Alamo movie filled with 'fairy tales'(Group says new film destroys memory of American heroes)

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[Cedar]

Alamo movie filled with 'fairy tales' Group says new film destroys memory of American heroes

A new movie set to open this weekend entitled "The Alamo" is filled with revisionist history and political correctness, claims a pro-military nonprofit organization.

In a statement, Freedom Alliance slammed Michael Eisner and Walt Disney Pictures, the film's maker, for rewriting history in the movie, which is scheduled to open April 9.

"The movie reads more like a Disney fairy tale and promotes a politically correct revisionist agenda aimed at destroying a traditional American hero," said B. Forrest Clayton, a Freedom Alliance visiting fellow.

Clayton says he obtained a screenplay of the film and found it to be "full of inaccuracies." He says Davy Crockett is portrayed as a "frightened wanderer" who wanted to escape "over the wall" in the dark of night during the historic battle, but felt paralyzed and trapped by his own underserved heroic reputation.

An unofficial website for the film calls it "a tale of a handful of men who stood up for their passion and ideals against an overwhelming force.

"In the spring of 1836, in the face of insurmountable odds, fewer than 200 ordinary men who believed in the future of Texas held the fort for 13 days against thousands of Mexican soldiers led by dictator Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna."

Freedom Alliance says the film has Crockett captured, bound and executed on his knees after the battle was over, "even though the historical evidence shows that he was killed fighting, in the thick of combat, during the battle."

The group cites several historical witnesses who backed up the story of a heroic Crockett.

Said the group's statement: "The movie makers ignored these witnesses that corroborated Crockett's heroic death in combat and based his capture and execution in the film on a suspect portion of Jose Enrique De La Pena's supposed diary/memoir which handwriting expert Charles Hamilton proved was a forgery by John Laflin, aka John Lafitte, a prominent American forger of papers on American pirates and frontier heroes."

Disney also is criticized for portraying Gen. Sam Houston as a "venereal-diseased drunkard" and Col. William Barret Travis, commander of Texan forces at the Alamo, as a "deadbeat dad and serial adulterer."

In addition, says the group, Col. James Bowie, the Alamo defender famous for his knife-fighting skills, is portrayed as a land-swindling slave trader. The film reportedly has Crockett participating in a My Lai-style massacre in the Creek Indian War.

Freedom Alliance says in contrast, Manuel Castrillon, a Mexican general who attacked the Alamo, is portrayed as a "flawless, noble and brave hero."

"Heroes such as Davy Crockett must be vigorously defended by all patriotic Americans in the culture war. They represent Western culture. To sit back and allow them to be desecrated is an injustice to American students and a recipe for disaster for the future of the country," concluded Clayton.

A recent Variety article confirmed the film's perspective.

"'Alamo' is expected to deal with many of the historical complexities – including the Mexican point of view – that were glossed over in John Wayne's 1960 film," Variety reported. "Alamo heroes William Barret Travis' serial marital infidelities, Jim Bowie's slave trading and Davy Crockett's overall political incorrectness will also be addressed."

Richard Bruce Winders, curator of the Alamo museum, said moviegoers who expect a close remake of the John Wayne "Alamo" film will be disappointed. He says the new movie is more accurate and calls the 1960 classic film "real bad history."

"It's hard to believe that Hollywood would do a movie where there was so much historical information in it," he told the Associated Press. "If you're expecting a remake of John Wayne's movie, you're going to be pretty much surprised by what you'll see."

The movie is directed by John Lee Hancock. It stars Billy Bob Thornton, Dennis Quaid, Emilio Echevarría, Patrick Wilson and Jason Patric.

[Terry Mross]

Amen! Ms. Dickinson said she saw Crockett lying near the picket fence that Travis has alluded to in one of his dispatches. This was the area Travis had given him and his men to defend.

My wife is a descendent of Crockett. We were in middle Tennessee this past weekend visiting the graves of her ancestors. She has said since day one, "If they show that Crockett surrendered, I will not go see it." We will not go see it.

Sam Houston was a drunk while living with the Indians in Arkansas. But history shows all were in awe of him when he rode into Washington on the Brazos. But what really upsets me is that Quaid would agree to do this movie. He's a Texan, for God's sake! And John Lee Hancock is a Texan! Shame of them both for selling out! Gentlemen, your Lonestar passes have been revoked!

[WVNan]

I've boycotted everything Disney for years now. Should know that they would do the P.C. thing.

[OneVike]

I beleive I will spend my money on another very good very accurate movie, "The Passion of The Christ".

For the 4th time.

[bornintexas]

"I don't think it's a good idea if I respond at this time".........

Got that right!!! I will have to have a second dose of blood pressure meds myself! This is typical hollywierd...typical leftist garbage that is being shoveled to the ignorant.......for now, all I can say is that they're gonna be a lot of riled up Texans.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

[Terry Mross]

My wife is fuming! I think this is Hollywood's attempt to blast Texas. W is from here, you know.

I think they're very worried. I saw Quaid, Patrick and Thornton on HISTORY VS HOLLYWOOD last week and they were all saying this movie is history. I doubt if any of them know anything about the Alamo other than what they read in the script.

But, again, Quaid and Hancock just sold out their home state! I have a feeling neither of them will be welcome in this state.

They took one forged account and showed it as fact. And simply chose to ignore three other eyewitness accounts.

Believe me, if Crockett had surrendered and had been found "hiding under some corn sacks", Santa Ana would have been preaching that version until the day he died.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

My family came from McMinville Tennessee to Texas in the 1850's. I have kin buried in the cemetary in McMinville. We know about Davy Crockett and the Alamo but I swear this PC bullsh*t is just about more than I can stand.

We have to teach our kids and grandkids about what really happened in our history or they will never know the truth.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I am sure John Wayne's 1960 version had a lot inaccuracies also. so what? It's a movie and you have to have a suspension of disbelief. They do take dramatic liberties with anything like this. That said this may be fairly good picture.

[Terry Mross]

I was in the Navy with a guy from McMinnville. I was in Shelbyville last week. That part of Tennessee is the prettiest spot in America.

Whenever family comes to visit from Arkansas I always take them to the Alamo and give them the TRUE facts! 189 brave men gave their lives rather than live in tyranny!

Historians say Crockett's legend "trapped" him there. I wonder what "legend" "trapped" the other men. No, it was simple. They came to Texas to better their lives and there was no turning back. This was the end for these men. They could run and they'd be running for the rest of their lives. Or they could stay and fight for freedom. Thanks God they chose the latter or there would be no Texas today. And America would be half it's current size.

[drhogan]

some sources say that sam houston told bowie to blow up the alamo, or decide between blowing it up and defending it. one source says that crockett suggested that an indian-style war against the mexicans would be more effective than defending a mission (which was in no way a fort). while the battle was being fought, sam houston and the politicos were debating politics, rather than forming an army.
the defenders were brave men, but the alamo was not defendable. houston's later strategy was much more effective: keep retreating until santa anna makes a fatal error, then go in for the kill. while houston was an alcoholic, he was a brilliant general. (he was also against secession from the union in 1961, and the texans of that era never forgave him for it.)
oh, and bowie WAS a con artist and a slave trader. he frequently sold land that he didn't own. he was probably drunk when santa anna's army came up.
not all political correctness is necessarily untrue.
just because some texans want history to be a certain way, doesn't mean it really was that way.
this in no way takes anything away from the amazing bravery of these men. i have no idea if crockett surrendered or not, but either way, he was still an incredibly brave man.

[Terry Mross]

Dramatic liberties is one thing. Putting dialog in a script that you have no idea is correct or not is acceptable. But to put a down right lie in it that Crockett surrendered is just plain wrong. In fact, to Texans, it's blasphemy! And how do you show a Mexican Army as noble that slaughtered 400 men at Goliad?

Crockett knew they would be killed if they surrendered so they could have ran at night and tried to escape or they could fight to the death. And if Crockett's "legend" trapped him, then why would he surrender?

It's not just a movie to Texans. It's history!

[Terry Mross]

Bowie sold and bought slaves. It was legal at the time. He was also a Mexican citizen, spoke fluent Spanish and married into a very aristocratic Mexican family who hated Santa Ana.

Sam Houston was a great man. He never set foot in the Alamo and as far as I know he never set foot in San Antonio until years later. He was against trying to defend the Alamo but he wasn't in charge at the time. The simply fact is the siege held up Santa Ana long enough for an army to be formed. Had that siege not taken place we'd be buying oil from Mexico. Sam Houston was Governor of Tennesse, President of Texas, Governor of Texas and Senator from Texas. Yet he died thinking his life had been a failure.

If enough people believe this movie they'll think Crockett's life was a waste, too.

[rmlew]

A man captured because he was bedridden with malaria is nota coward. However, i doubt that the movie will include his sickness, caught in the Cherokee campaign.

[weegee]

Disney also is criticized for portraying Gen. Sam Houston as a "venereal-diseased drunkard"

Projection? Santa Anna (the Mexican victor of the Alamo) lost the Battle of San Jacinto in part because he was MIA with a prostitute. That was the decisive battle that won The Republic of Texas' independence.

I guess that Disney bolloxed up the casting. They could have had Billy Bob Thorton play a drunken, sex addict named "Bad Santa" Anna.

[weegee]

It's not just a movie to Texans. It's history!

More Americans should realize that their states' freedom came from the Republic of Texas' battle for independence.

[weegee]

Believe me, if Crockett had surrendered and had been found "hiding under some corn sacks", Santa Ana would have been preaching that version until the day he died.

BUMP!

[kimmie7]

Have they never heard

Don't mess with Texas!

[Doctor Stochastic]

You do mean Emily West, of course.

[VOA]

"Sam Houston was a drinker and got a little strange sometimes. I have no idea if
the movie portrays him badly but being a drinker doesn't make him unworthy of our respect."

I am all for telling the whole truth about The Alamo...let the chips fall where they may.

At the same time, if only half of the story of "The Runaway Scrape" and how Sam Houston
managed to keep things together during this miserable, hellish retreat, only to
have a complete reversal of fortune at San Jacinto is true...I'd say
"Hand Sam Houston another bottle!"
(sounds like Sam Houston and Churchill might have been cut from the same cloth, except
Churchill was more prolific with his writings).

Link below on The Runaway Scrape:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/pfr1.html

[Arkinsaw]

At the same time, if only half of the story of "The Runaway Scrape" and how Sam Houston managed to keep things together during this miserable, hellish retreat, only to have a complete reversal of fortune at San Jacinto is true...I'd say "Hand Sam Houston another bottle!"

Reminds me of Lincoln wanting to buy his other Generals a barrel of whatever Grant was drinking.

[Captain Peter Blood]

I am willing to concede to your points. I wasn't aware that this film depicted Crockett surrendering.
I doubt any of us will ever really know the whole truth as to what transpired in those final hours and minutes.
I read an article some time back on the Diary of Mexican army man on the aftermath and the claims Crockett and others were executed by Santa Ana, I believe this is in this film, which I understand is pretty controversial.