The Alamo

THE ALAMO (PG)

D: John Wayne

United Artists/Batjac (John Wayne)

US 🇺🇸 1960

167 mins (Roadshow version: 202 mins)

Western/War

W: James Edward Grant

DP: William H. Clothier

Ed: Stuart Gilmore

Mus: Dimitri Tiomkin

PD: Alfred Ybarra

Cos: Ron Talsky

John Wayne (Col. Davy Crockett), Richard Widmark (Col. Jim Bowie), Laurence Harvey (Col. William Travis), Frankie Avalon (Smitty), Patrick Wayne (Capt. James Bonham), Chill Wills (Beekeeper)

I'll admit that The Alamo is certainly a product of its time, but I also have to say that it's amongst the worst films to ever be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

A pet project for John Wayne, who produced, directed and starred in the production, which was a big budget bonanza for the time.

Set in 1836, the film follows the efforts of Col. Davy Crockett and a small band of soldiers who sacrifice their lives protecting the state of Texas from the rule of a Mexican tyrant & his army. 

Though the production was significantly groundbreaking for its time, the historical subject matter is given very little justice here. In fact, I knew even less about the background of the conflict coming out of this movie than I did going in, and much of the running time is bogged down in boring chit-chat that makes it feel even longer than its 167 minutes. 

Remember The Alamo? Hardly. It's an incredibly forgettable piece of work.

6/10