Sergeants 3 (1962)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

A Major Disappointment

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

One of the rarer rat pack movies, and loosely based on Gunga Din, Sergeants Three was directed by no less than John Sturges. This film however is no Magnificent Seven, Gunfight at the OK Coral, or Hour of the Gun. Sinatra, Martin and Lawford play the titual sergeants, with Sammy Davis Jnr in there as well as an apologetic camp follower (a role which distantly recalls that of Toshiro Mifune in Seven Samurai). Although partially redeemed by the excellent production values as well as the enjoyment of watching the principals do their schtick, ultimately all is sunk by a far-fetched plot, indulgent longeurs and some unconvincing dramatics - all of which only makes one want to watch Martin all over again in Rio Bravo or Sons of Katie Elder ... i.e. in 'proper' westerns. Several of Bing Crosby's relatives fill out supporting roles and Henry Silva does his mad Indian performance.

Ever since my childhood, the Rat Pack films have been staples on Italian TV – but, curiously enough, not this one!; still, as often happens, its long absence doesn’t necessarily make it a lost gem and, actually, it can now be seen as the least of them! In any case, a legitimate DVD edition of it has just been released in time for the 10th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s passing – though I had to make do myself with a barely adequate VHS-to-DVD dub for this viewing…but which, surprisingly ran for 117 minutes when the film’s official length is given as 112! Anyway, personally produced by Sinatra, this emerges as the third version of a Rudyard Kipling story: a sort of GUNGA DIN (1939) parody in Western garb – except that the original already contained strong doses of humor! Old hand W.R. Burnett wrote the script and the necessity here to follow a proper plot renders this less freewheeling than other Rat Peck outings; however, this then results in jarring bouts of violence played alongside revue-style comic sketches! The film’s major set-piece is an extended shootout between the boys and some renegade Indians in a ghost town which culminates in an outburst of fireworks and the shooting of dynamite a' la RIO BRAVO (1959); by the way, Sinatra and Dean Martin had already proved themselves in the genre – most notably with JOHNNY CONCHO (1956) and RIO BRAVO itself respectively (Martin actually became a staple of the gun-and-saddle tradition between 1956 and 1973).With this in mind, the repartee among the stars is par for the course: Martin has the old Cary Grant role, Peter Lawford fills in for Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Sammy Davis Jr., naturally, is Din; as for Joey Bishop’s character, he usually finds himself the brunt of the boys’ jokes. Sinatra himself seems constrained by the martinet role played in GUNGA DIN by Victor McLaglen but, typically, Dino and Davis have fun with their roles. Michael Pate and Henry Silva (as father and son) feature as the rebelling Indians; incidentally, Sinatra and Silva’s next confrontation – later that year in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE – proved far more memorable. It’s also worth pointing out that three of Bing Crosby’s sons appear here as bumbling privates.Director Sturges was himself a Western expert and had already collaborated with Sinatra on the war adventure NEVER SO FEW (1959); he also did a number of Cavalry vs. Indians-type efforts such as ESCAPE FROM FORT BRAVO (1953) and THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL (1965; which was also largely played for laughs).P.S. Shortly after this film’s release, Sinatra fell out badly with Lawford (even throwing him down a flight of stairs!) after President Kennedy – who was Lawford’s brother-in-law – choose to stay over at Bing Crosby’s house rather than his (due to recent allegations of Sinatra’s connection with the Mafia being uncovered) and which explains Lawford’s disappearance from subsequent Rat Pack efforts…

What a brilliant move, such a pity that one cannot seem to find it anywhere. I saw this movie many years ago as a child and haven't seen it since either in the theaters or on television. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr (the rat pack) what more can you ask for? THere is comedy galore as one would expect from the teaming of these 3 brilliant actors. Is there anyone out there who would have a copy of this movie on VHS? I have given this movie a rating of 10 out of 10. I have a real yearning to see this movie again or better still to have my own copy of it. I notice on this forum that there are quite a lot of people who share a similar interest to my own. Its a pity we couldn't all somehow get together with the powers that be and have sergeants 3 1962 put onto DVD. What do YOU think?

Having just viewed this film again after seeing it on it's initial release in 1962, my first thoughts were how much better this could have been, I found the location scenery was quite superb and the Billy May background music with it's continuing theme was nice to listen to. But the usual antics of the Pack distracted from the general storyline. The fight scenes were comical, not funny, and seemed overlong as were the battle scenes. It was worth a viewing though just to see the whole Clan together, but a little more effort from all would have made it better for me. I have never seen the film Gunga Din on which this is reported to be based, so I can make no comparison between the two efforts.