The Alamo (1960)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Wayne

Writer:

James Edward Grant (original screenplay)

Release Date:

24 October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War | Western

Tagline:

They stood firing until they could stand no longer...156 MEN AGAINST A RAGING ARMY OF 7000!

Plot:

In 1836 General Santa Anna and the Mexican army is sweeping across Texas. To be able to stop him, General...

Plot Keywords:

Mexican | Texas | Mission | Bowie Knife | Tree Stump

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

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	...	'Flaca'
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
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Lt. 'Irish' Finn (as Guinn Williams)
Olive Carey	...	Mrs. Dennison
Ruben Padilla	...	General Santa Anna
Richard Boone	...	Gen. Sam Houston
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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 (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)
Rosita Fernández	...	Singer (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 (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)
Chief Tahachee	...	Yankey Sawyer (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)

Directed by
John Wayne

Writing credits
James Edward Grant		(original screenplay)

Produced by
James Edward Grant	....	associate producer
John Wayne	....	producer
Michael Wayne	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dimitri Tiomkin

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stuart Gilmore

Casting by
Frank Leyva		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Alfred Ybarra

Set Decoration by
Victor A. Gangelin

Costume Design by
Frank Beetson Jr.		(as Frank C. Beetson)
Ron Talsky		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Web Overlander	....	makeup supervisor
Fae M. Smith	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tom Andre	....	unit manager (as Thomas J. Andre)
Nate H. Edwards	....	production manager
George Coleman	....	production manager (uncredited)

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)

Art Department
Joe LaBella	....	property master (as Joseph LaBella)

Sound Department
Don Hall	....	sound editor (as Don Hall Jr.)
Fred Hynes	....	sound recording supervisor
Gordon Sawyer	....	sound recording supervisor
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Special Effects by
Lee Zavitz	....	special effects
Daniel Hays	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Babcock	....	stunts (uncredited)
Buff Brady	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Burk	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tap Canutt	....	stunts (uncredited)
Philip Crawford	....	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 N. Young	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Denver Pyle	....	set photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Murray Spivack	....	music recordist
Dimitri Tiomkin	....	conductor
Robert Tracy	....	music editor
Vinton Vernon	....	music recordist
Manuel Emanuel	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Jimmie Haskell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
George Parrish	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert Taylor	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Frank Beetson Jr.	....	technical supervisor (as Frank Beetson)
Jack Pennick	....	technical supervisor
Michael Wayne	....	assistant to producer
Russell Birdwell	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jim Henaghan	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Burt Kennedy	....	production associate (uncredited)
Robert E. Morrison	....	production associate (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Alamo Company, The
• Batjac Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1960) (USA) (theatrical) (released through)
• United Artists (1960) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• Critics' Choice Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title and Art Studio  main title by (as Pacific Title & Art Studio)

Runtime:

167 min | UK:203 min (25 fps) (director's cut) (1993 video release) | USA:140 min (1967 re-release) | USA:192 min (roadshow version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:G | USA:Approved ( certificate #19635) | UK:PG | Australia:G (VHS rating) | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Alamo Company, The

Trivia:

At the start of production on location just a few miles from the historic battlesite, Wayne had a clergyman say a prayer for the movie in front of the assembled cast and crew of 342, asking God to bless their work and help them produce a fitting testament to the brave men who died for the cause.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Knight Rider: Knight Moves (#1.19)" (1983)

Soundtrack:

Tennessee Babe

If you love the uncut version, then DON'T buy the new DVD

I love this movie as much as anyone, but the recently released DVD is inexplicably almost half an hour shorter than the version of this film that has been in release on video and laserdisc for years. Why, oh why MGM/UA did this, I don't know, but I know I am not keeping my copy of it. I got worried when this new version didn't have an overture...but I can live without that. However, when Richard Widmark's first scene occurred and over half of it was missing, I could only groan.

Shame on you MGM/UA. This movie is more than a classic for a good many of us. You should release the cut that you have been putting out for years now, the one that is 3 hours, 10 mins.