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The AlamoRating:
Release Date: 19 December, 2000 Retail Price: $14.95 OUR Price: $13.46 You SAVE: $1.49! Cast: Complete Cast (9 total) |
The Alamo Reviews
Underated Western Masterpiece
This film had nothing at all to do with Vietnam. It was filmed in 1959 in Brackettville TX, and written/conceived a couple of years earlier (Batjac business venture). The film preaches patriotism, which is a direct result of the early 1950's anti-communism frenzy, very much a commentary on the Cold War, considering John Wayne's political alignment and previous box office endevours (Big Jim McClain). Wayne was a great American and patriot, and believed strongly in democracy and freedom for all individuals. This film brings his talents to bear both acting and directing. The more you view this film, the more apparent the professionalism of the cast and crew becomes. If you've never seen the magic of the cinema before, visit the "Alamo Ranch" north of Brackettville ... the sets are certainly not as large as life! The performances by Wayne, Harvey and Widmark are extrordinary. I also believe, as alluded to in the documentary, that John Ford lent his expertise as a mentor to Wayne during the production. If you don't interrogate the narrative too deeply, and dwell on the performances and historical perspective of the times, the film delivers in many ways. It's right up there with "Moses", "Cleopatra" and "Ben Hur" in terms of production value and the complicated production logistics required to complete the film. My teenage kids have seen it a few times, and enjoy it. I really hope they produce a wide screen version on DVD. Bottomline, not for every casual viewer, but very much part of the Ford/Wayne legacy...(i.e. "The Searchers", "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"). Enjoy the film for what it is... a classic.
John Wayne shoulda got a Best Director Oscar
John Wayne's version of The Alamo is one of my favorite Alamo movies, next to the recent epic blockbuster The Alamo with Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, Jason Patric as James Bowie, Patrick Wilson as Col. William B. Travis, and Dennis Quaid as General Sam Houston.
John Wayne wanted to tell the story of the famous battle at the Alamo and it's sacrifice, but he couldn't do it because the movie studio, Republic Pictures, the one he was under contract with, said he could only act in it and not direct it or he could direct it and not act in it.
So Wayne decided to strike out on his own to make his picture, he selected the principal actors and the extras, he built his own set of the Alamo mission and it's inner courtyard and the town of San Antonio de Bexar, and most of the money that Wayne spent on the movie came from his own pocket.
I mean, John Wayne wanted to make The Alamo and he did, I personally think that he should have been nominated and perhaps, awarded a Best Director Oscar for his direction of The Alamo.
I have the DVD version of this movie, but the one I have is the one with John Wayne standing in front of the Alamo holding his rifle on his shoulder, I don't this version yet.
John Wayne: Best Director: The Alamo
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