Alamo

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

In the early 1990's, MGM/UA released a triple-disc laserdisc box of the complete, restored 192 minute version of The Alamo which, for all of its flaws, is a fairly powerful and compelling movie, however one may feel about the actual historical event represented; that laserdisc box came with all manner of supplementary materials, and it was very impressive. But when the company issued The Alamo on DVD in late 2000, for reasons best known to themselves they used the edited 162 minute version, which is missing some key and very exciting scenes, and is generally a less impressive movie. The mastering is not quite a match for the triple-disc laser set, though it is superior to the image on the older double-disc 162 minute laser edition. The color is solid if not exactly rich, and the image reveals greater detail than the laser, mostly by virtue of the lack of the playback anomalies that marred laser. There are two supplementary features, a trailer and the documentary "John Wayne's The Alamo," which is sort of frustrating since the complete movie isn't here. The chaptering is adequate to the limitations of the source that was used, and the disc opens to the menu automatically. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: PCM Stereo, PCM Mono, 5.1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: Spanish, French
• Features:
  • "John Wayne's The Alamo" documentary
  • Collectible booklet
  • Original theatrical trailer

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Sound - 1960 (Fred Hynes, Gordon Sawyer)
•     Nominated Best Color Cinematography - 1960 (William H. Clothier)
•     Nominated Best Drama or Comedy Score - 1960 (Dimitri Tiomkin)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 1960 (Stuart Gilmore)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 1960 (John Wayne)
•     Nominated Best Song - 1960 (Paul Francis Webster, Dimitri Tiomkin)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actor - 1960 (Chill Wills)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Original Score - 1960 (Dimitri Tiomkin)

• National Board of Review

•     Nominated Best Picture - 1960

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       John Wayne - Col. David Crockett
       Richard Widmark - Col. James Bowie
       Laurence Harvey - Col. William Barrett Travis
       Frankie Avalon - Smitty
       Richard Boone - Gen. Sam Houston
       Patrick Wayne - Capt. James Butler Bonham

• Director:

  John Wayne

• Producer:

  John Wayne

• Screenwriter:

  James Edward Grant

• Cinematographer:

  William H. Clothier

• Composer (Music Score):

  Dimitri Tiomkin, Paul Francis Webster

• Songwriter:

  Paul Francis Webster

• Editor:

  Stuart Gilmore

• Art Director:

  Alfred Ybarra

• Associate Producer:

  James Edward Grant

REVIEWS:

• Since {$John Wayne} was unable to persuade friend {$John Ford} to direct the star's long-cherished project on the historic event, he decided to get behind the camera himself, with better results than might have been expected. Although overlong, especially in its current three-hour-plus running time, and, at times, clumsy in staging, composition, and pacing, the film remains an entertaining experience. This is especially true of the excellent battle scenes, at least some of which were directed by {$Ford} with the second unit. There are also bright moments early on, as the three principals, {%Davy Crockett} ({$Wayne}), {%Jim Bowie} ({$Richard Widmark}), and {%Col. William Travis} ({$Laurence Harvey}), vie for leadership of the beleaguered force. There's also an oversupply of the kind of tiresome horseplay {$Wayne} thought of as {\comedy}. The cast, which includes many {\Western} veterans such as {$Chill Wills} and {$Ken Curtis}, is solid. Cowboy icon {$Richard Boone}, in particular, excels as tough {%Governor Sam Houston}. On the other hand, {$Patrick Wayne} and {$Frankie Avalon} look as though they've just wandered in from a beach movie. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide
• Since John Wayne was unable to persuade friend John Ford to direct the star's long-cherished project on the historic event, he decided to get behind the camera himself, with better results than might have been expected. Although overlong, especially in its current three-hour-plus running time, and, at times, clumsy in staging, composition, and pacing, the film remains an entertaining experience. This is especially true of the excellent battle scenes, at least some of which were directed by Ford with the second unit. There are also bright moments early on, as the three principals, Davy Crockett (Wayne), Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark), and Col. William Travis (Laurence Harvey), vie for leadership of the beleaguered force. There's also an oversupply of the kind of tiresome horseplay Wayne thought of as comedy. The cast, which includes many Western veterans such as Chill Wills and Ken Curtis, is solid. Cowboy icon Richard Boone, in particular, excels as tough Governor Sam Houston. On the other hand, Patrick Wayne and Frankie Avalon look as though they've just wandered in from a beach movie. ~ Michael Costello, All Movie Guide

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