Filmography compiled by ethanedwards
with special thanks to J.J. for the use of his post.

THE ALAMO

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY JOHN WAYNE
MUSIC BY DIMITRI TIOMKIN
A BATJAC PRODUCTION
UNITED ARTISTS
669670


INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

In 1836 General Santa Anna and the Mexican army is sweeping across Texas.
To be able to stop him, General Sam Huston needs time to get his main force into shape.
To buy that time he orders Colonel William Travis to defend a small mission on the Mexicans' route at all costs.
Travis' small troop is swelled by groups accompanying Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett,
but as the situation becomes ever more desperate Travis makes it clear there will be no shame if they leave while they can.

Summary written by Jeremy Perkins

The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat
against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.

Summary written by Jim Beaver


Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Edward Grant original screenplay

Full Cast

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 .... Graciela Carmela Maria 'Flaca' de Lopez y Vejar
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)
Aissa Wayne .... Lisa Angelica Dickinson
Hank Worden .... Parson
William Henry .... Dr. Sutherland (as Bill Henry)
Bill Daniel .... Col. Neill
Wesley Lau .... Emil Sande
Chuck Roberson .... Tennesseean (segment "It do.")
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams .... Lt. 'Irish' Finn (as Guinn Williams)
Olive Carey .... Mrs. Dennison
Ruben Padilla .... Generalissimo Antonio Miguel Lopez de Santa Anna
Richard Boone .... Gen. Sam Houston
Ray Ackland .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Charles Akins .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Harold Allgood .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lee Allison .... Tennessean (uncredited)
D.E. Barentine .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Carol Baxter .... Melinda, Texan Girl (uncredited)
Abe Blankenship .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
F. Bode .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Danny Borzage .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Paul Breen .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Brewer .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jim Burk .... Tennessean (uncredited)
H.J. Canutt .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Tap Canutt .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
A.R. Carpenter .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Ed Carter .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Georges Cartes .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Vincente Castro .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Raul De Luna .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
LeJean Eldridge .... Mrs. Guy (uncredited)
Rojelio Estrada .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Estill Ezell .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Manuel Farias .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Mickey Finn .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Gerry Fisher .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Karl Flenn .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Miguel Garza .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Yndalecio Gonzales .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Mike Goulla .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Fred Graham .... Bearded volunteer (uncredited)
Joe Graham .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Big John Hamilton .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Robert H. Harris .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... Bull (uncredited)
Frank Higgins .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Doug Hodges .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Junior Hudkins .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Joe Jackson .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Elmo Jones .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Wayne Kendrick .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Kennedy .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Charles Kone .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
David Kuykendall .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Ronald Lee .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... (uncredited)
Efrain Maldonada .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Cy Malis .... Pete (uncredited)
Bryan McAfee .... Travis' man (uncredited)
John McGuyer .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Doug McNealy .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Don Middlebrook .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jack Miller .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
J.R. Miller .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Bob Morgan .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Bob Moss Sr. .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
C.A. Nicks .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Ray Ochoa .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Dale Parsons .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jack Pennick .... Sgt. Lightfoot (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Jerry Phillips .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Homer Pierce .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lee Roy Powell .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lupe Reyes .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Warren Rhea .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Ed Riley .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Rudy Robbins .... Tennessean (segment "Do this mean what I think it do?") (uncredited)
Cruz Rodriquez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Eleno Rodriquez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Ricardo Rosales .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Bob Rose .... Tennessean (uncredited)
George Ross .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
LeRoy Ryland .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Charles Sanders .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Alberto Sandoval .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Guadalupe Santoya .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Pete Schneider .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Ben Shirley .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Chester Smith .... (uncredited)
Dan Smith .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
George Sofge .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Greg Souquet .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Jack Spain .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jerry Sterner .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Winner Stevens .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Ted Sumerall .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Alfred Taylor .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Martin Torres .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Julian Trevino .... Silvero Seguin (uncredited)
Jesse Valdez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Charles Veltmann Jr. .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jim Walker .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Pilar Wayne .... (uncredited)
Toni Wayne .... (uncredited)
Ted White .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Bill Williams .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Clay Wilson .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Thomas Worrell .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Wright .... Bowie's man (uncredited)



Produced by
James Edward Grant .... associate producer
John Wayne .... producer
Michael Wayne .... associate producer

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cliff Lyons .... second unit director
Robert E. Relyea .... assistant director
Robert Saunders .... assistant director
Michael Wayne .... first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)


Stunts

Bill Babcock .... stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... stunts (uncredited)
Jim Burk .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt .... stunts (uncredited)
Harry Froboess .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Graham .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... stunts (uncredited)
Tex Hill .... stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Rudy Robbins .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Rose .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Gibb Stepp .... stunts (uncredited)
Ted White .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
Thomas Worrell .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Young .... stunts (uncredited)

Other crew

Frank Beetson Jr. .... technical supervisor (as Frank Beetson)
Russell Birdwell .... unit publicist
Jim Henaghan .... unit publicist
Robert E. Morrison .... production associate
Jack Pennick .... technical supervisor
Michael Wayne .... assistant to producer
Paul Francis Webster .... lyricist: "Tennessee Babe", "Here's to the Ladies" and "Ballad of the Alamo" (song titles uncredited)
Paul Francis Webster .... lyricist: "The Green Leaves of Summer"
Burt Kennedy .... production associate (uncredited)
George Parrish .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Denver Pyle .... set photographer (uncredited)

Trivia

* LeJean Eldridge was murdered during filming by her boyfriend.

* Lieutenant Finn's fall from his horse was unscripted and unintentional.

* The huge Alamo set took two years to construct.

* John Wayne originally intended that Richard Widmark should play Davy Crockett, while Wayne himself would have taken the small role of Sam Houston so he could focus his energy on directing the picture. However, Wayne was only able to get financial backing if he played one of the main parts, so he decided to play Crockett and cast Widmark as Jim Bowie.

* During the battle sequence, one of the cannons rolled over the foot of Laurence Harvey, breaking it at the instep. He continued with the scene, eventually treating the injury himself.

* John Wayne was a fan of The Kingston Trio's recording of "Remember the Alamo", composed by Jane Bowers, and wanted to use the song in the film. When, for various reasons, the rights to the song couldn't be obtained, Dimitri Tiomkin, who scored the film, and Paul Francis Webster wrote their own song for the film, "The Green Leaves of Summer".

* John Wayne partially financed this film himself. During shooting, the film was delayed due to various production problems. Wayne was under so much pressure, he smoked cigarettes almost non-stop when not acting.

* When Chill Wills was nominated for an Oscar, he campaigned so aggressively for the award, many felt he lost because voters grew tired of seeing his trade paper ads.

* Charlton Heston was among the actors who were sent the script and John Wayne wanted him to play Jim Bowie. Heston later said there seemed good reasons for him not to do the film and, when pressed further, stated having John Wayne as director to be one of them.

* Sammy Davis Jr. managed to obtain a copy of the script and asked John Wayne if he could play the straight role of a Negro slave. Wayne considered him but eventually declined Davis' offer. Davis recalled, "There were a lot of influential Texans investing in the film and they didn't like the idea that I was seeing [his future wife] May Britt at the time. They disapproved of a man of color going out with a girl who was white, though Duke [Wayne] was upfront with me about it and I respected him for it".

* John Wayne intended this film to be an allegory for America's Cold War with the Soviet Union.

* Clark Gable turned down the role played by Laurence Harvey. Though Gable was a Republican who shared Wayne's anti-communist views, he did not want to commit to an expensive project with a first-time director.

* Banned in Mexico.

* Despite being a top-ten money maker for 1960, John Wayne assumed huge personal debt to get the film finished after United Artists refused to pay for cost overruns during production. It wasn't until the television rights sale in 1971 that Wayne's personal debts were finally paid off. It premiered on the U.S. network NBC in September 1971.

* John Wayne and Richard Widmark famously did not get along during filming. Since Widmark was a liberal Democrat who opposed blacklisting and supported the civil-rights movement and gun control--positions diametrically opposed to Wayne's--it was long rumored that politics had been the cause of the problem. However, Widmark later cited Wayne's lack of directing skills as the reason for the feud.

* Sonny Tufts was at one point considered for the role of Jim Bowie, and Clark Gable for the role of William Travis.

* Director John Ford showed up on the set, and let John Wayne know that he wanted to direct some of the picture. Wayne sent him out with a small crew to do some second-unit work, mostly of Mexican cavalry riding through the countryside as they approached the Alamo, and Frankie Avalon estimated that the footage filmed by Ford made up approximately 10%-15% of the finished film. Other sources, however, have said that Wayne eventually deemed most of Ford's footage unusable, and little if any of it made it into the final cut of the film. According to these sources, the footage that Ford believed he shot of the Mexican cavalry patrolling the countryside was actually re-shot by a second-unit director, although Wayne didn't have the heart to tell Ford.

* Charlton Heston, then a liberal Democrat, turned down the role of Jim Bowie because he feared the critical response to the movie. However, later in life Heston turned around and wholeheartedly embraced right-wing Republican politics, also changing his mind about not accepting the part and saying that it was "a huge mistake".

* John Wayne formed a close friendship with Laurence Harvey during filming. He later said Harvey should have received an Oscar nomination instead of Chill Wills.

* The Ybarra set was later used in several films and each made additions. By 1985, however, the set was mostly in ruins, and much of it was pulled down. Using plans and period drawings, the set was rebuilt for Alamo: The Price of Freedom (1988) on its old foundations, this time to full scale under Production Designer/Art Director Roger Ragland. The new set is still in use. Both "Lonesome Dove" (1989) and Bad Girls (1994/I) have used the historically correct facade.

Goofs

* Revealing mistakes: Stuntmen can be seen falling onto mattresses.

* Continuity: In the original cut of the movie, in one of the pull back scenes of the Alamo surrounded by the Mexican army, you could clearly see a bright yellow school bus motoring on its rounds of Bracketville Texas School children. It is not visible in later prints, and there are those who say it was never there in the first place.

* Continuity: In a scene where Travis rides a horse, the shadow changes direction several times.

* Continuity: In the critical scene where Bowie and Crockett are on horseback, ready to depart with their troops, Col. Travis makes his farewell speech. His shadow then changes directions several times.

* Crew or equipment visible: In the battle sequences mobile trailers are clearly visible.

* Continuity: When Capt. Dickinson announces to Col. Travis that Bowie is approaching, there is a soldier on the Travis' right-hand side pulling up a cannon by a rope. It cuts to the next shot and the same soldier appears only gesticulating to orient whom actually is pulling the rope. Then, from one shot to another, the cannon appears on the wall.

* Continuity: In the church, the shadows of Beekeeper and Bowie's torches appears on the wall behind. It is supposed to be the only light inside came from the torches.

* Continuity: Talking to Crockett, Flaca grabs the window wide open grates with her both hands. In the following shot, shown from inside, she is leaning the right part of her body on the window and maintaining only the left hand on the grate.

* Continuity: Under the old big tree, Flaca listens to Crockett holding the hat in her left hand. Shown from above, she appears holding the hat with her both hands.

* Continuity: When the Mexicans begin the siege of Alamo, Col. Travis uses a lunette to watch them, while Capt. Dickinson takes notes on his left-hand side. Between shots, seen from behind, Dickinson is on the Travis' right hand side.

* Continuity: After Col. Travis reprehends Bowie, Crockett remains talking to him. At one point, Crocket leans his hands on his hips. Next long shot he appears with his arms crossed.

* Continuity: Gen. Houston's shadow changes direction when he reads the letter delivered by Smitty.

* Revealing mistakes: During the last Mexican army attack, a dead soldier folds his right arm, approaching his hand to his head.

* Revealing mistakes: When Travis is killed he falls to the ground face down. As the Mexican soldiers overrun that position the "dead" Travis moves his left hand out of the way so no one steps on it.

* Anachronisms: The soldiers sing "Happy Birthday to You" to a little girl, 57 years before it was written.

* Anachronisms: The distinctive Alamo church sports upper windows that were not installed until about 15 years after the battle. There are other architectural inaccuracies, too.

* Factual errors: There are numerous inaccuracies in the depiction of the events of the real battle.

* Continuity: The Tennessee volunteer who falls onto a bench while holding a woman on his shoulders disappears.

* Factual errors: Characters react to news of massacre at Goliad. That took place two weeks after the Alamo fell.

* Audio/visual unsynchronized: When a soldier is riding his horse, we can hear the horses hoofs clopping on the ground. When the horse jumps into the air to jump over a fallen log, we can still hear the clopping noise even when the horse is in mid-air.

* Continuity: At the end of the film, when Lisa Dickinson is being led away from the Alamo on a mule, a large smudge appears on her left cheek when she is being led past Santa Anna that was not present when she was placed on the mule.

* Factual errors: At the Alamo, Jim Bowie receives a letter informing him that his wife and children recently died of cholera. In reality, Ursula died Sept. 10, 1833, 2½ years earlier.

* Factual errors: Jim Bowie is shown in bed suffering from injuries received in an explosion during the siege. In reality, throughout the siege he was bedridden because of an illness believed to be pneumonia, typhoid or tuberculosis.

* 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.

* Factual errors: In the movie, Flaca reads a letter that was ficticiously written by Mexican Dictator Santa Anna. She calls his first name as "Miguel" when in actuality his name was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

* Factual errors: The opening scene of the movie shows Sam Houston giving orders to William Barrett Travis to hold off the Mexican army until he could build an army. In reality he sent Travis to the Alamo to help Jim Bowie burn it down and retreat to Gonzales, Texas. Bowie and Travis ignored the order.

* Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Sam Houston refers to the Alamo as being on the Rio Bravo (aka Rio Grande) when the Alamo is located on the San Antonio River.

* Continuity: As Davy is walking with Graciela through the woods after convincing his men to fight, his hat which he has under his arm flips 180 degrees between shots.

* Factual errors: In the battle Santa Ana wears a Shako helmet. That is the hat all of his foot soldiers wore, not him.

* Factual errors: By dawn, the battle at the Alamo was all but finished. It was essentially a night action.

* Continuity: When Crockett and his men arrive at the Alamo, he stops and is standing with his rifle across his body in both hands. When the camera angle changes, the rifle is upright and he is leaning on it.

* Continuity: When Crockett and his men arrive at the Alamo, and he is standing in front of his men, he is a few feet away from Bowie. When the camera angle changes, he is standing right next to Bowie.

* Continuity: When Crockett and his men arrive at the Alamo, and he is standing in front of his men, Beekeeper is several feet back dismounting his horse. When the camera angle changes, he is standing right behind Crockett.

Memorable Quotes

Jim Bowie: I'd hate to say anything good about that long-winded jackanapes, but he does know the short way to start a war.
Davy Crockett: Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat - the same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound as a man. Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. Republic is one of those words.
[repeated phrase]
Tennessean: It do!
Davy Crockett: It was like I was empty. Well, I'm not empty anymore. That's what's important, to feel useful in this old world, to hit a lick against what's wrong for what's right even though you get walloped for saying that word. Now I may sound like a Bible beater yelling up a revival at a river crossing camp meeting, but that don't change the truth none. There's right and there's wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you're living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you're dead as a beaver hat.
Gen. Sam Houston: Where's Jim Bowie?
Captain James Butler Bonham: He's indisposed, sir.
Gen. Sam Houston: Indisposed? By God if you mean drunk, you say drunk, sir!
Captain James Butler Bonham: He's drunk, sir!
Smitty: So many times every day you stop and give thanks, but mostly I don't catch on what you're thanking the Lord for. I mean, there's nothing special.
Parson: I give thanks for the time and for the place.
Smitty: The time and the place, Parson?
Parson: The time to live and the place to die. That's all any man gets. No more, no less.
Col. Davy Crockett: Step down off your high horse, Mister. You don't get lard unless you boil the hog!
Gen. Sam Houston: Travis, I've never been able to like you. But you are one of the very few men I would trust with the life of Texas.
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!
Tennesseean: We sure killed many brave men today.
Thimblerig: Funny, I was proud of 'em. Even while I was killing 'em, I was proud of 'em. It speaks well for men that so many ain't afraid to die when they think right is on their side. It speaks well.
[the Alamo garrison is informed that no reinforcements are coming]
Jim Bowie: Well, that's it. I'm taking my men out of here now. Cutting through to the north. You coming?
Davy Crockett: Seems like the better part of valor.
Travis' man: Hey, Davy! Is it true that you and Mike Fink fought a three day fight on the Mississippi?
Davy Crockett: That's just an example of the tall tales folks tell about me! Me and Mike fought all right, but we quit at dark. It wouldn't of been the third day until the next morning!
[Laughs and rides off]
Graciela Carmela Maria 'Flaca' de Lopez y Vejar: Crockett? You are the famous Davy Crockett?
Col. Davy Crockett: Well, I'm Crockett. They named me Davy after an uncle that didn't leave Pa the farm after all.


Filming Locations

Texas, USA

Austin, Texas, USA

Bastrop, Texas, USA
(battle of San Jacinto)

Dripping Springs, Texas, USA

Driskell Hotel - 604 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Jim Small's Big Thicket, Bastrop, Texas, USA
(lake camp scenes)

Paramount Theatre - 713 Congress, Austin, Texas, USA

Pedernales Falls State Park - 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, Texas, USA
(Zacatecas and Mexican command scenes)

Reimer's Ranch - Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, Texas, USA
(Alamo and Bexar scenes)

Steiner Ranch - 896 Sayers Road, Bastrop, Texas, USA
(Bexar & Alamo scenes

Previous discussion:-

The Alamo ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Filmography compiled by ethanedwards
with special thanks to J.J. for the use of his post.

Post by Jay J. Foraker
I thought I would share a little remembrance and nostalgia on the world premiere of the Duke's "The Alamo." This took place here in San Antonio in October, 1960 (I don't remember the exact date). My memory is a little fuzzy here since I had just graduated from high school the previous spring, but as I recall, this took place at what was then called Wonderland Mall with a lot of state, county and local dignitaries as well as a lot of media. This was given a lot of promotion and the celebration was telecast locally. I wasn't able to attend but did watch the telecast. Of course, the Duke was there and, as I remember, Chill Wills and some of the other cast were on hand (memory fails me here). Then everybody travelled down Fredericksburg Road to the Woodlawn Theater for the premiere.
Just thought I'd share this bit of nostalgia with everyone.

Have a great day!

:cowboy: Hi Jay, welcome to this great site. Also, my own Mother was at a breakfast that you had to pay a fee for to eat with John Wayne. From what I remember her telling me, she sat across the table from The Duke. My mother was also at the premier of The Alamo. I don't remember much more than this but I do recall she said that she ordered the same meal as John Wayne did at that breakfast, which was a Western Omlett.

I saw the original road show engagement of John Wayne's "The Alamo" a few weeks after its world premiere in 1960. When I was able to buy a VHS tape of the movie in the early '80s, I was extremely puzzled, because I was sure that the character Emil Sand met his demise at the hands of Crockett and Co. Sand just initiates that skirmish with Crockett, gets whipped with the help of Bowie, and then simply disappears off the map.
When some publicity about the release of the Director's Cut VHS was initiated in the early '90s, I salivated and made sure I got my copy the day it was released.
Sure 'nough, there were the missing scenes, among others - and - it was in letterbox - glory, glory day.
Like most of the rest of you folks have been saying - nothing can hold a candle to the uncut version of Duke's "The Alamo." Unfortunately, as I understand from the rest of the discussions on this site, the DVD is of the cut version, a vastly inferior presentation.


Jay

Regarding a folk legend about "The Alamo" - the rumor has been around for years that in one of the scenes during the battle, a Bracketville school bus can be seen in the background. I have looked at the uncut version several times without spotting this anomaly and would be interested if anyone else has seen this or has more info on this.

Thanks folks -
Jay

I have seen The Alamo many many times and thankfully on the big screen as well - and never seen that darn bus. I think people mess this up with a behind the scenes photo: When the final assault of the Mexicans was filmed, there was indeed a red bus in the background of the chapel -yet that's only on photographs.

(I've never seen the legendary wrist-watch in Ben-Hur either!)

Even with the director's cut and the scenes which have been missing for so long, there remain some scenes which have been shot yet never made it in the final Wayne-version. I'd love to see these:

When Frankie Avalon carries the fire-wood, he meets with his love-interest (the blonde girl, only to be seen in the final version when Frankie faints)

And the scene in which Crockett and his men enter San Antonio in their fancy clothes.

While the Alamo may not be my favourite movie by any strech of the imagination I do find the recovery of previously deleted scenes very interesting. From what I can understand scenes within the movie that previously seemed odd i.e. the henchman whom Duke fought with on the street just disappears out of the movie but the deleted scenes seem to show us more of what happened there now that can only improve the movie.

Itdo what do you think are the chances of actually finding scenes that Duke cut from the movie, I was watching a documentary about Humphrey Bogart a while ago and it was brilliant it not only showed many deleted scenes from his movies but alternative endings its a shame that nothing like this can be found for Dukes movies or is it a case of not looking in the right places.

Note I'm not writting in bold anymore as it has been brought to my attention that it can be translated as me shouting.

:agent:

:cowboy: I always was told by my parents to look for that bus and never could spot it though that said they always did. Guess I will have to watch The Alamo for my Thanksgiving movie. I never knew where to look but now I will look for it behind the Chapel.

I think that this movie shows the patriotic theme of America that makes it great. This is a classic Duke movie, and I cherish it as a Duke greatest.

Note I'm not writting in bold anymore as it has been brought to my attention that it can be translated as me shouting.


Robbie, you're a hoot!

Cheers B)

OK, Ringo Kid but don't spoil your fun watching the film by looking for that non-existing bus: I'm only saying I've seen photos of the bus parked behind the chapel (when filming the scene of the last wave of mexicans storming the chapel). I've never seen the bloody thing in the film (there are other bloopers to look for, unfortunately).

:cowboy: Hi Itdo, thanks for that ;-)

I do know of one blooper I can think of off hand.

This was a scene where after the Mexican Cannorfire blew a hole through one of the walls. There was a scene where the Mexican Soldiers were racing through the hole, ther was some sort of straw-covered roof? they were running under--which was on fire. Anyway, it must have been a powerful windy day when they filmed that scene because the "bricks" were being blown away by the winds. One person running through the "debris" accidently kicked or slightly bumped his foot against one, and it rolled away like a Tumbleweed.

Two bloopers I can think of are when Travis is killed the Mexicans run over him and he can be seen to move his hand.

The next one is quite funny when Duke is told to guard the north wall he accidentally walks on one of the defenders head.

At the same time though the final assault on the Alamo is very well done and Duke should get a little more credit for it than he has in the past.

:agent:

:cowboy: Hi Robbie, I remember that as well but had forgotten about "Travis" moving his hand out of the way after he was killed.

Resurrection time once more ... ^_^

I viewed my "director's cut" VHS of "The Alamo" over the holidays after an abstinence of some time. I noticed that one of the restored scenes not on the cut version had some emotional impact. That is the one with the death of the "Parson and Crockett's soliloquy and prayer. Very touching! This and other scenes in the restored version simply add to the quality of "The Alamo."

Cheers - Jay :)

I almost forgot -

In our daily newspaper's obituaries today, a reporter that interviewed Duke during the making of "The Alamo" passed away this week - he was 82, I believe. Anyway, he also covered the murder that involved two of the bit players in the movie. I believe Duke was to give testimony at the trial, but I have no specifics.
Just thought I'd pass along that little bit of trivia.

Regards - Jay :mellow:

Hi Jay



The murder you refer to was about a supporting actress name Jeanne Le Guye real name Le Jeanne Ethridge who was a member of a travelling group known as The Hollywood Starlight Players. After auditioning for a part in The Alamo she and her boyfriend were taken on as extras and lived in the extras quarters. Later her part was expanded and she moved out of the extras quarters into the next strp up. This led to an arguement with her boyfriend during which time he stabbed her to death.
If you want to read more I suggest Duke the Life and Times of John Wayne
or John Wayne's Alamo

It might also be possible if Ringo in his reasearch facility might be able to pick up a copy of the actual paper headline. I know I for one would be interested in reading about it.



Regards

Arthur

One of the experiences of seeing the restored Director's cut for the first time is seeing that scene of the murdered Ethridge for the first time - her only scene was cut for the theatrical release. It was of no consequence to the plot - just a single moment of a feisty pioneer women leaving San Antone.

I thought she was the one!

Jay :(

:cowboy: Pardon my ignorance but, who was Ethridge?

She was the actress who was murdered by her boyfriend in Bracketville (or maybe the Ft. Clark area) during the filming of "The Alamo." She is only in the scene where Crockett and Flacca are watching the exodus of the townspeople. She had all her belongings in a wagon and exchanges a few words with the principals. The scene is not in the cut version of the movie.

Best regards - Jay :)

:cowboy: Hi Jay and thanks. I had never heard about that, what a sad thing to happen though. I sure hope justice happened in her case.

I used to be a Correctional Officer for the State of Tx. I dealt with many thousands of inmates in the years I worked for the system. I heard countless stories of them telling at how they were framed and because of that, were sentenced to terms in prison. Some undoubtedly were in because of wrongful information but, that number is VERY low.

Anyway, I really do hope justice was served for that gal.

Best regards--TRK.

Hi Ringo -

Her boyfriend (his name escapes me) was sentenced to thirty years in prison (which means he has been a free man for over a decade - unless he got in more trouble).
Duke was supposed to have testified at the trial here in San Antonio, but I have no specifics.

Cheers - Jay ^_^

Is this girl whom was murdered the blind woman in the movie.

:agent:

Hi Robbie -

No, that was Veda Ann Borg that played the blind woman (married to the character Jocko). Unless you see the uncut version of "The Alamo," you won't see Ethridge.

Cheers - Jay :)

:cowboy: Hi Jay, thanks for the info.

Yep, he is out of prison unless like you say, he did get into more trouble while serving his time--which is easy to do. usually you actually serve 1/2 the time you get sentenced. I.e. 10 years is actually only 5 or less. And it is even less than that because one gets double time served for being in a County lock-up before, during and after the trial.

TRK.

Hi Ringo -

Thank you for that info. I think I was aware of prison time being cut in half, but not the double time allowed for being in a county lock-up.

Some more trivia regarding the "Jocko" scene - the old woman in the wagon, part of the family of the blind woman and Jocko - that was Olive Cary, widow of Harry Cary, Sr. - Duke did keep to a family atmosphere on the set.

Cheers - Jay ^_^

:cowboy: Hi jay, no problem. Only I can't say for sure if that is the policy all county jails have or if it is only used when they are full up.

Hi

I knew the information was somewhere. If you read DUKE The Life and Times of John Wayne pages 260-61

The filming was also clouded by a tragic occurence. Two of the many extras who were flown in from Hollywood to take part in the film were a thirty-two year old actor named Chester Harvey Smith and his twenty-seven year old girlfriend an actress known as Le Jeanne Ethridge, who was billed in the film as Le Jeanne Guye. Both were members of the same Hollywood repertory company, and, owing to the overcrowded conditions created by the influx of personel for the filming, both were billeted with several other extras in a bunkhouse in Spofford Texas, a rail junction town of about 250 residents twenty miles south of Brackettville. During the filming Le Jeanne evidently acquitted herself so well in her brief scenes as an extra that she came to the attention of someone in the Batjac organization and her role in the film was expanded, giving her a small part (as an unnamed woman) and a raise in salary from $75 to $350 a week. As a member of the cast, she was also assigned living quarters closer by, in Brackettville.
Le Jeanne went back to Spofford to get her clothes, and while she was packing to leave the bunkhouse, her boy friend stabbed her to death. The details of the case were never made public, for Smith's preliminary hearing and arraignment were closed. As president of Batjac and Le Jeanne's employer at the time, Duke was subpoenaed to testify briefly at the hearing, but there was no jury trial; Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to twenty years in prison.




Regards

Arthur

Darn - That guy got off lightly!!!!

Jay :angry:

20 years? Thats it!! :headbonk: He should have had life or been zapped!!!

:cowboy: Yep, I agree with you Jay/Viper. A person like that guy is will never be a useful Citizen.

Hi -

It occurred to me that two Texas governors have been represented in movies by their siblings.
The first would be Bill Daniel, brother of Gov. Price Daniel, who played Col. Neill, aide to Sam Houston, in "The Alamo."
The second would be Merrill Connally, brother of Gov. John Connally, who was most noteable in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" as the Team Leader (the tall white haired gent).
As far as I can tell, "The Alamo" was the only movie Bill Daniel appeared in. Merrill Connally, on the other hand, was in a few other movies than CEOTTK.

Cheers - Jay :)

Pulling this up from the recent archives -
I've seen mention here and there that there was some antagonism between JW and Richard Widmark during the making of "The Alamo." Does anyone have any details on what this entailed? Was there some specific incident that caused them to be at odds or was it just a conflict of personalities? If this contention existed, it doesn't seem to have affected the outcome of the movie itself. Just curious.
Cheers - Jay :rolleyes:

Hi Jay

When Richard Widmark was signed for the part of Jim Bowie in The Alamo Wayne had a large sign printed and displayed saying 'Welcome Aboard Dick'. When Widmark saw it he turned to Wayne and said next time remember the name is Richard. Wayne replied I will Richard if there is a next time.

I believe that during the making of the picture Widmark often questioned Wayne's directing ability and on at least one occasion Wayne pinned him to a wall. But say what you like about Widmark he was a professional and gave a professional performance.

Regards

Arthur

Hi Arthur -
Thank you so much for that info. Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember the part about the sign, but not the part about Widmark disparaging JW's directing abilities. Professionalism was a hallmark of the whole production, with none of the discord apparent between the two actors who didn't let their feelings spill out on the screen.
Cheers - Jay :D

Jay,

I might add that Richard Widmark kept to himself throughout the production. When he was not needed for a scene he would be in his dressing room and didn't come out until needed. He wasn't very social and seemed snobby.

I think I read that he and Duke had a confrontation on the set about a scene, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was about. Duke at the end of production never again talked to Widmark.

Cheers B)

In addition to Hondos, and the other comments, it would appear that Richard Widmark, didn't like Duke, from that"Welcome aboard Dick" start, and certainly didn't rate him as a director.
You only have to read "Company of Heroes" by Harry Carey jnr, and I refer to the chapter, Two Rode Together, which was being filmed at the same time as The Alamo premiere, and I quote:-
"Uncle Jack(Ford) asked me to deliver a message,Off I (Dobe) went to Widmarks cabin.
Same routine-very gruff,"Who is it?" When I told him it was me(Dobe), and the Old Man(Ford) wanted him, he opened the door.He went into a minor rage. Not his mad rage, just his upset rage.
"I know what he wants.I know exactly what the old b****** wants!
Wayne has called him, and he wants me to go to that god***** premiere of The Alamo in San Antonio! Well, s**** it! I'm not going to that god***** terrible movie. It was enough grief working on it!..... D*** I'm not going.
He ended up going, because Uncle Jack said so,"Dick here has been kind enough to do this for Duke.... as long as he can take you boys (Dobe, Ken Curtiss) with him.....And Dick thank you very much" He(Ford) patted Duke on the shoulder.
It's ironic, that they all called him DICK!! And it didn't seem a problem!!

Hi All -
Here's a bit of trivia I had never heard before - The "Ripley's Believe It or Not" piece in the newspaper this morning had this noteworthy information - Davy Crockett had only one book with him as he defended the Alamo - Ben Franklin's Autobiography.
Not earthshaking information, to be sure. But I toss it out for anyone that is interested.
Cheers - Jay ;)

THE ALAMO

PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY JOHN WAYNE
MUSIC BY DIMITRI TIOMKIN
A BATJAC PRODUCTION
UNITED ARTISTS

[ATTACH]233]******[ATTACH]234]

INFORMATION FROM IMDb

Plot Summary

In 1836 General Santa Anna and the Mexican army is sweeping across Texas.
To be able to stop him, General Sam Huston needs time to get his main force into shape.
To buy that time he orders Colonel William Travis to defend a small mission on the Mexicans' route at all costs.
Travis' small troop is swelled by groups accompanying Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett,
but as the situation becomes ever more desperate Travis makes it clear there will be no shame if they leave while they can.

Summary written by Jeremy Perkins

The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat
against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.

Summary written by Jim Beaver


Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
James Edward Grant original screenplay

Full Cast

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 .... Graciela Carmela Maria 'Flaca' de Lopez y Vejar
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)
Aissa Wayne .... Lisa Angelica Dickinson
Hank Worden .... Parson
William Henry .... Dr. Sutherland (as Bill Henry)
Bill Daniel .... Col. Neill
Wesley Lau .... Emil Sande
Chuck Roberson .... Tennesseean (segment "It do.")
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams .... Lt. 'Irish' Finn (as Guinn Williams)
Olive Carey .... Mrs. Dennison
Ruben Padilla .... Generalissimo Antonio Miguel Lopez de Santa Anna
Richard Boone .... Gen. Sam Houston
Ray Ackland .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Charles Akins .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Harold Allgood .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lee Allison .... Tennessean (uncredited)
D.E. Barentine .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Carol Baxter .... Melinda, Texan Girl (uncredited)
Abe Blankenship .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
F. Bode .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Danny Borzage .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Paul Breen .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Brewer .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jim Burk .... Tennessean (uncredited)
H.J. Canutt .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Tap Canutt .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
A.R. Carpenter .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Ed Carter .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Georges Cartes .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Vincente Castro .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Raul De Luna .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
LeJean Eldridge .... Mrs. Guy (uncredited)
Rojelio Estrada .... Mexican boy (uncredited)
Estill Ezell .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Manuel Farias .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Mickey Finn .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Gerry Fisher .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Karl Flenn .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Miguel Garza .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Yndalecio Gonzales .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Mike Goulla .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Fred Graham .... Bearded volunteer (uncredited)
Joe Graham .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Big John Hamilton .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Robert H. Harris .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... Bull (uncredited)
Frank Higgins .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Doug Hodges .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Junior Hudkins .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Joe Jackson .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Elmo Jones .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Wayne Kendrick .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Kennedy .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Charles Kone .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
David Kuykendall .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Ronald Lee .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... (uncredited)
Efrain Maldonada .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Cy Malis .... Pete (uncredited)
Bryan McAfee .... Travis' man (uncredited)
John McGuyer .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Doug McNealy .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Don Middlebrook .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jack Miller .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
J.R. Miller .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Bob Morgan .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Bob Moss Sr. .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
C.A. Nicks .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Ray Ochoa .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Dale Parsons .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jack Pennick .... Sgt. Lightfoot (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Jerry Phillips .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Homer Pierce .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lee Roy Powell .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Lupe Reyes .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Warren Rhea .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Ed Riley .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Rudy Robbins .... Tennessean (segment "Do this mean what I think it do?") (uncredited)
Cruz Rodriquez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Eleno Rodriquez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Ricardo Rosales .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Bob Rose .... Tennessean (uncredited)
George Ross .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
LeRoy Ryland .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Charles Sanders .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Alberto Sandoval .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Guadalupe Santoya .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Pete Schneider .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Ben Shirley .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Chester Smith .... (uncredited)
Dan Smith .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
George Sofge .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Greg Souquet .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Jack Spain .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jerry Sterner .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Winner Stevens .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Ted Sumerall .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Alfred Taylor .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Martin Torres .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Julian Trevino .... Silvero Seguin (uncredited)
Jesse Valdez .... Bowie's charro (uncredited)
Charles Veltmann Jr. .... Travis' man (uncredited)
Jim Walker .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Pilar Wayne .... (uncredited)
Toni Wayne .... (uncredited)
Ted White .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Bill Williams .... Tennessean (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Clay Wilson .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Thomas Worrell .... Bowie's man (uncredited)
Jim Wright .... Bowie's man (uncredited)



Produced by
James Edward Grant .... associate producer
John Wayne .... producer
Michael Wayne .... associate producer

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cliff Lyons .... second unit director
Robert E. Relyea .... assistant director
Robert Saunders .... assistant director
Michael Wayne .... first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)


Stunts

Bill Babcock .... stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady .... stunts (uncredited)
Jim Burk .... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt .... stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt .... stunts (uncredited)
Harry Froboess .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Graham .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy .... stunts (uncredited)
Tex Hill .... stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan .... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Rudy Robbins .... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson .... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Rose .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Shannon .... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith .... stunts (uncredited)
Gibb Stepp .... stunts (uncredited)
Ted White .... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams .... stunts (uncredited)
Thomas Worrell .... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Young .... stunts (uncredited)

Other crew
Frank Beetson Jr. .... technical supervisor (as Frank Beetson)
Russell Birdwell .... unit publicist
Jim Henaghan .... unit publicist
Robert E. Morrison .... production associate
Jack Pennick .... technical supervisor
Michael Wayne .... assistant to producer
Paul Francis Webster .... lyricist: "Tennessee Babe", "Here's to the Ladies" and "Ballad of the Alamo" (song titles uncredited)
Paul Francis Webster .... lyricist: "The Green Leaves of Summer"
Burt Kennedy .... production associate (uncredited)
George Parrish .... orchestrator (uncredited)
Denver Pyle .... set photographer (uncredited)

Trivia

* LeJean Eldridge was murdered during filming by her boyfriend.

* Lieutenant Finn's fall from his horse was unscripted and unintentional.

* The huge Alamo set took two years to construct.

* At the Alamo, Jim Bowie receives a letter informing him that his wife and children recently died of cholera.
In fact, their deaths took place 4 years earlier.

* Jim Bowie is shown in bed suffering from injuries from an explosion during the siege of the Alamo.
In fact, throughout the siege he was bedridden because of an illness believed to be pneumonia, typhoid, or tuberculosis.

* John Wayne originally intended that Richard Widmark should play Davy Crockett,
while Wayne himself would have taken the small role of Sam Houston so he could focus his energy on directing the picture.
But he was only able to get financial backing if he played one of the main parts, so he decided to play Crockett and cast Widmark as Jim Bowie.

* Before those changes, Sonny Tufts was considered for the role of Jim Bowie, and Clark Gable for the role of William Travis.

* During the battle sequence, one of the cannons rolled over the foot of Laurence Harvey, breaking it at the instep.
He continued with the scene, eventually treating the injury himself.

* The Ybarra set was in mostly ruin by 1985. The set was used in several films and each made additions.
In 1985, the set was mostly pulled down and using plans and period drawings
the "The Alamo the Price of Freedom" set was rebuilt on to old foundations,
this time to full scale under Production Designer/Art Director Roger Ragland.
The new set is still in use, both "Lonesome Dove" (1989) (mini) and Bad Girls (1994) have used the historically correct facade

* John Wayne was a fan of The Kingston Trio's recording of "Remember the Alamo",
composed by Jane Bowers, and wanted to use the song in the film.
When, for various reasons, the rights to the song couldn't be obtained, Dimitri Tiomkin,
who scored the film, and Paul Francis Webster wrote their own song for the film, "The Green Leaves of Summer".

* Director John Ford showed up on the set, and let John Wayne know that he wanted to direct some of the picture.
Wayne sent him out with a small crew to do some second-unit work,
mostly of Mexican cavalry riding through the countryside as they approached the Alamo.

* John Wayne partially financed this film himself. During shooting,
the film was delayed due to various production problems.
Wayne was under so much pressure, he smoked cigarettes almost non-stop when not acting.

* When Chill Wills was nominated for an Oscar, he campaigned so aggressively for the award,
many felt he lost because voters grew tired of seeing his trade paper ads.

* David Crockett is shown being killed in battle. Historical evidence,
however, strongly suggests that he was executed after the battle, along with five other survivors.


Goofs

* Revealing mistakes: Stuntmen can be seen falling onto mattresses.

* Continuity: In the original cut of the movie, one of the pull back scenes of the Alamo surrounded by the Mexican army,
you could clearly see a bright yellow school bus motoring on its rounds of Bracketivlle Texas School children
. It is not visible in later prints, and there are those who say it was never there in the first place.

* Continuity: In a scene where Travis rides a horse, the shadow changes direction several times.

* Continuity: In the critical scene where Bowie and Crockett are on horseback, ready to depart with their troops,
Col. Travis makes his farewell speech. His shadow then changes directions several times.

* Crew or equipment visible: In the battle sequences mobile trailers are clearly visible.

* Continuity: When Capt. Dickinson announces to Col. Travis that Bowie is approaching, there is a soldier
on the Travis' right-hand side pulling up a cannon by a rope.
It cuts to the next shot and the same soldier appears only gesticulating to orient whom actually is pulling the rope.
Then, from one shot to another, the cannon appears on the wall.

* Continuity: In the church, the shadows of Beekeeper and Bowie's torches appears on the wall behind.
It is supposed to be the only light inside came from the torches.

* Continuity: Talking to Crockett, Flaca grabs the window wide open grates with her both hands.
In the following shot, shown from inside, she is leaning the right part of her body on the window and maintaining only the left hand on the grate.

* Continuity: Under the old big tree, Flaca listens to Crockett holding the hat in her left hand.
Shown from above, she appears holding the hat with her both hands.

* Continuity: When the Mexicans begin the siege of Alamo,
Col. Travis uses a lunette to watch them, while Capt. Dickinson takes notes on his left-hand side.
Between shots, seen from behind, Dickinson is on the Travis' right hand side.

* Continuity: After Col. Travis reprehends Bowie, Crockett remains talking to him.
At one point, Crocket leans his hands on his hips. Next long shot he appears with his arms crossed.

* Continuity: Gen. Houston's shadow changes direction when he reads the letter delivered by Smitty.

* Revealing mistakes: During the last Mexican army attack, a dead soldier folds his right arm, approaching his hand to his head.

* Revealing mistakes: When Travis is killed he falls to the ground face down.
As the Mexican soldiers overrun that position the "dead" Travis moves his left hand out of the way so no one steps on it.

* Anachronisms: The soldiers sing "Happy Birthday to You" to a little girl, 57 years before it was written.

* Anachronisms: The distinctive Alamo church sports upper windows that were not installed until about 15 years after the battle
. There are other architectural inaccuracies, too.

* Factual errors: There are numerous inaccuracies in the depiction of the events of the real battle.

* Continuity: The Tennessee volunteer who falls onto a bench while holding a woman on his shoulders disappears.

* Factual errors: Characters react to news of massacre at Goliad. That took place two weeks after the Alamo fell.

* Audio/visual unsynchronized: When a soldier is riding his horse, we can hear the horses hoofs clopping on the ground.
When the horse jumps into the air to jump over a fallen log, we can still hear the clopping noise even when the horse is in mid-air.

* Continuity: At the end of the film, when Lisa Dickinson is being led away from the Alamo on a mule,
a large smudge appears on her left cheek when she is being led past Santa Anna that was not present when she was placed on the mule.

* Factual errors: At the Alamo, Jim Bowie receives a letter informing him that his wife and children recently died of cholera.
In reality, their deaths took place four years earlier.

* Factual errors: Jim Bowie is shown in bed suffering from injuries received in an explosion during the siege.
In reality, throughout the siege he was bedridden because of an illness believed to be pneumonia, typhoid or tuberculosis.

* Continuity: When Graciela is reading the fake letter from Santa Anna to Crockett's men,
she says it is signed Generalissimo Antonio Miguel de Santa Anna.
Later, during the scene where a troop of lancers rides to the Alamo to demand surrender,
the lancer officer refers to Santa Anna's correct name, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.

Hi,
I just think this film is wonderful, and is in my Top 5, all time favourites.
I know it has come in for a lot of stick, but who cares,
I think it's great entertainment, and I can watch it over, and over, again.
I am lucky because I have the full version, with all the missing bits,
Intro, Intermission and Exit music, and in 5.1 sounds, it's great.
I know that Duke and Richard were not bosom friends, after certain comments,
but they appeared to act well together.
Laurence Harvey, was a suprise casting, but he also came across well.
With all the other Ford/Wayne gang, adding their bit,
I thought the whole thing was brilliant.
I am only pleased that after all this time, the film has returned a very handsome profit,
and as vindicated Duke's faith and dream.
Rating 9/10

the alamo

this movie is a pleasure to watch no matter the mistakes, while it may have cost wayne his shirt and then some it has the appeal of a classic. the music is great and fits in with the movie, the uniforms of the mexican army is as correct as they could make them with the knowledge of the time that they had.

this movie makes it into my top list because i just love to watch it, it tells a story of something that all americans should know it tells this story with a lot of latertude but basically it tells some of the truth.

to see a shakesperian actor play the part of travis and pull it of well is a treat.

what else can you say but this movie is great

hooroo smokey

"The Alamo" was Duke's Film Love of His Life, :wub: and He put up all of His Money to try to get it done, and almost went Broke because of the Film ! :fear2:

Because my Great, Great Grandfather was one of The Tennessee Volunteers and was only a few miles from "The Alamo" when it fell, as told to me by my Grandmother many, many times when I was a Small Boy in the 1930s, :) I really enjoyed the Film and it was not too far from the truth. :rolleyes:

Chilibill :cowboy:

Fun film, highly recommended. Even if there was allot of problems getting things together before, during and after the filming.

I have a special place in my heart for "The Alamo," partly because it was made only 125 miles from here and, of course, depicts the historical events surrounding the shrine here in 1836. We were able to follow news reports of the making of the film and the big party for the world premiere here was televised. I think the uncut version of this is one of Duke's great achievements, however beset by problems and financial difficulties.
The recent remake of "The Alamo" is only a pale attempt at depicting the story. In its determination to be politically correct, it lost a lot of entertainment value and was just downright dull.
Duke's version is by far the best!
Cheers - Jay :D :D

Even though The Searchers is probably considered Waynes best film ever, this one is my absolute favorite. Accuracy, smackuracy, I never cared what mistakes there were in the telling of the story, I just love this movie. Hell, it was nominated for Best Picture, that has to tell you something. It didn't get that for nothing.
You're right Keith, the set looks alot different than it did when the movie was made. In fact, a good chunk of the set was destroyed during the filming. Parts of the north wall, where the Mexican army came through were knocked down. About 1/3 of the south wall, from the corner where a good chunk scenes were done was bulldozed by Wayne for the closing scenes. And, the upstairs where Travis HQ's was was blown up for battle scenes that were never in the final cut. Those scenes were of the Mexicans turning the cannon around at the southwest corner and shooting at the HQ where some Texians retreated to. There were also scenes filmed of fighting on the stairway that were never used. A very large part of the rear of the church was also destroyed which you can see in the movie near the end of the battle. I've got some photos that were given to me by a friend who worked down there during the 70's. This guy also has a few pieces of the set that he brought home, plus, he has about a dozen Mexican uniforms from the movie that he acquired a couple of years ago. His biggest prize is the model he built himself of the Alamo set that looks identical to the way it looked in the movie. He spared no detail. it takes up about 1/4 of his basement and is about 12 feet long and 6 feet wide.
The set nowadays looks a bit the same but, there are notable differences. The south wall has been restored but, there is a large gate in the center to move film equipment in and out. The upstairs has been replaced but, looks nothing the same and has a large pink hump on top. There's also a portico in front of it and the stairway is long gone. The north wall has been replaced but, looks nothing like from the movie. And the in the church, a large ramp goes up to the back, which is historically right but, was not in the movie, plus, the inside of the church is quite different form the movie. You can go up the gun ramps on the set but, you're not allowed to up on the walls. Supposed to be unsafe. And the rooms or barracks you see in the movie are boarded up. You can see inside through the door cracks but, there's nothing them but, junk wood. Also, in the scene where Bowie chases Crockett into the hospital after getting soaked? That part of the set is still original, including the stairway and right around the corner is a set of rest rooms that were built for the cast and crew and now tourists. Camera angles prevent them from being seen during the movie. Also, in the town, all the building from the movie that represented San Antonio are still there but, others have been added over the years for other movies that were made there.
Remember the scenes where Crockett and Flaca go up and down the stairs to and from her room? The stairs go nowhere. Just up and stop. the rest of those scenes were done on a set at Fort Clark, a few miles away in Bracketville. Still, if you haven't been there, it's worth the trip. I've been twice in the last 5 yrs and love every minute of being there. And, you'll be surprised just how small the set really is compared to the real Alamo compund.

On the Cutting Room Floor

There are 12 scenes totalling 31 minutes cut from the original release,
which ran 192+ minutes.

1.A drunken Bowie, finds Travis in charge.
2.Travis and Dickinson, discuss, Jefferson.
3.Emil, is killed by Crockett, who tells Flaca, the news.
4.Flaca and Mrs. Guy, talking, as settlers leave.
5.Bowie defends Smitty.
6.Crockett and Bowie, discuss pyrotechnics.
7.Crockett tells Flaca, about a ridgepole.
8.Travis and Bowie argue as Bonham arrives.
9.A patrol suffers casualties,re-inforcements arrive, and Lisa Dickinsons Birthday party.
10.The parson dies, as Crockett prays.
11.Religious beliefs are discussed, before the battle.
12.A line of dialogue by Bowie, is missing as the North wall falls/

Other cuts include, the Overture,Intermission, and End music.

I have the full version, and it certainly enhances and makes the story line
much more flowing, with these pieces restored.

You're right Keith, it does. Wouldn't it be great if they found some more lost footage, especially the battle scenes I mentioned. There's even one, and you can see it on the documentary on the DVD and VHS Directors Cut that shows Wayne grabbing the head off a lance of one Mexican lancer and throwing into the chest of another right after he comes down from the flag pole hill. I also have a tape which I've since recorded to DVD of some home movies taken by one of the extras on the movie that shows Crockett on the flag pole hill and you can see the Mexicans flooding into the plaza from the north wall area. As it pans to the left, you can see Mexicans on the southwest corner begin to turn the cannon around to fire at the long barracks. All that film is probably long gone now and that's a shame. It would've certainly added to the scope of the battle.

Memorable Quotes

Jim Bowie: I've never had anything to say about that long-winded jackanapes, but he sure does know a way how to start a war.

Davy Crockett: Republic. I like the sound of the word. It means people can live free, talk free, go or come, buy or sell, be drunk or sober, however they choose. Some words give you a feeling. Republic is one of those words that makes me tight in the throat - the same tightness a man gets when his baby takes his first step or his first baby shaves and makes his first sound as a man. Some words can give you a feeling that makes your heart warm. Republic is one of those words.

[repeated phrase]
Tennessean: It do!

Davy Crockett: It was like I was empty. Well, I'm not empty anymore. That's what's important, to feel useful in this old world, to hit a lick against what's wrong for what's right even though you get walloped for saying that word. Now I may sound like a Bible beater yelling up a revival at a river crossing camp meeting, but that don't change the truth none. There's right and there's wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you're living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you're dead as a beaver hat.

Gen. Sam Houston: Where's Jim Bowie?
Captain James Butler Bonham: He's indisposed, sir.
Gen. Sam Houston: Indisposed? By God if you mean drunk, you say drunk, sir!
Captain James Butler Bonham: He's drunk, sir!

Smitty: So many times every day you stop and give thanks, but mostly I don't catch on what you're thanking the Lord for. I mean, there's nothing special.
Parson: I give thanks for the time and for the place.
Smitty: The time and the place, Parson?
Parson: The time to live and the place to die. That's all any man gets. No more, no less.

Col. Davy Crockett: Step down off your high horse, Mister. You don't get lard unless you boil the hog!

Gen. Sam Houston: Travis, I've never been able to like you. But you are one of the very few men I would trust with the life of Texas.

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!

Tennesseean: We sure killed many brave men today.
Thimblerig: Funny, I was proud of 'em. Even while I was killing 'em, I was proud of 'em. It speaks well for men that so many ain't afraid to die when they think right is on their side. It speaks well.

[the Alamo garrison is informed that no reinforcements are coming]
Jim Bowie: Well, that's it. I'm taking my men out of here now. Cutting through to the north. You coming?
Davy Crockett: Seems like the better part of valor.

Travis' man: Hey, Davy! Is it true that you and Mike Fink fought a three day fight on the Mississippi?
Davy Crockett: That's just an example of the tall tales folks tell about me! Me and Mike fought all right, but we quit at dark. It wouldn't of been the third day until the next morning!
[Laughs and rides off]

INFORMATION IMDb

Originally posted by smokey@Jan 23 2006, 08:58 AM
to see a shakesperian actor play the part of travis and pull it of well is a treat.
25726

Laurence Harvey kept cast and crew entertained with Shakespearean dialogue done in a Southern accent.
Cheers - Jay :D

I have a video of the ABC special from 1960, Spirit of the Alamo, which was meant to give some publicity to the movie by showing scenes of the movie and tell about building the movie site. It has Harvey standing on the balcony of what's supposed to be the San Antonio Hotel and quoting Shakespeare but, in a cultured southern accent.

This film was truly a labor of love on the part of John Wayne, and there is so much to like about it, as has been pointed out by so many others ahead of me. We especially enjoy the sweeping score by Dmitri Tiomkin. It was one of the first movies we watched on our HDTV last year - it was incredible!

Deep Discount DVD ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) has the movie for under $10.

Available from Amazon ([Only registered and activated users can see links])is "The Alamo: Original Uncut Version (1960)" in VHS. They also have The Alamo available on DVD ([Only registered and activated users can see links]).

Chester :newyear:

Chill Wills and The Alamo fiasco

This is a piece I will be posting in Pals Of The Saddle

Hi,
Chill Wills, character actor, and liked by Duke, although it's a wonder,
he ever spoke to him again, after almost totally losing Duke an Alamo
oscar, by his own personal comments!!

When Chill Wills was nominated for an Oscar, for his supporting role in The Alamo,
he campaigned so aggressively for the award, many felt he lost,
because voters grew tired of seeing his trade paper ads.
His electioneering was tasteless, at best.
A full page ad in the Hollywood Reporter,
showed the cast and crew, standing in front of The Alamo, replica,
with the caption,

We of The Alamo cast are praying harder,
than the real Texans prayed for their lives in the real Alamo,for Chill Wills,
to win the Oscar.

The copy read,
Cousin Chill's acting was great,
The noticed was signed,
Your Alamo cousins

Academy voters, and the general public, resented this ploy.
Russell Birdwell, the movies, publicist, added his misguided views,
and the movie, fell into a form of Hollywood disrepute.
In hindsight Duke, should have kept his eye on the ball.

Hi Keith - I always wondered why Duke selected Chill Wills to be in "McLintock" when he and Birdwell pretty well sunk chances for "The Alamo" to get any major Oscar award with their antics. Duke fired Birdwell after this fiasco, but evidently retained some kind of relationship with Wills.
Cheers - Jay <_<

I heard this story years ago, regarding Wills campaign for BSA. It was said that Groucho Marx, upon seeing the ad that Wills took out sent him a note saying, "Dear Chill, I'm very glad to see that we're cousins but, I'm voting for Sal Mineo". True? I don't know but, I've heard it repeated many times over the years.

Hi WaynamoJim,

Dear Mr. Chill Wills;
I am delighted, to be your cousin, but I voted for Sal Mineo
This was indeed was true, and it was published,
in The New York Times, Atlanta Constitution,
Los Angeles Times. Hollywood Reporter, and San Antonio Light,
all between March and April 1961.

Hope this helps to clear the un-certainty?

Can someone tell me if there is a DVD version of the Alamo that has the same scenes as the VHS tape. In the DVD version I have some scenes have been edited out and they are very important scenes. If anyone can help me I would appreciate an email at [Only registered and activated users can see links]. Thanks so much

Hi Mike and welcome.

Your question has been brought up numerous times on the board and unfortunately we don't have the answer you are looking for. The extended version at this time is only on the tape and we have yet to find it on a DVD. Perform a search on the board and you will see numerous topics talking about this.

Again, welcome to the board and we hope you stick around and join in on the conversations.

mikec1010,

To answer your question in a nutshell, there was only one copy of the Director's Cut of The Alamo in existence, and the fools at MGM destroyed it due to poor storage.

You can read the whole sickening story in these old threads:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]


and in these news articles:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

mikec1010,

Welcome to the John Wayne Message Board!

As SXViper and ejgreen have so capably pointed out, there is one version on VHS that is complete, with all scenes. It's late and I don't have the energy to dig it out of the drawer and give you more particulars, but I am pretty sure I own that version. I'll get back to you and let you know.

Again, welcome to a knowledgeable, friendly community of fans of John Wayne!

Chester :newyear: (and the Mrs. :angel1: says "Howdy" too!)

Hi mikec1010


Welcome to the most informative board
around I can't add any more to what the
guys have told you, but if you stick around
you'll get all the answers you are looking
for and more. This is the place to be when
it comes to all things John Wayne.


Best wishes

Emmanuel.

Regarding John Ford's role, see my posts here:

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

The idea that Ford just shot some scarcely used second-unit battle scenes may well be a case of "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

Just thought I'd let folks know that on Oct 25th, Turner Classic Movies will be showing the long version of The Alamo at, I believe 8 pm. So, mark it on your calenders.

Thanks, maybe somebody can let us know when the date is allot closer.

Our local newspaper had an item the other day that the Woodlawn Theatre, where "The Alamo" had its World Premiere, has been renovated. It will reopen with a showing of "The Alamo" on the big screen on Oct. 24 :D . Presumably this showing will feature the cut version, since by all reports, the uncut version cannot be restored for theatrical viewing :( .
Cheers - Jay :D

Hi Jay,

Thanks for that interesting information.
What a tragedy, that there can be no original film to show.
I'm just happy, that I am fortunate, to have a copy of the un-cut version,
before even that copy was destroyed!!

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Best Wishes

Keith - I have a copy of that VHS uncut version as well. It makes the storyline smoother and it is in a letterbox format (though not the full letterbox that it should be). Too bad that this version cannot be shown on the big screen.
Cheers - Jay :D

Hi Keith -
It has been awhile since this topic has been close to the front. I bring it back in case you want to incorporate it somehow under "The Alamo" topic. There was a lot of information brought out about "The Alamo" in this section.
Cheers - Jay :D

Hi Jay, and thanks for bumping this one up!

As an ongoing project, for continuity,
I have been merging all fragmented threads,
as eventually it makes all information
more accessible

I will take up your idea and merge your topic
under
The Alamo, sub-Forum.
At least now, your discussion will be pinned,
and not now, slip out of sight.

Best Wishes

Originally posted by Jay J. Foraker@Sep 25 2006, 01:09 PM
Our local newspaper had an item the other day that the Woodlawn Theatre, where "The Alamo" had its World Premiere, has been renovated.* It will reopen with a showing of "The Alamo" on the big screen on Oct. 24 :D .* Presumably this showing will feature the cut version, since by all reports, the uncut version cannot be restored for theatrical viewing :( .
34879

I didn't mean to sound a little negative about this theatrical showing <_< . This is really a big event, since I don't think (I could be wrong) a showing on the big screen of "The Alamo" has happened since the fabled Toronto showing of the uncut version. I am going to try to attend this event and, if I do, I will report.
Cheers - Jay :D

I also have a VHS copy of the Directors Cut and I also have a DVD copy of it. I bought this on E-Bay from somewhere in Asia, Singapore, I believe. It was only $6.95 and the picture quality is quite good and is in Dolby Surround. The only thing is, it doesn't have the Entrance, Intermission or, Exit music. I'm also thinkign of buy the laserdisc version and also buying a laserdisc player. I've always heard that the picture quality is outstanding and that if you get the 3 disc version, the Making Of documentary is longer than on the VHS version.

WaynamoJim

Are you saying that you have a full length copy of the directors cut of the Alamo on DVD, if so how is this possible as I was under the impression that this could not be done.

Robbie
:agent:

Yeah Robbie, I do. Like I said it has all the extra scenes in it. Travis telling Bowie about his promotion to Colonel, Emil Sands death, the Dickinson led patrol in which Crocketts man Scotty and a man named Lasoya are killed, the little girls birthday party, the arrival of the men of Gonzales, Parsons death scene. I think that's all of them. I don't know how they got it unless, it was done off the laserdisc or even off a VHS copy but, the picture quality is quite good, better than I expected and it is in Dolby Digital not Surround like I originally said. I could make a DVD copy off my VHS copy. I've got a DVD recorder and I've already tried it and it worked. The only thing is, to get the best picture quality, I'd have to record it in 2 hour mode and put it on 2 discs, maybe three with the Entrance, Intermission and, Exit music and Making of doc to fit in.
One thing I don't get is, I keep seeing everyone mention that it's 192 minutes long. On the back of my VHS copy it says, 3 hrs 22 min, which is 202 minutes. Also, on my DVD copy it says 202 minutes. So what is the correct running time.

Hi WaynamoJim,

192 Minutes.

John Wayne's- The Alamo
The Making of the Epic Film
by Donald Clark and Christopher Andersen

Don't forget on the VHS the run time of 203 mins,
also includes the Trailer!

Could someone please clairify the director's cut of The Alamo that was released on VHS some years ago. Is it 192, 202 or 211 minutes? I know for sure there's a 192-minute version (the print found in Toronto), which was certified in England at 192m:29s in 1960. But there seems to be ambiguous information about the length of the film when it was released to video. Perhaps 192 minutes didn't include the overture, intermission, and exit music? Or are people including the VHS 'extras' in the running time?

Also there was a 172-minute version released on VHS: did this include all the music or was it pure film like the 162-minute DVD version?

I would also like to know about the UK VHS version of The Big Trail released by Fox. It's listed on Amazon UK at 116 minutes (PAL) which is 121 minutes NTSC. The DVD runs runs 108 minutes (NTSC). Is the UK VHS the same widescreen print that runs on the Fox Movie Channel? Even if it isn't, is the UK video version really 121 minutes or does it include extras?

Anyone who could provide definitive answers would be much appreciated.

RoughRider

Hi RoughRider

For the purpose of continuity,

I have placed your post in this the dedicated
thread, regarding the film.
At one time today, we had two seperate threads,
asking for confirmation of running time!
It's obviously, clearer, if the threads are
all under the same roof!

The Big Trail is discussed here.

The Big Trail ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

I have the UK VHS, and on the box, it shows a running time of 116 mins.

How long is the fully restored movie minus trailers and documentaries etc?

Robbie
:agent:

192 Minutes.

John Wayne's- The Alamo
The Making of the Epic Film
by Donald Clark and Christopher Andersen

Don't forget on the VHS the run time of 203 mins,
also includes the Trailer!

Hi Keith

Ok that cleared up my question, the final version of the Alamo lasts 192 minutes, thanks.

I watched the Alamo recently on TV, with many scenes cut from it, what I am interested in is Crocketts/Dukes contribution to the final battle.

Here is what I could assertain from the TV version

1. Directs his men to fire at the start of the battle
2. Tells two of his men to take Bowie to the chapel
3. Informs some of his men to reinforce the north wall
4. Knocks a mexican of his horse
5. Throws a gun at a mexican
6. Is lanced by a Mexican and then ignites the gunpowder.

Have I missed anything?

Robbie
:agent:

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Jan 24 2006, 02:50 AM
On the Cutting Room Floor *

There are 12 scenes totalling 31 minutes* cut from the original release,
which ran 192+ minutes.

1.A drunken Bowie, finds Travis in charge.
2.Travis and Dickinson, discuss, Jefferson.
3.Emil, is killed by Crockett, who tells Flaca, the news.
4.Flaca and Mrs. Guy, talking, as settlers leave.
5.Bowie defends Smitty.
6.Crockett and Bowie, discuss pyrotechnics.
7.Crockett tells Flaca, about a ridgepole.
8.Travis and Bowie argue as Bonham arrives.
9.A patrol suffers casualties,re-inforcements arrive, and Lisa Dickinsons Birthday party.
10.The parson dies, as Crockett prays.
11.Religious beliefs are discussed, before the battle.
12.A line of dialogue by Bowie, is missing as the North wall falls/

Other cuts include, the Overture,Intermission, and End music.

I have the full version, and it certainly enhances and makes the story line
much more flowing, with these pieces restored.
25792


Hi Robbie,

This was posted earlier in the thread,
thought I'd bring it back here,
hope it helps?

Hi Keith

Thanks for that but it doesnt really tell me what Duke does during the final battle apart from what I mentioned earlier.

Robbie
:agent:

Hi Robbie,

I tell you what, I'll have to take another sneak,
and see, if I can give you the answers, you want

Leave it with me!

Hi Keith

Thanks very much, I hope I'm not putting you out.

Robbie
:agent:

About the running time of The Alamo.

TCM Canada had the director's cut on Wednesday, and I recorded to my hard drive. From start to finish, excluding the brief United Artists intro, the film runs 202m:14s. This time, of course, includes the Overture, Entr'Acte and Exit music. Without such music, the film runs 191m:40s. The aspect ratio is 2.08:1.

I imagine this would be the same print on the special VHS/LD, which is commonly listed at 202 minutes. So that time doesn't include any 'extras'.

As mentioned earlier, The Alamo was certified by the BBFC in 1960 at 192m:29s. The book John Wayne: American states the film premiered in San Antonio, Texas, at 206 minutes.

RoughRider
John Wayne on DVD: A Filmography ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Oct 3 2006, 01:38 AM

Hi WaynamoJim,

192 Minutes.

John Wayne's- The Alamo
The Making of the Epic Film
by Donald Clark and Christopher Andersen

Don't forget on the VHS the run time of 203 mins,
also includes the Trailer!
35270

Hi Rough Rider,

This is what I posted earlier, and this is what it says in the book,
I too have the Directors cut
on VHS and on the box it states
203 mins, and it includes everything
including the film trailer,
I'll check the actual movie length later,
and edit this post.


It says aspect ratio 2.35 : 1

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Oct 26 2006, 03:49 AM
Hi Rough Rider,

This is what I posted earlier, and this is what it says in the book,
I too have the Directors cut
on VHS and on the box it states
203 mins, and it includes everything
including the film trailer,
I'll check the actual movie length later,
and edit this post.


It says aspect ratio 2.35 : 1
36373


The book probably based the 192-minute running time on the actual film (i.e. excluding the music), which I believe is how it premiered in Los Angeles.

The BBFC (Board of British Film Censors) certified the 1993 UK video release at 202m:37s, but I thought this included 'extras' because the film is generally listed at 192-193 minutes. The BBFC's running time closely matches the TCM print, and might include the United Artists intro. TCM prints generally match those that have been released on home video.

It's hard to pin a film down to the second because of the variables involved, but the times are close enough for me to believe the VHS, LaserDisc and TCM prints are the same. Another factor is that my hardware captures at 30.00fps, so on DVD-R the times are slightly shorter because things get encoded at 29.97fps. In the case of The Alamo, it reduced the film's length by about 12 seconds.

There was also a 172-minute version of The Alamo released on home video. I don't have any details about it, but just guessing it must be the same film as the 162-minute DVD except with 10 minutes of additional music (like in the director's cut).

Video boxes typically list 2.35:1 for letterboxed films -- it's probably a mistake but one never knows. The DVD is 2.20:1 but the VHS/LaserDisc may have been matted (I doubt it though). On a standard TV it's hard to judge the aspect ratio because of overscanning, which cuts off all sides by about 10% -- it depends on the TV. I saw a 1.78:1 DVD on an old TV where the overscan was so bad the film displayed full-screen (and yes, the DVD player was configured correctly).

RoughRider
John Wayne on DVD: A Filmography ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Hi Rough Rider,

Timed the film,
and it is acually 202mins 30 odd seconds,

Including the intro, intermission and exit music,

The trailer, is some 3 and a half minutes,
which is extra.

Originally posted by Jay J. Foraker@Sep 25 2006, 01:09 PM
Our local newspaper had an item the other day that the Woodlawn Theatre, where "The Alamo" had its World Premiere, has been renovated.* It will reopen with a showing of "The Alamo" on the big screen on Oct. 24 :D
Cheers - Jay :D
34879

Well, since that report, everything just stopped as far as I know. No more mentioning on this event in the paper or any other publicity - no phone number to call. It sounds like everything went bust. Sorry I can't relay any better news :( :angry: .
Cheers - Jay <_<

I have the latest. I got this from [Only registered and activated users can see links] of which I am a member. It seems that the showing of The Alamo has been postponed until March of 07. According to Jonathan Pennington, who I believe is renovating the theater said that MGM would not have a print availabe for 35 MM projectors. I believe this info came from the San Antonio Express-News.

All I can say is that I really enjoyed this movie, even with all of its mistakes.

At least John Wayne tried to create an entertaining and patriotic movie. Not too many "stars" were doing that in those days.

I always appreciate John Wayne and his courage.

Originally posted by WaynamoJim@Nov 4 2006, 07:09 PM
I have the latest. I got this from [Only registered and activated users can see links] of which I am a member. It seems that the showing of The Alamo has been postponed until March of 07. According to Jonathan Pennington, who I believe is renovating the theater said that MGM would not have a print availabe for 35 MM projectors. I believe this info came from the San Antonio Express-News.
36652

Thank you for that information, WaynamoJim :D . I evidently missed that when it came out. My wife has been in the hospital twice in the last month and things just seem to get out of sorts at times.
Cheers - Jay <_<

Duke's Movie Locations

ALAMO VILLAGE

Bracketville, Texas


924925

Information from
Alamo Village, Brackettville,Texas

Texas' most active and versatile movie set
is also one of the largest and most complete
(no false fronts here) backlots in the world.
Built for John Wayne's The Alamo, Alamo
Village has played host to more than 200 major feature films,
TV movies, mini-series,documentaries, commercials, and music videos.
Barbarosa with Willie Nelson, Lonesome Dove
with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones,
The Good Old Boys, starring Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones,
and Matt Damon, Bad Girls with Andie MacDowell
and Drew Barrymore and the modern day millennial comedy thriller,
The Bullfighter with Willem Defoe have all been
filmed here.

Why here? Because Kinney County
rancher and businessman James T.
"Happy" Shahan convinced John Wayne's
Batjac Productions to film The Alamo here.
Since, hundreds of other production companies
have used our one-of-a-kind set located in the middle
of a 30 square mile working ranch.

Alamo Village is open to the public (except 5 days during Christmas).
Folks may stroll through the Alamo compound plus there are
over 18 walk-in buildings to see including
the John Wayne Museum, wagon room, jail, bank,
church, Indian store, Trading post, and Cantina (full service restaurant)
where there is cold "root" beer on draught!
In the summer, there are four shows daily,
kicking off with a music show inside the Cantina
followed by a "fun for the whole family" gunfight depicting the Old West.
There's something for the movie lover and movie maker.

Filming Locations

Texas, USA

Austin, Texas, USA

Bastrop, Texas, USA
(battle of San Jacinto)

Dripping Springs, Texas, USA

Driskell Hotel - 604 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Jim Small's Big Thicket, Bastrop, Texas, USA
(lake camp scenes)

Paramount Theatre - 713 Congress, Austin, Texas, USA

Pedernales Falls State Park - 2585 Park Road 6026, Johnson City, Texas, USA
(Zacatecas and Mexican command scenes)

Reimer's Ranch - Hamilton Pool Road, Dripping Springs, Texas, USA
(Alamo and Bexar scenes)

Steiner Ranch - 896 Sayers Road, Bastrop, Texas, USA
(Bexar & Alamo scenes)

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Oct 8 2006, 10:08 PM
Hi Robbie,

I tell you what, I'll have to take another sneak,
and see, if I can give you the answers, you want

Leave it with me!
35575


Hi Keith did you ever find out the answer to the above topic?

Robbie
:agent:

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Nov 10 2006, 11:39 AM
Duke's Movie Locations

ALAMO VILLAGE

Bracketville, Texas
[ATTACH]1034]******[ATTACH]1035]

Information from
Alamo Village, Brackettville,Texas

Texas' most active and versatile movie set
is also one of the largest and most complete
(no false fronts here) backlots in the world.
Built for John Wayne's The Alamo, Alamo
Village has played host to more than 200 major feature films,
TV movies, mini-series,documentaries, commercials, and music videos.
Barbarosa with Willie Nelson, Lonesome Dove
with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones,
The Good Old Boys, starring Sissy Spacek, Tommy Lee Jones,
and Matt Damon, Bad Girls with Andie MacDowell
and Drew Barrymore and the modern day millennial comedy thriller,
The Bullfighter with Willem Defoe have all been
filmed here.

Why here? Because Kinney County
rancher and businessman James T.
"Happy" Shahan convinced John Wayne's
Batjac Productions to film The Alamo here.
Since, hundreds of other production companies
have used our one-of-a-kind set located in the middle
of a 30 square mile working ranch.

Alamo Village is open to the public (except 5 days during Christmas).
Folks may stroll through the Alamo compound plus there are
over 18 walk-in buildings to see including
the John Wayne Museum, wagon room, jail, bank,
church, Indian store, Trading post, and Cantina (full service restaurant)
where there is cold "root" beer on draught!
In the summer, there are four shows daily,
kicking off with a music show inside the Cantina
followed by a "fun for the whole family" gunfight depicting the Old West.
There's something for the movie lover and movie maker.
36817


Been to Alamo Village twice and believe me it's worth the trip. If you've never been before, you'll be quite suprised by how small the Alamo compound really is compared to how it looks in the movie but, that doesn't mean you're not in awe with the detail of it. Only trouble is, there are few things that are noticably different than the way it originally looked. Among them, where Travis HQ was, now sports a pink colored hump facade that was added for some other film. Plus, the wall to the right of the southwest corner is not original. Wayne bulldozed the original for shooting battle scenes and when it was rebuilt, it was brought in by a few feet and has a rather large gate in the middle of the whole west wall to allow film equipment to be brought in. Also, the north wall had to be rebuilt and looks vastly different than from the movie. And the rear of the church was also blown up during battle scenes and when it was rebuilt it shortened the church by some feet and there's now a ramp that goes up the back that was built for The Alamo:The Price Of Freedom Imax film to make more realistic from history.
Plus, some of the buildings in the town have been ones added over the years for other films, like the hotel/saloon from Two Rode Together. But everything else is there and it's alot of fun to go through and imagine what scenes were shot where. Even though it's only film history, it still seems like real American history because of the type of film that The Alamo was. AS far as I know, Virginia Shahan still has the Village up for sale and evne when I was last there in 04, there were rumors that someone was buying it and that he or she might have plans to restore it all to the way Wayne built it back in the late 50's. I, fro one, would not mind seeing that. As a teenage kid, I always dreamed of going there seeing it as it was and didn't make till is was 53 yrs old. Better late than never. Anybody wants to go see it, be sure to look up Rich Curilla. He's a film maker who has lived and worked at Alamo Village since the late 60's and he is a treat to talk to. Tell you all you want to know about this movie and all Alamo movies. The man is an expert. Even had a walk on role in the Dean Martin-Jimmy Stewart movie Bandolero which filmed at Alamo Village in 69.

Hi WaynamoJim

Thanks for your post and your personal memories,

here is another link I found
with more photos

Alamo Village ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

959960

961962

Nice pictures, Keith. By the way, any idea when they were taken? The two of the Alamo compund look like they may have been taken around the time it was being built or shortly after filming was complete. There's no second floor that was Travis HQ on that part of the long barracks and everything looks fairly new. If it was after the film was comp-leted, I would think there would be burn marks on the right side windows of the church where the poweder room exploded plus, the upper area of Travis HQ was blown apart for the battle scenes and post filming photos show burn marks on what was left of the upstairs.

Another little tidbit of info. Remember the scenes of Crockett going up and down the stairway near the Cantina? That stairway goes absolutley nowhere. There's nothing up there. When the upper rooms were shown, it was a set built at Fort Clark in Bracketville. I didn't know if you knew that or not but, thought I'd mention it. In one of the photos you posted, you can see the stairway in the background.

I'd also like to tell you and others about a guy my sons work with at Northwest Airlines. His name is Ken Pruitt and back in the early 70's, he worked at Alamo Village for a couple of years. Some years after he moved back up to Michigan, he built a diorama of the Alamo based on the Wayne film. I've seen it a few times now and it takes up nearly 1/4 of his basement,it's so large. It is also so detailed from the film you wouldn't believe it. He re- created absolutely everything from the original set right down to the smallest item. Even in Travis HQ, he painstakingly built exact mini replicas of Travis furniture. I wish I had some pictures I could post so all could see. If you go [Only registered and activated users can see links] and do some looking, you'll find some photos that were posted of it. He also has artifacts from the film such as about a 15-20 Mexican uniforms that were worn and other things, like one of the scaling ladders which he just got a few months back. He's a big time Alamo movie collector.

Hi WaynamoJim,

Click on the link

Alamo Village ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

Can you get your sons friend, to take some photos,
and post them here?

I have the latest. I got this from [Only registered and activated users can see links] ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) of which I am a member. It seems that the showing of The Alamo has been postponed until March of 07. According to Jonathan Pennington, who I believe is renovating the theater said that MGM would not have a print availabe for 35 MM projectors. I believe this info came from the San Antonio Express-News.
Well - here it is almost the end of March '07 and I have not been able to find any reference (in the San Antonio Express) of any planned theatrical showing of "The Alamo" locally. I guess this is turning out to be wishful thinking:ohwell: .
Cheers - Jay:beer:

Well - here it is almost the end of March '07 and I have not been able to find any reference (in the San Antonio Express) of any planned theatrical showing of "The Alamo" locally. I guess this is turning out to be wishful thinking:ohwell: .
Cheers - Jay:beer:

Au contrere mon frere. It's happening on Friday, Oct. 5th 2007 and another showing the following night, Oct 6th. It'll be at the Woodlawn Theater, which I believe was the theater that had the original premier of The Alamo way back then. I'll try and have more info or a link later.

Au contrere mon frere. It's happening on Friday, Oct. 5th 2007 and another showing the following night, Oct 6th. It'll be at the Woodlawn Theater, which I believe was the theater that had the original premier of The Alamo way back then. I'll try and have more info or a link later.
Thank you, WaynamoJim:hyper: - Yes, the Woodlawn was the location of the premiere showing of "The Alamo." As I recall, it was Oct., 1960, so this would be an "anniversary" showing.
Let me show my curiosity - How does one residing in Detroit get this info while this San Antonio resident doesn't hear a peep:yeaahh: ? Such are the vagaries of life in this old world, I guess.
Cheers - Jay:beer: