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The Alamo (2004)

Starring Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, Jason Patric, and Patrick Wilson.  Cinematography by John O’Connor and Dean Semler.  Edited by Eric L. Beason and Paul Covington.  Produced by Ron Howard and Mark Johnson.  Written by Leslie Bohem, Stephen Gaghan, and John Lee Hancock.  Directed by John Lee Hancock.

In 1836 Texas was Mexican property, but America was eyeballing it. In the small town of San Antonio stood the Alamo; a Spanish mission turned military stronghold. The Alamo was garrisoned by nearly two hundred American soldiers, but unbeknownst to them the powerful Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna (played by Emilio Echevarría) and his massive army was en route to challenge them for it.  William Travis (played by Patrick Wilson) and James Bowie (played by Jason Patric), the leaders of the camp, along with the charismatic Davy Crockett (played by Billy Bob Thornton) rallied the men to hold off Santa Anna’s army for and incredible thirteen days, but in the end it eventually fell to the Mexican military and all of it’s one hundred and eighty seven soldiers were killed. Sam Houston (played by Dennis Quaid) and his Texan army soon avenged the defeat, using the spirit of the Alamo as inspiration.

The legend of the Alamo is one of the most popular in American history.  The men who gave their lives there literally helped shape the country and as the years move on it remains one of Texas’ proudest moments. The story of its besiegement has been recreated over a dozen times for the silver screen, but never with the resources that Ron Howard envisioned for it.  Howard was originally slated to direct the picture with his buddy Russell Crowe to star, but when his proposed one hundred and twenty five million dollar budget was quickly shut down both he and Crowe bowed out.

He did, however, stay on as producer when the job was later offered to the relatively unheard of John Lee Hancock. Hancock, who was born and raised in Texas, initially hesitated taking the job citing that the responsibility of recreating the epic tale was too great.  When he considered the fact that if he were to pass on it a non-Texan would most likely fill the role, he changed his mind.  Hancock approached the production with a respect and reverence that the story deserved.

Despite the only slightly reduced budget, The Alamo was a massive production. Nineteenth century San Antonio was recreated to scale on the largest movie set ever built in North America. A perfect replica of the Alamo was then assembled as the cornerstone of the small town. Hundreds of extras and reenactors were hired, trained by military experts, and assigned an authentic costume and a fully functional firearm.

All of these pieces added up to create an incredibly credible period piece.  The strength of The Alamo is in its characters. Houston, Crockett, Bowie, and Travis were each portrayed as ordinary men in an extraordinary circumstance.  The wartime action, pyrotechnics, and gunplay lend the film excitement, but it’s the men who struggle not just in the battle but in life, that hold it together. This film has also been credited as the most accurate film rendition of the event by many historians, including the curator of the actual historical site.

Budget: $95,000,000

Total US Gross: $22,406,362

Genre: War

Runtime: 137 Minutes

US Release Date: 4/9/04

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Awards: none

Tagline: You Will Never Forget.

Quote: “You will remember this battle; each minute… each second… until that day that you die. But that is for tomorrow, gentlemen. For today, remember the Alamo!”