Plot

Moderate Jim Bowie leads rebellious Texicans--and Davy Crockett--in a last-ditch stand against his old friend, Santa Ana.

During the Texas War of Independence of 1836, American frontiersman and pioneer Jim Bowie pleads for caution with the rebellious Texicans. They don't heed his advice since he's a Mexican citizen, married to the daughter of the Mexican vice-governor of the province and a friend to General Santa Anna since the days they had fought together for Mexico's independence. After serving as president for 22 years, Santa Anna has become powerful and arrogant. He rules Mexico with an iron fist and he would not allow Texas to self-govern. Bowie sides with the Texans in their bid for independence and urges a cautious strategy, given Santa Anna's power and cunning. Despite the disagreement between the Texicans and Bowie regarding the right strategy they ask Bowie to lead them in a last ditch stand at the Alamo against General Santa Anna's numerically superior forces.—nufs68

In 1830s Texas, a part of the Mexican republic north of the Rio Grande is populated by Indian tribes, a smattering of Mexican citizens and American settlers, who have taken up land granted by the Mexican government to speed development of the territory. Col. James Bowie, who has fought with Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna, the current Mexican president, stops in Anahuac on his way home south of the Rio Grande. Jeb Lacey, a young American who idolizes Jim, tells him that Santa Anna has been treating the Americans as if they have no rights, and that William Travis from South Carolina, the spokesman for the Americans, has been arrested. After Jim arranges for Travis' release, they visit the home of Lorenzo de Quesada, a Mexican citizen of Spanish heritage, who sides with the American colonists because Santa Anna has been moving toward despotism. During a meeting of colonists, Travis relates that four months earlier, Stephen Austin went to Mexico City with their petition requesting governmental reforms, but was thrown into prison by Santa Anna. Travis wants to create a militia to fight, but Quesada urges them to proceed with caution, not wanting to cause a break in friendship with the Mexican people, who he says have deep pride. Jim takes no side in the discussion. Mike Radin, who sides with Travis, calls Jim a Mexican citizen, and Jim acknowledges that he is one, that he is married to the daughter of a lieutenant governor in Mexico, and that he has a home there. When Travis accuses him of hesitancy because of his land holdings, Jim is offended and leaves that night. Quesada's seventeen-year-old niece Consuela, who met Jim when she was younger, warns him that some men are plotting against him. When she asks why he did not fight Travis and Radin, he explains that killing solves nothing. Radin, known in Bayou country as "Mike the Bull," challenges Jim to a knife fight. Jim wins, cutting Radin's arm, and Radin, in admiration, says he is a good man. As Jim rides to his village, soldiers forcibly take him to Santa Anna. After calming down, Jim advises his friend to renounce his despotic appetites, return to the constitution of 1824 and release Austin. Santa Anna agrees to reevaluate his actions, then informs Jim that his wife and children have died from a plague. Although he orders his brother-in-law, Gen. Cos, to release Austin, Santa Anna later has Cos garrison the town of San Antonio, making all who have arms surrender them. Austin now believes the only course open is to fight. Jim, however, refuses to join the rebels. Austin repeats his views in Anahuac, where Consuela tells Jeb, who flirts with her, that she is going with her uncle to San Antonio to be with her people. Sometime later, Jim and a group of twenty-five trail one hundred Mexican soldiers. When they learn from Jeb that Texas militia in Conception have Cos and his men cornered, they realize that the soldiers they have followed are reinforcements. They wipe them out, but suffer nine casualties themselves. In San Antonio, though Consuela hears conflicting stories about Jim's allegiance, she expresses trust in his courage and humility to find the best solution for everyone. Following the victory over Cos, Travis is confident, knowing that, although Santa Anna will attack, the famous Davy Crockett of Tennessee will soon arrive with 1,000 men. Consuela, who is now nearly nineteen, stops a fight between Travis and Jim over the question of Jim's allegiance, and Jim tells her she reminds him of his deceased wife. As a report comes in that Mexican soldiers are approaching, Jim questions Travis' leadership and reveals that he is Gen. Sam Houston's personal representative and a colonel himself. The men then elect Jim as their leader, and Travis graciously concedes. After Jim decides that San Antonio must be held at all costs, he asks Travis to command jointly with him. The grizzled, jovial Crockett arrives with only twenty-nine men, but says they are fierce fighters. The Texans then move to a broken-down former mission known as the "Alamo." Jim tries to get Consuela to go to his home, where they can begin a life together later, and they embrace and kiss. Santa Anna and his troops arrive outside the Alamo and request a meeting with Jim. The general warmly greets his friend and asks him to convince the Texans to put down their arms. Jim refuses and says that they do not want a war, but Santa Anna replies that he cannot accept the insult they inflicted when they attacked Cos's troops. Santa Anna offers to take Jim prisoner so that he can live through the battle, but he refuses. Although he says they will take no prisoners, Santa Anna agrees to give safe conduct to the women and children. After Jim returns to the fort, the Mexican soldiers surround it. Consuela and the other women decide to remain to tend to the wounded in the chapel. During the siege, the Mexicans try to break down the Texans' will by alternating three-day attacks with three-day periods of quiet. After Jim is seriously injured, he asks Travis to take command. Jim overhears Jeb tell Consuela that he wants to speak to her uncle about marrying her, but she gently refuses. After the Texans learn from a rider who breaks through that reinforcements will not arrive, Travis gives permission for anyone to surrender, but encourages them to fight and kill as many of Santa Anna's men as possible. All the men decide to stay. Jim writes a letter to Jeb, saying that Consuela's love for him began when she was a little girl and for him to be patient, as he hopes someday they will find happiness together. Travis writes of the men's decision in a letter to Houston, so that other Texans will know about it. Jim then asks Travis to send Jeb with the letter, and although Jeb protests, Jim insists and gives him his own letter to read later. Before the battle, Consuela kisses Jim and cries, then goes with the women to the chapel. The Texans fight fiercely, but the Mexican soldiers invade the fort. Radin is shot, then Travis, and as Crockett is about to be besieged, he lights an explosive and blows himself and his enemies to bits. Jim is stabbed, then dies after killing a number of soldiers entering his room. Following the battle, Houston announces that Santa Anna's strength has been weakened and that the battle has brought them the time necessary to conquer. He says the fight will be remembered through the ages. Jeb, who has reached Houston, learns that the ladies of the Alamo are arriving. He finds Consuela dazed and depressed, but when he touches her hand and looks at her, she cries and embraces him.