Today’s film is a war movie with a scene that happens on March
6. Watch it tonight and enjoy.
THE ALAMO
General Sam Houston tells Col.
William Travis he must hold the Alamo as long as possible in order to give
Houston maximum time to gather and train a Texican army to oppose the Mexican
invasion. At the Alamo, Travis and the legendary Jim Bowie don’t get along,
which is unfortunate because Bowie’s volunteers outnumber Travis’s regular
troops. Davy Crockett and his
Tennesseans arrive and start partying. Crockett meets Graciela Lopez y Vejar
and saves her from having to marry Emil Sande, a supporter of Santa Ana. Bowie
saves Crockett in a fight. Based on info supplied by Graciela, the two men
confiscate gunpowder being held for Santa Ana and take it to the Alamo.
Crockett persuades his followers to stay and defend the Alamo. Bowie still
thinks they should leave the Alamo and conduct a fighting retreat to join
Houston’s forces. The Mexican army arrives in San Antonio and the Alamo
defenders reject a surrender demand. Travis plans to hold until forces under
Fannin can reach the Alamo. Bowie and Crockett, without orders lead a squad out
and destroy the largest Mexican cannon.
After being dressed down by Travis, Bowie plans to take his men and
leave, but Crocket convinces him to stay. Bowie gets word that his wife has
died. When the Alamo’s food supplies are found to be tainted, Crockett and
Bowie lead a raid and drive the Mexican beef herd into the Alamo. All the women
are evacuated from the Alamo except Mrs. Dickinson. The first Mexican assault
fails. They then learn Fannin is not coming. Bowie and Crockett plan to lead
their men out, but hearing Travis’s stirring speech changes their mind. Smitty
reaches Houston with a plea for help and heads back. On March 6, 1836 [3:02:14
to 3:18:44] the Mexican Army launches the final assault on the Alamo. Travis is
killed early. Crockett blows up himself and the powder stores. Bowie is killed
in his sickbed. All the defenders are killed and only Mrs. Dickinson and her
daughter are released by Santa Ana.
This is an exciting combat film.
However, almost all of it is completely fictitious. As entertainment and not history, it is pretty
good.
A Line in the Sand: The Alamo
in Blood and Memory by Randy Roberts and James S.
Olson (The Free Press, New York,
2001) at pages159-168 gives the date of the final assault
Producer - John Wayne
Director - John Wayne
Awards – The movie won the Best
Sound Oscar. It was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor (Wills), Best
Color Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Song and
Best Picture at the 33rd Academy Awards.
Screenplay - James Edward Grant
Runtime – 3 hours 22 minutes (roadshow version) or 2 hours
47 minutes (theatrical)
Released - October 24, 1960
Starring –
John Wayne as Col. Davy Crockett
Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie
Laurence Harvey as Col. William Travis
Frankie Avalon as Smitty
Patrick Wayne as Capt. James Butler Bonham
Linda Cristal as Graciela Carmela Maria 'Flaca' de Lopez y
Vejar
Joan O'Brien as Mrs. Sue Dickinson
Chill Wills as Beekeeper
Joseph Calleia as Juan Seguin
Ken Curtis as Capt. Almaron Dickinson
Carlos Arruza as Lt. Reyes
Jester Hairston as Jethro
Veda Ann Borg as Blind Nell Robertson
John Dierkes as Jocko Robertson
Denver Pyle as Thimblerig
Aissa Wayne as Lisa Dickinson
Hank Worden as Parson
William Henry as Dr. Sutherland
Bill Daniel as Col. Neill
Wesley Lau as Emil Sande
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Lt. 'Irish' Finn
Olive Carey as Mrs. Dennison
Ruben Padilla as Generalissimo Antonio Miguel Lopez de Santa
Anna
Richard Boone as General Sam Houston
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