The Alamo (1960)

Director:

John Wayne

Writer:

James Edward Grant (original screenplay)

Release Date:

24 October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

They stood firing until they could stand no longer...156 MEN AGAINST A RAGING ARMY OF 7000!

Plot:

In 1836 General Santa Anna and the Mexican army is sweeping across Texas. To be able to stop him, General...

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Mexican | Army | Sam Houston | Mission

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

John Wayne	...	Col. Davy Crockett
Richard Widmark	...	Jim Bowie
Laurence Harvey	...	Col. William Travis
Frankie Avalon	...	Smitty
Patrick Wayne	...	Capt. James Butler Bonham
Linda Cristal	...	'Flaca'
Joan O'Brien	...	Mrs. Sue Dickinson
Chill Wills	...	Beekeeper
Joseph Calleia	...	Juan Seguin
Ken Curtis	...	Capt. Almeron Dickinson
Carlos Arruza	...	Lt. Reyes
Jester Hairston	...	Jethro
Veda Ann Borg	...	Blind Nell Robertson
John Dierkes	...	Jocko Robertson
Denver Pyle	...	Thimblerig (the Gambler)

Runtime:

167 min | UK:203 min (25 fps) (director's cut) (1993 video release) | USA:140 min (1967 re-release) | USA:192 min (roadshow version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:G | USA:Approved ( certificate #19635) | UK:PG | Australia:G (VHS rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Alamo Company, The

Trivia:

Wayne lobbied hard for Republic studios to fund a big budget Western. Republic, who dealt with low-budget B-movies, turned him down so Wayne was forced to finance much of the film himself. He took out a second mortgage on his homes and secured loans on his cars and yacht.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: At the very beginning, when General Houston and his men ride into town, Houston dismounts and enters a building for a meeting with Colonel Travis. One of Houston's men then asks if the General will allow his men to rest, as the last two forced marches have rather taken it out of them. Houston replies that the foot soldiers may and that the others are to be fed and their horses tended to before another forced march within the hour. But Houston and his men are all on horseback. There are no foot soldiers in his troop. After the meeting, Houston and his large force of men then all gallop off on horseback at quite a pace. So, if there ever were any foot soldiers, they would never have been able to catch up with Houston and his riders.

Quotes:

Col. Davy Crockett: Travis says Fannin's coming.
Jim Bowie: Travis says! I wouldn't take Travis' word that night's dark and day's light!

Movie Connections:

Featured in John Wayne's 'The Alamo' (1992) (V)

Soundtrack:

Here's to the Ladies

The Academy was blatantly unfair to this epic

I have read many of the comments about this movie and have researched the actual event as extensively as I can. I find it difficult to understand how people could deem this movie categorically inaccurate in any way. It is indisputable that no one really knows the exact way the main characters died although Bowie in the infirmary with a bad leg is, perhaps, the only clear inaccuracy. Susannah Dickinson (one of the 3 survivors) testified that she saw Crockett's body in the compound within 20 minutes of the end of the battle with his "peculiar hat" next to him. This makes it unlikely that he was lined up and executed. It is also indisputable that these men could have run, but chose to stay, clearly understanding their probable fate. Reading Travis' letter to Houston just days before the final battle can leave no doubt of the heroism of these men. Is it not, therefore, infinitely more believable that perhaps Crockett did discuss the meaning of the word "Republic" with Travis (possibly the most emotional scene in the movie)? John Wayne researched the actual event and location meticulously. The actual original plans of the mission were used to ensure the Alamo Village was correct. Costumes were identical to those depicted in every book of Mexican military history I have seen.

I have seen "The Apartment"-winner of the 1960 best picture academy award. Its clear that Groucho Marx and the rest of the voters made a decision to scoff at Wayne in particular and patriotic historical epics in general. For, in my opinion, "The Apartement" is inferior. The Alamo should have won 5 Oscars (best score; best song "Green Leaves of Summer"; best supporting actor-Chill Wills; best movie and best sound).I also think Laurence Harvey should have been nominated for best actor.

I do agree with all of those that lament the deletion of certain scenes from the DVD version. How could MGM leave out the scene of the 32 Tejanos arrival at the Alamo. It is central to the movie and the actual historical event. The death of the Parson should also have been included.

It will always be one of my favorites.