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. Its movie night at the alamono, the real one texas monthly. Remember the alamo and forget the negative stories youve probably. The film explores the political motives behind not only the battle, but the whole texas revolution. But the only great version, which most people relate. Being as accurate as it was, there were no women as key players though we get glimpses through flashback of bowies love for his mexican wife and the presence of susanna dickenson is included and there is virtually no suspense at all as we know how it will all end. 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. 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. Dramas about hallowed historical events often come off stiff at best and campy at worst. Hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various interpretive liberties were taken, such as building the movie set version of the alamo chapel facade forward 30 to 40 feet 12 m more than the extant and presumably historically correct structure. In the attack on the jacales outside the alamo, a mexican soldier is shot and crawling on the ground. This film manages to succeed in spite of these dangers. The alamo 2004 film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Historical validity in 2004s the alamo essay 385 words.
It was history brought to full color life on the big screen, dazzling the eyes of. This time was it really any better than the other releases. The alamo is an entertaining movie with a good heart that tries to accurately present the history of this famous american event. Many of these roles were inflated just for hollywood production and entertainment. 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. Wayne pursued the making of his alamo movie for years before the first scene was shot. For a better, more historical crockett performance, see billy bob thornton in the alamo. The alamo might have been a defining moment in the countrys evolution, but when it comes to movie memorials, there are far better ways to immortalize american heroism than via an impromptu battle of the bands competition between santa anas marching band and davy crocketts lively fiddle. The advance buzz on the alamo was negative, and now i know why. Historical validity in 2004s the alamo in the 2004 release, by touchstone pictures, the alamo takes a famous story told throughout time and recreates it on the screen once again. A movie i remembered waiting in line as a kid, for to watch, as i think the movie was done way before 2000, and the year 2000 was when it was produced in dvd form. How historically accurate is the 2004 film the alamo. Essay about historical accuracy of the 1960 film the alamo.
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. The truth is there will never be a complete historically accurate alamo. The battle of the alamo during texas war for independence from mexico lasted thirteen days, from february 23, 1836march 6, 1836. The expansive battle scenes, historical accuracy, realism, and decent storyline make this film well worth seeing. A survey of the history of the alamo siege and battle as well as the. The script has an impressive grasp of the historical situation but the amount of facts presented may be overwhelming for. The alamo billy bob thornton, jason patric, dennis quaid, patrick wilson, emilio echevarria 2004. That said, there is a lot to critique in the movie. The alamo raises the question of do all good stories make good movies. War movies like the alamo probably shouldnt be reduced to terms of. The alamo 2004 barely coherent, but put together well enough, 410. Many of the fighters had been promised 760 acres of land as a bonus for enlisting.
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. For the baby boomer generation it is john waynes spin that is very likely burned in their mind. 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. It could have been better, but it is still prety good. 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. 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 2004 release of the alamo culminated what had been a long and public struggle to make this film. The movie also lets us know that texas of the 1830s was a province of a mexico that already had abolished slavery.
It may have been the least accurate portrayal, but john waynes version was by far the best ever made. The alamo with billy bob thornton in 2004 is the most accurate. Neither the alamo or crockett were much the stuff of hollywood. Many of the characters in the film specifically davy crockett were portrayed as larger than life figures.
The battle was not strategically important, but was pivotal in uniting the resolve of. 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. 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. Some people try to use those scenes as proof that the movie contains historical inaccuracies. Heroes shows civilian survivors 2004 film accurate except for. The alamobilly bob thornton, jason patric, dennis quaid, patrick wilson, emilio echevarria 2004. The 2004 release of the alamo culminated what had been a long and public. Historical accuracy of the 1960 film the alamo by john wayne.
What is the most accurate movie ever made about the alamo. Please also note that i made absolutely no considerations for historical accuracy. The movie tries to investigate the characters of davy crockett, william travis, jim bowie, and sam houston. It was originally supposed to be a ron howard project starring russell crowe, but howard insisted on a. Against all cinematic odds, the alamo is a glorious. Dennis quaid, patrick wilson, jason patrick, billy bob thornton. There are some historical inaccuracies and some unnecessary obscenities in the alamo, but this heroic tale. Ultimately this list will be useful if you are interested in the alamo and want to kill two birds with one stone by watching a fun movie. 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. Naturally then the youth usually save their attention for the movies and what they have to say about historical events. The alamo the battle of the alamo is a praised historical event that spanned from february 23rd to march 6th 1836.
The alamo has been put on the silver screen many times in many ways. 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 jaso. 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 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.
It does romanticize the events associated with the alamo, but it strives for historical accuracy and. It may have been houstons finest hour, but the alamo certainly isnt quaids. 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. The alamo is a 2004 film about the battle of the alamo during the texas revolution. Sam houston was never in san antonio with colonels neill, travis, and bowie. Conventional wisdom in hollywood is that any movie named the. Hancock did strive to make the film as accurate as possible, reading. This is both the best and the most historically accurate cinematic depiction of the siege of the alamo in san antonio. Mexico owned texas, and ambitious americans and texans or texians wanted it. Martyrs of the alamo 1915 oldest surviving alamo movie. As an alamo buff, i went to see this movie on opening day, and i must say that it was very good. Sam houston is a soldier, statesman, and congressman who has his. 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. 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.
Hancocks version was purported to be the most accurate of all the alamo films, but various. This important historical event was excluded from the film. The movies opening scene manages to get wrong almost every historical detail except the names. The alamo dvd, 2000, widescreen for sale online ebay. This 2004 version of the story of the alamo is the most accurate telling to date. Remember the alamo and forget the negative stories youve probably read or heard about this latest film chronicling the famous texas battle. Drawn out, in its start, chances are fairly close to historical facts, with a little bending here and there. The alamo 2004 it is the anniversary of the fall of the alamo in 1836. It is updated to reflect the audiencemood during the tumultuous time of. Later at the battle of san jacinto, the same soldier is shown sinking below the surface of peggys.
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