The Alamo | |
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1960 Theatrical Poster by Reynold Brown
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Directed by | John Wayne |
Produced by | John Wayne |
Written by | James Edward Grant |
Starring | John Wayne Richard Widmark Laurence Harvey |
Music by | Dimitri Tiomkin |
Cinematography | William H. Clothier |
Edited by | Stuart Gilmore |
Production
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Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date
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Running time
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202 min. (roadshow version); 167 min. (general release version) |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $12 million est. |
Box office | $20 million(US/ Canada) |
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic war film about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo produced and directed by John Wayne and starring Wayne as Davy Crockett. The picture also stars Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B. Travis, and the supporting cast features Frankie Avalon, Patrick Wayne, Linda Cristal, Joan O'Brien, Chill Wills, Joseph Calleia, Ken Curtis, Ruben Padilla as Santa Anna, and guest star Richard Boone as Sam Houston. The movie was photographed in 70 mm Todd-AO by William H. Clothier and released by United Artists.
The film depicts the Battle of the Alamo and the events leading up to it. Sam Houston leads the forces fighting for Texas independence and needs time to build an army. The opposing Mexican forces, led by General Santa Anna, are numerically stronger and also better armed and trained. Nevertheless, the Texans have spirit and morale remains generally high.
Lieutenant Colonel William Travis is tasked with defending the Alamo, a former mission in San Antonio. Jim Bowie arrives with reinforcements and the defenders dig in. Meanwhile, Davy Crockett arrives.
Santa Anna's armies arrive and surround the fort. The siege begins. Jim Bowie goes to Santa Anna under the peace flag, so Travis, angered by Jim Bowie, shoots a cannon at the armies, saying he will negotiate peace from a position of power only.