The Alamo is a 1960 American epic Western war film about the 1836 Siege and Battle of the Alamo produced and directed by John Wayne and starring Wayne as Davy Crockett. The film also co-stars Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B. Travis, and features: Frankie Avalon, Patrick Wayne, Linda Cristal, Joan O'Brien, Chill Wills, Joseph Calleia, Ken Curtis, Ruben Padilla as Santa Anna, and Richard Boone as Sam Houston. Shot in 70 mm Todd-AO by William H. Clothier, it was released by United Artists.
Plot Sam Houston leads the forces of Texas against Mexico and needs time to build an army. The opposing Mexican forces, led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna are numerically stronger as well as better-armed and trained. Nevertheless, the Texans have spirit and morale remains generally high. Lieutenant Colonel William Travis is tasked with defending the Alamo, a former mission in San Antonio. Jim Bowie comes with reinforcements and the defenders prepare. Meanwhile, Davy Crockett arrives with a group of Tennesseans.
Santa Anna's armies arrive and surround the fort. The siege begins. An embassy from the Mexican Army approaches the Alamo, and as they list the terms of surrender, Travis fires a cannon, signalling his refusal to surrender. In a nighttime raid, the Texans sabotage a super-sized cannon used by the Mexicans. They maintain high hopes as they are told a strong force led by Colonel James Fannin is on its way to break the siege. Crockett, however, sensing an imminent attack, sends one of his younger men, Smitty, to ask Houston for help, knowing this will perhaps spare Smitty's life.
The Mexicans frontally attack the Alamo. The defenders hold out and inflict heavy losses on the Mexicans, although the Texans' own losses are not insignificant, and Bowie sustains a leg wound. Morale drops when a messenger informs Travis that Fannin's reinforcements have been ambushed and slaughtered by the Mexicans. Travis chooses to stay with his command and defend the Alamo, but he gives the other defenders the option of leaving. Crockett, Bowie and their men prepare to leave, but an inspired tribute by Travis convinces them to stay and fight to the end. The noncombatants, including most of the women and children, leave the Alamo.
On the thirteenth day of the siege, Santa Anna's artillery bombards the Alamo, and the entire Mexican army sweeps forward, attacking on all sides. The defenders kill numerous Mexicans, but the attack is overwhelming and the fortress' walls are breached. Travis tries to rally the men, but is shot and killed. Crockett leads the Texans in the final defense of the fort, but the Mexicans swarm through and overwhelm the defenders. Crockett is killed in the chaos when he is run through by a lance and then blown up as he ignites the powder magazine. Bowie, in bed with his wound, kills several Mexicans but is bayoneted and dies. As the last Texan is killed, the Mexican soldiers discover the hiding place of the wife and child of Texan defender Captain Dickinson.
The battle eventually ends with a total victory for the Mexicans. Santa Anna observes the carnage and provides safe passage for Mrs. Dickinson and her child. Smitty returns too late, watching from a distance. He takes off his hat in respect and then escorts Mrs. Dickinson away from the battlefield.
The subplot follows the conflict existing among the strong-willed personalities of Travis, Bowie, and Crockett. Travis stubbornly defends his decisions as commander of the garrison against the suggestions of the other two - particularly Bowie with whom the most bitter conflict develops - as well as trying to maintain discipline among a force made up primarily of independently minded frontiersmen and settlers. Crockett, well liked by both Bowie and Travis, eventually becomes a mediator between the other two as Bowie constantly threatens to withdraw his men rather than deal with Travis. Despite their personal conflicts, all three learn to subordinate their differences, and in the end, bind themselves together in an act of bravery to defend the fort against inevitable defeat.
Cast John Wayne as Col. Davy Crockett, a larger-than-life legend from Tennessee who arrives at the Alamo bringing a band of fellow adventurers to the fight. Richard Widmark as Col. Jim Bowie, a legendary figure like Crockett, who shares command of the Alamo with William Travis, but bears ultimate authority only over his volunteer group. Laurence Harvey as Col. William Barrett Travis, who shares command of the Alamo garrison with Bowie, but has ultimate authority over the regular soldiers. Richard Boone as General Sam Houston, leader of the Texas army, who hopes the stand at the Alamo will gain him time to gather troops to repel Santa Anna's forces. Frankie Avalon as Smitty, the youngest of the Alamo defenders, and one of Crockett's Tennesseans. Patrick Wayne as Capt. James Butler Bonham, a Texan officer sent out with an appeal for help. Linda Cristal as Graciela Carmela María 'Flaca' de López y Vejar, a young woman whom Crockett saves from forced marriage. Joan O'Brien as Mrs. Sue Dickinson, wife of Captain Almaron Dickinson and cousin of Col. William Travis, who refuses to leave the fort with her young daughter. Chill Wills as Beekeeper, one of Crockett's colorful Tennesseans. Joseph Calleia as Juan Seguín, a San Antonio political figure who leads Mexican volunteers to help defend the Alamo. Ken Curtis as Capt. Almaron Dickinson, Travis's aide-de-camp. Carlos Arruza as Lt. Reyes, an officer of Santa Anna's army, sent to demand the surrender of the fort. Jester Hairston as Jethro, Jim Bowie's loyal slave. Veda Ann Borg as Blind Nell Robertson, the wife of Alamo defender Jocko Robertson. John Dierkes as Jocko Robertson, Nell's husband, and a Tennessean, though not one of Crockett's men but Bowie's. Denver Pyle as Thimblerig (the Gambler), one of Crockett's Tennessee volunteers. Aissa Wayne as Lisa Dickinson, the daughter of Almaron and Sue Dickinson. Hank Worden as Parson, one of Crockett's Tennessee volunteers. Bill Henry as Dr. Sutherland, the garrison physician. Bill Daniel as Col. Neill, an officer in the Texas army, and an adviser to Sam Houston. Wesley Lau as Emil Sande, a corrupt San Antonio businessman who attempts to force Flaca into marriage. Chuck Roberson as a Tennessean, one of Crockett's volunteers. Guinn Williams as Lt. "Irish" Finn, one of Bowie's volunteers. Olive Carey as Mrs. Dennison, one of the women evacuated from the Alamo before the battle. Jack Pennick as Sgt. Lightfoot. Big John Hamilton as Bowie's man (uncredited) Ruben Padilla as Generalissimo Antonio Miguel López de Santa Anna, the dictatorial president of Mexico and leader of the army intent on putting down the Texas revolution. Rosita Fernández as Cantina Girl (uncredited) Finis Dean Smith
Production
Background By 1945, John Wayne had decided to make a movie about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 260. He hired James Edward Grant as scriptwriter, and the two began researching the battle and preparing a draft script. They hired John Ford's son Patrick (who wrote a screenplay about the battle in 1948)The Alamo DVD insert (2000), MGM Home Entertainment. as a research assistant. As the script neared completion, however, Wayne and Herbert Yates, the president of Republic Pictures, clashed over the proposed $3 million budget.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 261. Wayne left Republic over the feud but could not take his script with him. That script later was rewritten and made into the movie The Last Command with Jim Bowie the character of focus.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 262.
Wayne and producer Robert Fellows formed Batjac, their own production company. As Wayne developed his vision of what a movie about the Alamo should be, he concluded he did not want to risk seeing that vision changed; he would produce and direct the movie himself, though not act in it. However, he could not enlist financial support for the project without the presumptive box-office guarantee his on-screen appearance would provide. In 1956, he signed with United Artists; UA contributed $2.5 million to the movie's development and served as distributor. In exchange, Batjac was to contribute an additional $1.5 to $2.5 million, and Wayne would star in the movie. Wayne secured the remainder of the financing from wealthy Texans who insisted the movie be shot in Texas.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 263. After the movie was finished, Wayne admitted he invested $1.5 million of his own money in the film (taking out second mortgages on his houses and using his vehicles as collateral to obtain loans) and believed it was a good investment.Interview with Robert Robinson.
Set
The movie set, later known as Alamo Village, was constructed near Brackettville, Texas, on the ranch of James T. Shahan. Chatto Rodriquez, the general contractor of the set, built of tarred roads for access to the set from Brackettville. His men sank six wells to provide 12,000 gallons (45.4 cubic meters) of water each day, and laid miles of sewage and water lines. They also built of horse corrals.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 264.
Rodriquez worked with art designer Alfred Ybarra to create the set. Historians Randy Roberts and James Olson describe it as "the most authentic set in the history of the movies". Over a million-and-a-quarter adobe bricks were formed by hand to create the walls of the former Alamo Mission. The set was an extensive three-quarter-scale replica of the mission, and has been used in other Western films and television series, including other depictions of the battle. It took almost two years to construct.
Casting Wayne was to have portrayed Sam Houston, a bit part that would have let him focus on his first major directing effort, but investors insisted he play a leading character. He took on the role of Davy Crockett, handing the part of Houston to Richard Boone.Clark, Donald, & Christopher P. Andersen. John Wayne's The Alamo: The Making of the Epic Film (New York: Carol Publishing Group, 1995) Wayne cast Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William Barrett Travis. Harvey was chosen because Wayne admired British stage actors and he wanted "British class". When production became tense, Harvey spoke lines from Shakespeare in a Texan accent.John Wayne — The Man Behind The Myth by Michael Munn, published by Robson Books, 2004 Other roles went to family and close friends of Wayne, including his son Patrick Wayne and daughter Aissa.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 265.
John Wayne had made Rio Bravo (1959) with singer Ricky Nelson in a supporting role to attract teen audiences. It had worked, so he hired Frankie Avalon to perform a similar function. According to Avalon, "Wayne had seen some of the rushes from Timberland and thought I would be right". After making the film, Wayne told the press: "We're not cutting one bit of any scene in which Frankie appears. I believe he is the finest young talent I've seen in a long time". "Mr. Wayne said I was natural as far as acting goes", said Avalon. Avalon's character was fictitious and survived the attack.
Several days after filming began, Widmark complained he had been miscast and tried to leave. Among other things, it seemed ridiculous that the relatively diminutive (] Widmark would be playing the "larger than life" Bowie, who was a reported . After threats of legal action, he agreed to finish the picture.Roberts and Olson (2001), p. 266. During the filming he had Burt Kennedy rewrite his lines.pp. 146-147 Joyner, C. Courtney Burt Kennedy Interview in The Westerners: Interviews with Actors, Directors, Writers and Producers McFarland, 14/10/2009