February 24 - The Alamo (2004)

Today’s movie is a combat film with a scene on February 24.  I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE ALAMO (2004)               

After its capture, the Mexican Army cleans up the Alamo, while word of its fall reaches Sam Houston and the Texan Army. Houston flashes back to a year ago when he met Davy Crockett in Washington while recruiting settlers for Texas. A few months later, some in the Texas political leadership want to remove Houston from command of the army since he opposes an expedition to take Matamoras. Houston asks Jim Bowie to go to the Alamo, get the cannon there and bring them to him for the army. Bowie travels to San Antonio and reminisces about meeting his now deceased wife there. Travis and his troops arrive in San Antonio and he assumes command of all forces in the town. Santa Ana and his army are marching on Texas. Crockett arrives at the Alamo. Bowie and Travis argue about who is in command. Santa Ana reaches San Antonio, and the Texans hole up in the Alamo. Travis sends out couriers to ask for reinforcements.  Bowie seeks a truce, but Travis opposes this. The Mexicans raise the red flag and play the dueguello, meaning no quarter will be offered. They shell the Alamo. The next day, February 24, 1836, Travis and Bowie, who is now ill, reconcile. Davy Crockett takes a long shot at Santa Ana, who has come to view the Alamo, but just clips his uniform. [46:03 to 1:00:24] The Texans try to improve the fortifications of the Alamo, while Houston tries to raise a force to march to their relief. Travis tells the men that no reinforcements are coming and offers them a chance to leave, but no one does. Crockett plays a dirge on his fiddle, while Santa Ana orders that no prisoners be taken in the assault. Early one morning the attack begins with Crockett firing the first shot by the defenders. The Mexicans kill Travis as they enter the compound. Bowie is killed in his bed. Although they fight bravely and ferociously, the Texans are overwhelmed. Crockett is knocked out and captured. Santa Ana tells him to beg for his life, but Crockett tells him off and is executed. Houston and the Texan army retreat until at the battle of San Jacinto, they turn on and defeat the small advance force led by Santa Ana and overwhelm it, shouting, “Remember the Alamo!”  Santa Ana’s capture ensures the end of the war and Texas’s independence.

This version is somewhat more historically accurate than the 1960 version. Here at least they correctly show that the Mexican assault started in the middle of the night. The filmmakers show the controversial story that Crockett was captured and not killed outright in the fighting.

Roberts, Randy and Olson, James S. A Line in the Sand: The Alamo in Blood and Memory. New York; The Free Press, 2001. This book at page 130 gives the date Santa Ana rode close to the walls.

Director - John Lee Hancock               

                                                                            

Runtime - 2 hours 17 minutes                           

                                                                            

Released - April 9, 2004   

                               

Starring –

Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston

Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett

Jason Patric as James Bowie

Emilio Echevarría as Santa Anna

Patrick Wilson as William Barret Travis

Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014.