Which Alamo Movie Do You Prefer?

[Dain Bramage]

Most of the original Alamo is not standing any longer.

That's right. As San Antonio grew up into a city, they put a road through the original courtyard of the mission. The main building, the "shrine", continued to be useful and served several purposes throughout the years. This allowed it to survive until its historical significance could be appreciated, and it was preserved in the early 20th century.

The shrine and a row of barracks were the only original buildings left. The adjoining city block was turned into a nice park, and low stone walls were put around the perimeter. Most people assume this was the original courtyard, but it is not.

The famous facade of the shrine, now facing the street, wasn't meant to greet visitors as they approached the mission. It actually faced inward into the original courtyard, assuming the focus of mission life as standard practise of the time.

The current layout is "inside-out" from the days of the siege and final battle. This is rapidly evident from the dioramas on display inside the museum. Also evident, but less clear to most people, is that when driving past the Alamo, they're enjoying a smooth, paved ride over the ground where Travis, Crockett, and many brave men died.

 

[Art Eatman]

Hard not to enjoy a John Wayne flick. But for historical accuracy, the version that played (is playing?) at the Imax in San Antonio is probably the best.

A buddy of mine had a bit part during the making of the Imax film. Small cast, insofar as extras, so sometime he was a Texican and sometimes a Mexican. He got killed in various takes, both roles. In one scene, he killed himself. Ah, editing!

During the filming at Bracketville, they all were waiting around for the light to be just right for continuity. Texicans on the walls, Mexicans down below. Somebody yelled out, "More taste!" The other side responded (of course) with, "Less filling!" It escalated. They should have rolled the cameras; Miller Brewing would probably have paid enough to finance the movie!

Boone wasn't the only drunk. I got to BSing one day with Jim Wilson, who likes to tell cop stories. The old sheriff at Del Rio had a routine of driving past the local bars near closing time, just checking, and then stopping in at the country club for a final nightcap at closing time. One night, three drunks came in, cursing rather loudly. The sheriff admonished them, to no avail. When one drunk sassed him the sheriff laid his gunbarrel up side the guy's head. Another of the drunks asked, "Do you know who that is?" "No, and I don't care. You don't talk like that when there are ladies present."

"That's Richard Widmark!"

"Well, when he wakes up, you tell Mr. Trademark that around here, we don't talk like that when there are ladies present."

The next day at Bracketville, they had to glue hair on Widmark's head to cover the little shaved area around the stitches...

Moral: Be careful how you talk when there are ladies present.

, Art

 

[skua44]

For good cinema I prefer the Duke version. For historical accuracy (as far as anyone knows) I like the BIlly Bob version. I have read the de la Pena (Lt. Col. in Mex. army) diary and it is worth reading whether you believe it to be absolutely factual or not. de la Pena makes the point several times that many of the officers were incensed at the way the campaign was being run. Such as, the Goliad massacre was considered a disgrace, the frontal storming of the Alamo was a waste of troops and Santa Anna didn't have the authority to grant independence to Texas after the defeat at San Jacinto, among other things
Oh yeah, Ozzie is lucky he was caught by a cop. Texans don't take kindly to such behavior.

 

[22LongRifle]

I've got the serise of Fess Parker as Davy Crockett on DVD last Christmas! I bet me and my son sat down and watched it for two days straight. He would play with my groung hog possibles bag and I would clean my Crockett Rifle!

As far as the movie is concerned, I like the newer one. It showed the larger than life historical players as real men.

"Out from the mountain tops of Tennesse.........."
"got any bar meat meat Davy?"

22lr

 

[BigG]

Duke, by a country mile. I have reviews of both

John Wayne THE ALAMO

Billy Bob Thornton THE ALAMO

 

[McCall911]

The Duke is a sentimental favorite of mine, as is his co-star Richard Widmark (who is still living BTW!) Widmark could be a real bada$$ in some of his movies. The knife-fighting scene in one of his half-forgotten Westerns called The Last Wagon is one of my favorites of all time--and it was all him!

 

[Rich K]

The Duke.

 

[Landlocked Pirate]

The John Wayne version is one of my favorite movies and contains one of my favorite all-time movie scenes: Col. Travis shocks Crockett and Bowie as well as the Mexicans when he cuts the surrender demand short by lighting the cannon fuse! An inspiring and patriotic film. I've never bothered with the BillyBob version.