In their book, "Hero Tales From American History," Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge claimed the last American standing at the Alamo was "old Davy Crockett."
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Farewell to my country I
fought for thee well But I am cast off --- my career now is run --- Davy Crockett |
In their book,
"Hero Tales From American History," Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge
claimed the last American standing at the Alamo was "old Davy Crockett."
"So desperate was the fight he waged that the Mexicans who
thronged around him were beaten back for the moment, and no one dared to run in
upon him."
That's how John Wayne saw Crockett at the Alamo. Originally, Republic Pictures backed his plan to bring this vision to the screen, but said no to him directing and he walked. Fourteen years later he got the financing and responsibilities he wanted, but still had problems:
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Co-star Richard Widmark wasn't happy. Wayne had purchased full page
ads in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter welcoming "Dick Widmark" to the
cast. Widmark objected to the name "Dick."
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A crew member was upset. Just because he drove his car into a battle
scene and scared a few people, Wayne had no cause to yell at him the way
he did . . . or throw that rock through his windshield.
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An aide wasn't happy. I don't know who threw the first punch, but one
accidentally took out Laurence Harvey.
You could almost hear Wayne asking, "What next?"
What next? The film's distributor claimed its length would prevent
theater owners from showing a second feature. Twenty minutes to a half hour
had to be edited out.
Then Wayne got into it with Chill Wills. Self-promoting ads Wills purchased
to get Oscar's attention offended many people, including Wayne. When
Wills didn't get the Oscar he wanted, he blamed Wayne and physically attacked
Wayne's son, Michael.
Remember "The Alamo."
"The Last Command" is the Alamo tale Republic released after Wayne's departure. Here, it's Mexican citizen Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden) center stage asking for peace. But 30,000 American settlers in Texas cannot bend any more under the harsh rule of Mexico's dictator Santa Anna and he joins their fight for freedom.
Almeron Dickinson (Bruce Warren), a captain in Travis'
command, is the focus of Columbia's Alamo tale, "Heroes of the Alamo."
Stephen Austin, the man responsible for bringing American settlers to Texas, is
in prison in Mexico and Santa Anna's troops are marching to tighten the screws
even more.
One hundred and eighty-three men are San Antonio's sole defense against 5000 heavily armed troops. But the battle we see is from a much earlier, silent film, "Davy Crockett at the Alamo."
"Man of Conquest," Republic's first big "super production" and a great, great western, picks up the story after the fall of the Alamo. Sam Houston (Richard Dix), in command of the Texan army, is retreating eastward with Santa Anna and his forces in pursuit. To many, Houston appears unwilling to fight, but he's looking for a place that will work to his army's advantage.
Believing Houston will keep running, Santa Anna allows his army an afternoon siesta, but doesn't post sentries around the camp. Cutting off Santa Anna's only avenue of escape, Houston readies his army of 910 to move quickly to attack.
At the command "Advance," Houston's men go forward on the run and never stop. "Charge! Charge!" officers begin shouting. "Remember the Alamo! Remember the Alamo!"
Panic-stricken Mexican soldiers take flight, Santa Anna among them. Leaderless, his men scatter in all directions, many throwing away their weapons.
Eighteen minutes later, the battle is over and a badly beaten tyrant, "The Napoleon of the West," caught hiding in high grass, is forced to grant Texas independence and limp home in disgrace.
Houston goes on to become President of the Republic of Texas twice, and after the annexation of Texas by the United States, to the U.S. Senate. Later, he becomes Governor of Texas.
