My guess is that they would question the basic business sense of Hollywood producers (in not employing better writers) and wonder how anyone could have classified Joey Bishop as a comedian (he actually had his own prime time television comedy series).
Dean Martin (with his basic "Matt Helm" personality) and French actor Alain Delon (it was all the rage for Hollywood to import the latest European heartthrob back then for this type of stuff-Delon was one of the few who have some degree of acting ability) are two parts of a love triangle. Rosemary Forsyth plays their romantic interest. She has very good chemistry with Martin and very little chemistry of any kind with Delon. Fortunately someone had the inspiration to import French actress Tina Aumont to play opposite Delon. She plays his secondary love interest, a beautiful Indian maiden, and their English challenged scenes together are far better because of the shared language challenge.
"Texas Across the River" originally had a running length of 101 minutes and would have greatly benefited from some serious trimming. The running length was padded by old gags giving Jewish personality traits to the Indians. Unfortunately few (perhaps none) of this stuff is funny. Imagine the least funny10% of "F Troop's" Hekawi stuff endlessly strung together in the same movie.
Forsyth is the main reason to watch "Texas Across the River". I for one have fallen in love with her Southern Belle character each time I've watched the movie, and it happened again during my last viewing. Definitely on my top 10 list of most pleasing movie heroines.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
But for each one that has become a classic there are several best-forgotten releases that just didn't work. "Texas Across the River" (1966) is one of the better of these secondary efforts; not a total loss but far short of being the complete package.
I wonder what goes through the mind of a relatively astute 21st century viewer when viewing something like "Texas Across the River" for the first time. My guess is that they would question the basic business sense of Hollywood producers (in not employing better writers) and wonder how anyone could have classified Joey Bishop as a comedian (he actually had his own prime time television comedy series).
Dean Martin (with his basic "Matt Helm" personality) and French actor Alain Delon (it was all the rage for Hollywood to import the latest European heartthrob back then for this type of stuff-Delon was one of the few who have some degree of acting ability) are two parts of a love triangle. Rosemary Forsyth plays their romantic interest. She has very good chemistry with Martin and very little chemistry of any kind with Delon. Fortunately someone had the inspiration to import French actress Tina Aumont to play opposite Delon. She plays his secondary love interest, a beautiful Indian maiden, and their English challenged scenes together are far better because of the shared language challenge.
"Texas Across the River" originally had a running length of 101 minutes and would have greatly benefited from some serious trimming. The running length was padded by old gags giving Jewish personality traits to the Indians. Unfortunately few (perhaps none) of this stuff is funny. Imagine the least funny10% of "F Troop's" Hekawi stuff endlessly strung together in the same movie.
Forsyth is the main reason to watch "Texas Across the River". I for one have fallen in love with her Southern Belle character each time I've watched the movie, and it happened again during my last viewing. Definitely on my top 10 list of most pleasing movie heroines.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.