[SwyChron 101]

But from which Alamo film viewing do your speaketh?
John Wayne's or the silly one with Billy Bob Johnny Hollywood Uuhmpha Thornton playing a part that only needed a "Texan" accent?

Not to be rude, but J. Wayne did a fun job, if not maybe a bit long and over exaggerated on the heroism parts.

AS a Texas born and bred, the outrageous history is that does not relay the fact that many of the Alamo defenders were not killed in the battle on March 6, 1836, but rounded up after attempting a Gentleman's Surrender" and summarily hacked to death as if they were rabid animals.

Generalissimo Santa Anna never regained stature but lost it post haste.

[raybbr]

AS a Texas born and bred, the outrageous history is that does not relay the fact that many of the Alamo defenders were not killed in the battle on March 6, 1836, but rounded up after attempting a Gentleman's Surrender" and summarily hacked to death as if they were rabid animals.

This is the part of history that Mexico lovers would like us to forget. From what I have read, Santa Ana flew the "No Quarter" flag from his camp from the outset of the siege. Now, we are supposed to laud this butcher because of political correctness.

[IndyTiger]

I caught part of the Duke's Alamo movie on Turner Classic Movies last night. Wayne did play Davy Crockett a little over the top, but the character I liked best was Richard Widmark's portrayal of Jim Bowie. Gotta love that knife!

[LS]

Great story about John Wayne while filming the Alamo. (Two actually):

1) Lawrence Harvey, a South African, was just loved by the Texans because they thought he stood "strong" on segregation. In fact, Harvey was a homosexual who would have repulsed most Texans had they known him.

2) Wayne, who directed the film, at one point was having great difficulty with a scene, and let loose with a tirade of curses. An assistant tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Duke, we have some visitors on the set." It was a group of nuns from a local nunnery. Red-faced, Wayne quietly promised to never swear on the set again, and he didn't.

[ValerieUSA]

Last night in Austin ... wrapping yet another Billy Bob movie, "Friday Night Lights."

[Ditto]

AS a Texas born and bred, the outrageous history is that does not relay the fact that many of the Alamo defenders were not killed in the battle on March 6, 1836, but rounded up after attempting a Gentleman's Surrender" and summarily hacked to death as if they were rabid animals.

Near the beginning of the film, they showed Santa Anna ordering the summary execution of captives from another skirmish over the objections of his field commanders. One of the "memorable" lines of the film was the discussion if only officers would be executed when they fell and one soldier replied that they all just got promotions.

Santa Anna came off as a vain, pompous and completely vicious dictator (who didn't even care about the lives of his own men.) The 'defenders" were given various motives ranging from pure patriotism, to those of typical 19th century adventurers -- i.e. Davey Crockett. I'd say overall, they were depicted positively and it showed them fighting with honor to the last. Sam Houston was portrayed very positively -- a very smart commander and an honorable man.

Other than a few throwaway scenes dealing with Travis' and Bowie's slaves, and some dialog between several of the Mexican defenders on who they could trust more, Santa Ann or the Americans, (they picked the Americans), the Hollywood PC seemed very minor to me.

Not a great film but other than special effects and more "blood," not all that different from the John Wayne film either.