Hancocks treatment of the saga is divided among four main characters. The film explores the political motives behind not only the battle, but the whole texas revolution. Characters drink and smoke and use some strong language, including insults like catamite that might be unfamiliar to. In previous versions of the alamo, the legendary characters have been drawn broadly, almost as heroes out of a comic book rather than the. The alamo has been put on the silver screen many times in many ways. Sam houston dennis quaid organizes a rebel army to liberate texas from the brutal rule of mexican dictator general santa anna emilio echevarria. Dec 20, 2018 the movie poster artists didnt realize there were no american flags at the alamo. Remembering a forgotten alamo movie texas public radio. The movie poster artists didnt realize there were no american flags at the alamo. Hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various interpretive liberties were taken, such as building the movieset version of the alamo chapel facade forward 30 to 40 feet 12 m more than the extant and presumably historically correct structure. The scene where crockett fights the daguello with his fiddle is simply amazing, while the nighttime bombardment of the alamo is quite horrific. But thats what hes doing as director and cowriter of the new film version, which has been under siege for months.
Not to be mistaken for john waynes directorial debut, the alamo 1960. The centerpiece of this twodvd set is remember the alamo, hosted by dennis quaid and produced to coincide with the april 2004 theatrical release of the alamo, the historical epic promoted here in a behind the scenes featurette in which quaid plays gen. A huge action movie with all these desperate battles thats characterdriven at the same time. Both patric and thornton do excellent jobs with their roles, bringing great depth to their legendary characters. Hansulrich rudel the surrender of germanys most decorated ace 1945 duration. It was directed by john lee hancock, produced by ron howard, brian grazer, and mark johnson, distributed by touchstone pictures, and starred dennis quaid as sam houston, billy bob thornton as david crockett, and jason patric as jim bowie. The alamo adequately covers those details, throwing in some extra plot about sam houston and his postalamo defeat of santa anna. Davy crockett, the man in the coonskin hat, surprisingly becomes the most threedimensional of the alamo heroes, in one of billy bob thorntons best performances.
Russell crowe was cast as sam houston, ethan hawke as william barret travis. The story of a marine grunt in the first battle of khe sanh april 1967 duration. Me and my dad went and saw the movie, when it first came out in the theaters, and we really enjoyed ourselves. A darkly atmospheric horror starring riley keough, richard armitage, and alicia silverstone. The alamo 2004 i bought this dvd a while ago to add to my collection of historical movies. If parents of older teens are willing to navigate some of the violence, the alamo can serve as a fine discussionstarter about flawed humanity, bravery in battle, the courage of ones convictions and the fruits of arrogance and folly. March 27, 2004, saturday an article in the arts on wednesday about the walt disney companys problems in filming the alamo misstated the distance between austin, tex.
It is as if billy bob thronton was born to play the role of davey crockett. The movie tries to investigate the characters of davy crockett, william travis, jim bowie, and sam houston. The alamo cast and crew cast photos and info fandango. The alamo 2004 i have to say is one of the best movies i have seen in a long long long time. With john wayne, richard widmark, laurence harvey, frankie avalon. Remember the alamo and forget the negative stories youve probably. Colonel william barret travis, commander of the texan forces at the alamo, is. Based on the 1836 standoff between a group of texan and tejano men, led by davy crockett and jim bowie, and mexican dictator santa annas forces at the alamo in san antonio texas. March 27, 2004, saturday an article in the arts on wednesday about the walt disney companys problems in filming the alamo misstated. If we dont know it, we find out in the first scene. Aug 01, 2010 hansulrich rudel the surrender of germanys most decorated ace 1945 duration. Sam houston is a soldier, statesman, and congressman who has his eyes set on texas which is being controlled by the mexicans.
Conventional wisdom in hollywood is that any movie named the. Fire destroys set of 2004 alamo remake in texas reuters. This movie deals frankly with the long wait and the deadly conclusion, by focusing on the characters of the leaders. While these externals work for the most part, its only due to. I have read several articles to the effect that this movie is a complete rewrite of the history of the alamo, incorporating disney concocted political correctness, as well as damaging the reputation of the main characters ie davy crockett, sam houston, jim bowie, etc.
The alamo is a very underrated film that is an interesting history. Based on the 1836 standoff between a group of texan and tejano men, led by davy crockett and jim bowie, and mexican dictator santa annas forces at the alamo in san antonio, texas. Celine sciammas groundbreaking romance is a triumph of the female gaze. In 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new republic of texas. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing the alamo near you. How historically accurate is the 2004 film the alamo. But hands down, the almao 2004 and simply put the 2004 alamo was an outstanding movie. I found this movie to be more accurate to the story of the alamo than the john wayne version.
Sam houston dennis quaid organizes a rebel army to liberate texas from the brutal rule of mexican dictator general santa anna. The centerpiece of this twodvd set is remember the alamo, hosted by dennis quaid and produced to coincide with the april 2004 theatrical release of the alamo, the historical epic promoted here in a behindthescenes featurette in which quaid plays gen. Conventional wisdom in hollywood is that any movie named the alamo. Cast in credits order complete, awaiting verification.
The major difference in 2004s movie and what fess parker experienced in. The alamo is a 1960 american historical epic and war film about the 1836 battle of the alamo produced and directed by john wayne and starring wayne as davy crockett. The picture also stars richard widmark as jim bowie and laurence harvey as william b. Rather than being plaster saints, theyre real, believable characters. Characters drink and smoke and use some strong language, including insults like catamite that might be unfamiliar to todays audiences. For the baby boomer generation it is john waynes spin that is very likely burned in their mind. Davy crockettthe texans and their deeds at the alamo would pass into.
Positive the alamo is a movie that i would want to see again, and probably buy on dvd. Not the one youre familiar with, but one that occurred a quarter century earlier. Credit kino lorber the 1950s were an especially prolific time for the alamo on film, as hollywood produced the man from the alamo 1953, disneys davy crockett 1955, with native texan fess parker in the title role, and the television series. Similar storylines like the 1955 davy crockett at the alamo show how much people. Here is a movie that captures the loneliness and dread of men waiting for two weeks. Led by three menthe young, brash colonel william travis. Billy bob thornton stars in the alamo touchstone pictures in a statement, freedom alliance slammed michael eisner and walt disney pictures, the films maker, for rewriting history in the movie, which is scheduled to open april 9.
Sam houston and billy bob thornton as davy crockett, the alamo opens nationwide friday after a splashy. Today is march 6th, the 177 anniversary of the fall of the alamo. The alamo movie production notes 2004 movie releases. Any movie that deals with such a powerful symbol takes a great risk but the alamo is a rousing success. Since the early 1800s, mexico had invited settlers from america and other parts of the world to come to mexico land was cheap and settlers were given many acres the constitution of 1824, signed by the mexican government, gave rights and freedom to these settlers most of these people settled in the province of tejas, later changed to texas. In 1836, the mexican army, led by general santa anna, is invading texas. This was a long awaited movie, and well worth the wait. Dennis quaid as sam houston also turns in a remarkable performance. Hoping to create a diversion for santa annas forces, general sam houston richard boone orders colonel william b. The advance buzz on the alamo was negative, and now i know why. Davy crockett, jim bowie, and the texas militia try to defend the alamo from general santa anna.
The characters here are deprived of even the romance of pursuing. However, i watch the alamo 2004 and i am shocked at just how much better of a detailed movie it is with complex characters and historical accuracy. The classic john wayne alamo movie, into which he put so much effort to get the film made, is entertaining and heroic, being a romantic take on the story of less than 200 defending the alamo against some 7000 mexican soldiers. The men that fought at the alamo, in spite of knowing they were soon to be overcome by defeat, are truly brave and courageous. Davy crockettthe texans and their deeds at the alamo would pass. This 2004 version of the story of the alamo is the most accurate telling to date. Everyone in the alamo is killed made clear at the very beginning of the movie. The battle of the alamo during texas war for independence from mexico lasted thirteen days, from february 23, 1836march 6, 1836. Also appearing is the witty and nonchalant jim bowie jason patric. It was directed by john lee hancock and starred billy bob thornton as davy crockett. Fandango fanalert sign up for a fanalert and be the first to know when tickets and other exclusives are available in your area. Hancocks movie allows that the alamo s 200 or so defenders are assorted neerdowells. The oppressively solemn film the alamo marches in the line of earlier.
It is updated to reflect the audiencemood during the tumultuous time of the early bush ii years. Austin, tex, sept 28 fire caused by an apparent lightning strike destroyed the set of the 2004 disney remake of the alamo, officials told reuters on wednesday. Hancocks movie allows that the alamos 200 or so defenders are assorted neerdowells. With dennis quaid, billy bob thornton, emilio echevarria, jason patric. Billy bob thornton is spectacularit is really his film, although patrick wilson is. Plus i think billy bob was david crockett as fess parker was the legend davy crockett whereas john wayne was just john wayne playing davy crockett. The fact that this movie chose to shy away from a lot of the uncomfortable nationalism in the john wayne picture says a lot about hancocks willingness to take a risk and make a war movie in 2004 that didnt lean on patriotism as a crutch.
Parents need to know that this movie has intense battle violence with many deaths. Conventional wisdom in hollywood is that any movie named the alamo must be simplistic and rousing, despite the fact that we already know all the defenders got killed. The alamo is a 2004 american western film about the battle of the alamo during the texas. The alamo is a 2004 american western film about the battle of the alamo during the texas revolution. The only thing that i didnt like about the movie was the music soundtrack. I can highly recommend this filmeven minor characters are uniformally well acted and the action scenes and general ambiance are very effective. That said, there is a lot to critique in the movie. The alamo movie production notes 2004 september 22. The alamo is a 2004 film made by touchstone pictures.
The lives and fortunes of david crockett, james bowie and. The final main character to be introduced is william travis. Travis, and the supporting cast features frankie avalon, patrick wayne, linda cristal, joan obrien, chill wills, joseph calleia, ken curtis. The movie reads more like a disney fairy tale and promotes a politically correct revisionist agenda aimed at destroying a traditional american hero, said b. Apr 04, 2018 parents need to know that this movie has intense battle violence with many deaths. The film stars billy bob thornton as frontiersman davy crockett and dennis quaid as the controversial politician and general, sam houston. Official the alamo discussion thread home theater forum. The alamo is an entertaining movie with a good heart that tries to accurately present the history of this famous american event. Mar 06, 20 today is march 6th, the 177 anniversary of the fall of the alamo. With relatable drama, stunning set pieces, and heaps of stiffupperlip attitude. Dennis quaid as sam houston billy bob thornton as davy crockett jason patric as james bowie patrick wilson as william. Nov, 2010 hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various interpretive liberties were taken, such as building the movie set version of the alamo chapel facade forward 30 to 40 feet 12 m more than the extant and presumably historically correct structure.