The Alamo Movie Review 1960

Old-fashioned patriotic battle epic recounts the real events of the 1836 fight for independence in Texas. The usual band of diverse and contentious personalities, including Wayne as a coonskin-capped Davy Crockett, defend a small fort against a very big Mexican raiding party outside of San Antonio. Before meeting mythic death, they fight with each other, learn the meaning of life, and ultimately come to respect each other. Just to make it more entertaining, Avalon sings. Big-budget production features an impeccable musical score by Tiomkin and an impressive 7,000 extras for the Mexican army alone. Wayne reportedly received directorial assistance from John Ford, particularly during the big massacre finale.

Distribution

Time-Life Video and Television, 1450 Palmyra Ave., Richmond, VA 23227-4420, Phone: (804)266-6330, Toll-free: 800-950-7887, Fax: (757)427-7905

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 161 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Westerns, Historical Drama, Big Battles, Team Efforts, Top Grossing Films of 1960, True Stories, Buddies, War, General, Military Westerns, Texas

Screenplay

James Edward Grant

Cast

John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey, Frankie Avalon, Richard Boone, Carlos Arruza, Chill Wills, Veda Ann Borg, Linda Cristal, Patrick Wayne, Joan O'Brien, Joseph Calleia, Ken Curtis, Jester Hairston, Denver Pyle, John Dierkes, Guinn "Big Boy" Williams, Olive Carey, William Henry, Hank Worden, Ruben Padilla, Jack Pennick

Cinematography

William Clothier

Director

John Wayne

Music

Dimitri Tiomkin, Paul Francis Webster

Other

C. Frank Beetson, Jack Pennick

Producer

John Wayne, John Edward Grant, United Artists

Awards

Oscars 1960: Sound; Golden Globes 1961: Score.