As an alamo buff, i went to see this movie on opening day, and i must say that it was very good. The alamo is a 2004 film about the battle of the alamo during the texas revolution. What were the historical inaccuracies of the movie, the. The scene where crockett fights the daguello with his fiddle is simply amazing, while the nighttime bombardment of the alamo is quite horrific. Probably alamo is the reason we remember him today because its a hugely important event both in the history and the mythology of texasand crockett was, at the time. The last scene in the movie shows the spirit of crockett playing his fiddle on the top of the alamo and then. The 2004 release of the alamo culminated what had been a long and public struggle to make this film. The alamo i chose to write about the alamo because i watched this movie when i was younger and wanted to watch it again now that i have a better perspective on the history that took place in the battle for the alamo. Aug 17, 2016 t he 19thcentury american frontiersman and politician david davy crockett was born 230 years ago wednesday, but not on a mountaintop in tennesseecontrary to the first line of. The film was directed by texan john lee hancock, produced by ron howard, brian grazer, and mark johnson, distributed by touchstone pictures, and starring dennis quaid as sam houston, billy bob thornton as david crockett, and jason patric as jim bowie. The absolute best historically accurate westerns alamo. But, as is the responsibility of a popular culture interpretation of historical events. The general council of texas decided it couldnt or shouldnt raise an army to send to the alamo until it had declared independence for texas. Travis, and the supporting cast features frankie avalon, patrick wayne, linda cristal, joan obrien, chill wills, joseph calleia, ken curtis.
Hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various interpretive liberties were taken, such as building the movieset version of the alamo chapel facade. Many of the fighters had been promised 760 acres of land as a bonus for enlisting. Sam houston dennis quaid organizes a rebel army to liberate texas from the brutal rule of mexican dictator general santa anna emilio echevarria. The picture also stars richard widmark as jim bowie and laurence harvey as william b. Against all cinematic odds, the alamo is a glorious. Apr 20, 2018 among the most famous is john waynes 1960 epic the alamo. The alamo the alamo was one of the most astounding and critical battles of our country. Dennis quaid, billy bob thorton, jason patric, and patrick wilson screenplay.
Remember the alamo and forget the negative stories youve probably. This is both the best and the most historically accurate cinematic depiction of the siege of the alamo in san antonio in 1836 in what is now the state of texas, and its immediate aftermath. The alamo billy bob thornton, jason patric, dennis quaid, patrick wilson, emilio echevarria 2004. Sam houston is a soldier, statesman, and congressman who has his eyes set on texas which is being controlled by the mexicans. Mexico owned texas, and ambitious americans and texans or texians wanted it. The alamo is, without question, hancocks most ambitious undertaking to date. Oct 01, 2014 the alamo 2004 barely coherent, but put together well enough, 410. It was directed by john lee hancock, produced by ron howard, brian grazer, and mark johnson, distributed by touchstone pictures, and starred dennis quaid as sam houston, billy bob thornton as david crockett, and jason patric as jim bowie.
I want to know were there any historical inaccuracies in the movie, the alamo 2004 because it seems that the actor who portrayed santa anna was too old as compared with the historical accounts of the battle. Conventional wisdom in hollywood is that any movie named the alamo must be simplistic and rousing, despite the fact that we already know all the defenders got killed. Apr 07, 2004 and when he gives up his life in the wreckage of the alamo in a grandgesture demise of debatable historical accuracy that, according to the director, is the most heroic of three credible. Here is a movie that captures the loneliness and dread of men waiting for two weeks. Leslie bohem, stephen gaghan and john lee hancock producers. The alamo with billy bob thornton in 2004 is the most accurate. Mar 22, 2011 i want to know was the actual battle of the alamo different than it has been portrayed in many hollywood films because i read in tuckers book, exodus from the alamo 2010 that colonel travis committed suicide and many of the mexican soldiers were killed and injured by their own men rather than the defenders fire. Later at the battle of san jacinto, the same soldier is shown sinking below the surface of peggys lake as a texican strangles another soldier with his musket. This latest version of the battle of the alamo was the first to show crockett being killed as a prisoner of war.
The 1960 and 2004 versions of the alamo story are a great example of how one battle can be viewed by many different angles 1960. However, i found the alamo to be very intriguing and accurate historically as well. What is the most accurate movie ever made about the alamo. In fact, i found no major factual mistake in the movie and only very minor ones, such as davy crockett playing listen to the mockingbird before the song was written. In the attack on the jacales outside the alamo, a mexican soldier is shot and crawling on the ground. Mexico had allowed american immigrants to settle in relatively remote. This film manages to succeed in spite of these dangers. It is more of a high school sendup of the battle, with some notable historical inaccuracies, as. It all began in 1911, with the first alamo movie titled the immortal. Essay about historical accuracy of the 1960 film the alamo. It may have been houstons finest hour, but the alamo certainly isnt quaids.
Aug 16, 2014 the mission of the alamo before the battle north to the left what was left of the mission after the mexicans had destroyed most of it today the alamo church is right in the centre of san antonio. Quaid, doing a 19th century version of his soussful doc holiday persona, is gone for long stretches but comes back in a big way to deliver the immortal remember the alamo. A bold attempt to retell the story of the battle of the alamo is let down by the unrelieved. May 02, 2014 the alamobilly bob thornton, jason patric, dennis quaid, patrick wilson, emilio echevarria 2004. Wayne played crockett and went more for entertaining than historical accuracy. Academy awardr winner billy bob thornton, dennis quaid, and jason patric team up for the acclaimed action epic about one of the most important events in american history. The script has an impressive grasp of the historical situation but the amount of facts presented may be overwhelming for many viewers. A survey of the history of the alamo siege and battle as well as the.
Many of the characters in the film specifically davy crockett were portrayed as larger than life figures. That said, there is a lot to critique in the movie. There have been numerous movies made about the alamo. This 2004 version of the story of the alamo is the most accurate telling to date. The movie s opening scene manages to get wrong almost every historical detail except the names. The alamo 2004 film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Sam houston was never in san antonio with colonels neill, travis, and bowie. The alamo has been put on the silver screen many times in many ways. This important historical event was excluded from the film.
Plus i think billy bob was david crockett as fess parker was the legend davy crockett whereas john wayne was just john wayne playing davy crockett. Mar 06, 2015 the alamo i chose to write about the alamo because i watched this movie when i was younger and wanted to watch it again now that i have a better perspective on the history that took place in the battle for the alamo. Essay about historical accuracy of the 1960 film the alamo by. The movie tries to investigate the characters of davy crockett, william travis, jim bowie, and sam houston. The purported goal of the filmmakers was to have this movie be as historically accurate as possible, or at least more so than the. Hancock did strive to make the film as accurate as possible, reading.
The dramatic true story of one of the most momentous battles in american history, this is the tale of a handful of men who stood up for their passion and ideals. For the baby boomer generation it is john waynes spin that is very likely burned in their mind. Howards expressed interest was based on his desire to correct the historical inaccuracies found in the john waynedirected the alamo 1960, a creature of the cold war and waynes rightist politics. The alamo 2004 it is the anniversary of the fall of the alamo in 1836. However, the film does exaggerate the scale of the three attacks the mexican army waged on the alamo, as well as the duties and accomplishments of certain individuals. Many of these roles were inflated just for hollywood production and entertainment.
Students may want to open their books, even if it is for just a few paragraphs, to learn about the alamo because the latest film wont do much for them or their parents. The alamo 2004 barely coherent, but put together well enough, 410. How historically accurate is the 2004 film the alamo. Granted, movies about the alamo arent as dime a dozen as the ok coral, but fairly close. The alamo is a 2004 historical drama directed by john lee hancock and based on the legendary day siege of the alamo mission in what is modern day san antonio, texas.
War movies like the alamo probably shouldnt be reduced to terms of. Jan 18, 2012 academy awardr winner billy bob thornton, dennis quaid, and jason patric team up for the acclaimed action epic about one of the most important events in american history. The film explores the political motives behind not only the battle, but the whole texas revolution. Hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various interpretive liberties were taken, such as building the movieset version of the alamo chapel facade forward 30 to 40 feet 12 m more than the extant and presumably historically correct structure.
The main two issues i observed were 1 the decision to skip the catalytic events of the alamo and go right into the aftermath and 2 numerous historical inaccuracies. Since the dawn of filmmaking, the battle of the alamo has inspired and intrigued film directors. Texas rising skips alamo and is historically inaccurate. Hollywood mexican, facts, events, slaves history u. Nov, 2010 this has the accuracies of the actual alamo. If we dont know it, we find out in the first scene. Some people try to use those scenes as proof that the movie contains historical inaccuracies. The expansive battle scenes, historical accuracy, realism, and decent storyline make this film well worth seeing. The largest cannon used in the battle was in possession of the alamo defenders.
As for the film itself, it is the most historically accurate version of the alamo story. The second argument is a fair one considering this story is being brought to you by the history channel. How the battle of the alamo turned the tide in the texas. It was originally supposed to be a ron howard project starring russell crowe, but howard insisted on a. In reality, the chapel of the alamo was much further back then what you saw in the movie. What were the historical inaccuracies of the movie, the alamo 2004. It is updated to reflect the audiencemood during the tumultuous time of the early bush ii years. Obviously, some things were adjusted or changed, such as the actual size of the alamo compound it was much bigger in real life and the death of crockett. The 2004 movie, which tries for greater historical accuracy, is not among the greatest westerns, but its better than this version and thorntons performance is terrific. Santa anna stopped at the alamo because he was ahead of schedule and he was waiting for his heavy artillery to catch up. The absolute best historically accurate westerns true west.
Jan 22, 2018 the alamo 2004 this movie actually tried to follow the history of the battle, including the associated politics of mexico concerning the empresario system that was used to bring the settlers in. It was originally supposed to be a ron howard project starring russell crowe, but howard insisted on a budget that was deemed too high. The battle was not strategically important, but was pivotal in uniting the resolve of texans in the texas revolution of 18351836 in which texas declared itself an independent republic and kicked out governmental influences. Apr 08, 2004 remember the alamo and forget the negative stories youve probably read or heard about this latest film chronicling the famous texas battle. The alamo is an entertaining movie with a good heart that tries to accurately present the history of this famous american event. Santa anna surrenders to the wounded houston, and in exchange for his life agrees to order all mexican troops to withdraw from texas and to accept texan independence, despite the texans wanting to hang him as revenge for the alamo. Sep 01, 2019 the alamo with billy bob thornton in 2004 is the most accurate. But the only great version, which most people relate to, is the john wayne version in 1960.
However, i watch the alamo 2004 and i am shocked at just how much better of a detailed movie it is with complex characters and historical accuracy. Once again, i suspect that i am devoting too much time to exploring the many inaccuracies of a film that no one has seen or will see, but that is what i do, so here goes. The alamo is a 2004 american war film about the battle of the alamo during the texas revolution. I want to know was the actual battle of the alamo different than it has been portrayed in many hollywood films because i read in tuckers book, exodus battle of the alamo vs. Since 1915 there have been about 12 movies on the alamo, the latest being the rather rambling but slightly more authentic billy bob thornton effort in 2004. The 2004 release of the alamo culminated what had been a long and public. While admittedly plagued by errors in historical accuracy, the john wayne alamo captures the essence and feeling of the alamo story much better than does the 2004 movie on the same subject. It does romanticize the events associated with the alamo, but it strives for historical accuracy and manages to humanize the historical figures on which it focuses. The truth is there will never be a complete historically accurate alamo.
Due to updated national guidance from the centers for disease control and prevention cdc and local ordinance from the city of san antonio concerning coronavirus covid19 the alamo is closed until further notice from close of business today, monday march 16, 2020. Since the early 1800s, mexico had invited settlers from america and other parts of the world to come to mexico land was cheap and settlers were given many acres the constitution of 1824, signed by the mexican government, gave rights and freedom to these settlers most of these people settled in the province of tejas, later changed to texas. As depicted in the film, the man tasked with defending the alamo lt. But overall, if youre looking for a solidly crafted, historically accurate film, i highly recommend the alamo. The movie takes place in san antonio in early 1836, 6,000 mexicans marched to the alamo to fight a group of patriots of 187 strong. Dramas about hallowed historical events often come off stiff at best and campy at worst. It could have been better, but it is still prety good. Since early in the twentieth century, there have been numerous adaptations on the alamo story, some ranging from the historically accurate, to the ridiculous and exaggerated. The movie takes place in san antonio in early 1836, 6,000 mexicans marched to the alamo to fight a group of patriots of 187. Bowie and travis genuinely dislike each other, but gradually develop a grudging mutual respect.
The advance buzz on the alamo was negative, and now i know why. Since the show aired, a vocal group of naysayers have taken issue with texas rising for a host of reasons. For the most part, the movie follows the battle as it happened, getting dates, key players, and timing mostly correct. Fire destroys set of 2004 alamo remake in texas reuters. Their mission for independence lives on in the hearts of all americans today. For a better, more historical crockett performance, see billy bob thornton in the alamo. William travis patrick wilson of alabama is a textbook commander.
The alamo finds you leaving the theater not debating whether or not the movie was historically accurate, but wondering what exactly was the point of making this film. Remembering the alamo john lee hancocks epic recreation of the 1836 battle between mexican forces and texas insurgents casts the massacre in a more historically accurate light. Mar 06, 2020 it is the anniversary of the fall of the alamo in 1836. The alamo is a 1960 american historical epic and war film about the 1836 battle of the alamo produced and directed by john wayne and starring wayne as davy crockett. Heroes shows civilian survivors 2004 film accurate except for. All others had depicted his death as occurring during the battle, rather than him having been captured then executed along with six others. Although the battle for the alamo has taken its place as a sacred chapter in american history, the movie deals with the fact that it all came down to one thing. Naturally then the youth usually save their attention for the movies and what they have to say about historical events. As i have grown older, i realize that this movie version does not exactly hold true to some of the actual historical events that occurred in texas in 1836, but this is also the case for most alamo movies, with the possible exception of disneys alamo 2004 directed by john hancock, however the color, scenery, music and excitement of john. Furthermore, houston did not even believe that the alamo was in danger, and the young texan government was more preoccupied debating whether or not to actually declare independence. In fact, it didnt even border alamo square, the large area of land in the middle of the surrounding buildings and walls. There are some historical inaccuracies and some unnecessary obscenities in the alamo, but this heroic tale is told in good faith and lifts up cardinal virtues. Any movie that deals with such a powerful symbol takes a great risk but the alamo is a rousing success.
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