Rating: 
Summary: THE ALAMO
Review: COME ON MGM - IT' ABOUNT TIME YOU ISSUED THE FULL DIRECTORS CUT. I'M SURE JOHN WAYNE WOULD ASO APPRECIATE A FULL VERSION
Rating: 
Summary: Great film. Great, but flawed DVD release.
Review: MGM has been making some great efforts in releasing films on DVD format recently. On the internet a great many people applaud its efforts to release DVDs enhanced for 16x9 monitors. Many, many people have been eagerly looking forward to high quality releases of John Wayne films on DVD. Warner did a fantastic releases of STAGECOACH and THE SEARCHERS some years back already. Paramount did a beautiful release of TRUE GRIT last year. Republic has done a great job issuing RIO GRANDE and others. Universal has been somewhat slow. I was overjoyed to learn of the MGM 16x9 enhanced DVD of John Wayne's THE ALAMO. I pre-ordered the disc so I could get it as soon as possible. It went from my mailbox to my player rather quickly. I was both elated and -- very much disappointed. The film, what there is of it here, looks and sounds great. However -- we all know there is a 200+ minute "Director's Cut" of this film. MGM released it that way on Laserdisc and VHS. The uncut, full 200+ minute length really adds so much depth to the film. I expected to see it on this new DVD release. But the DVD is missing around 40 minutes compared to the earlier release. What happened to the missing footage? Is MGM holding it back, perhaps, for a DVD-18 release? Why? The technology to make alternative versions of the same film on one disc has been around for a while now. Witness the "ultimate" T2 release last year. Three versions of the film on one disc side. I am VERY disappointed in MGM's decision to release this shortened film instead of the complete, full-length, original. That being said. John Wayne's "The Alamo" has never looked better than this MGM DVD. Addenda: I stumbled across a webpage that explains why MGM did not release a "Director's Cut" when issuing this DVD. Essentialy, the original 65mm negative is totally faded. Subsequent to the laserdisc mastering, the 1991 Toronto 70mm print was grossly mishandled and is now faded. MGM is attempting restoration but it's an extremely costly process. Simply, they need more money to do the job. Their present DVD looks and sounds great -- five stars. When restoration is accomplished, I believe we'll finally see Wayne's film in its entirety. I applaud MGM for being commited to this task and for their efforts in releasing classic films on DVD. 2/9/2004. More addenda: It's been three years since I first wrote this review. MGM hasn't come forth with a "Direcor's Cut" DVD. They have changed the cover but the content is the same. Why did they remove Duke? Maybe it's marketing strategy to take advantage of the new Alamo movie this spring. Maybe MGM will come up with the Wayne "Director's Cut" DVD to take advantage as well? If they can't restore the film, why not insert the missing sections from the laserdisc transfer. The image quality won't match the rest but at least we'll have the complete film. ITM, those who want the complete version must either seek out the laserdisc set, the two VHS tape package, or wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the Real Thing
Review: This DVD is worth the purchase price, though it's not the real "real thing." The Director's Cut, rediscovered in 1990, resolves the continuity issues in the cut version. Too bad the studio released a substandard version. This 162-minute version has all the advantages of the DVD format, however, and the movie is still enjoyable, from the overstated mannerisms (Wayne's direction) to the spectacular battle choreography (also Wayne's direction). I'm disappointed, but it's still a DVD, and it's still Wayne's "Alamo."
Rating: 
Summary: The Alamo DVD
Review: This version of John Wayne's The Alamo is 2 hr and 40 minutes from MGM. This is disappointing as MGM released the 3 hr and 20 minutes version on VHS several years ago. Missing from the DVD version are the "Jeffersoian speech" between Col. Travis and Capt. Dickinson, the "death of Emil Sand", "conversation between Col. Travis and Col. Bowie regarding Col. Fannin", the "death of the parson" and "the Alamo defenders talking about God" to name a few. The "collectible booklet" advertised is a two page fold out. I recommend anybody wanting to see The Alamo buy a copy of the restored orignial director's cut on VHS.
Rating: 
Summary: Buyer Beware!
Review: The DVD version of The Alamo is not, I repeat, not the original uncut film. MGM really blew it this time. If one has any doubts, why is the little boy wearing a paper crown prior to the attack of the Mexican army? That is just one example of why this version is a real dud. Very disappointing DVD!
Rating:
Summary: Not the Director's Version
Review: I want to warn others not to make the mistake I did. This is not that beautiful director's cut which was issued on Laser and VHS. If that is what you are looking for, WAIT. I am completely in awe why the studio would release the trimmed down version of this film on DVD! Please please release the 202 minute version.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD version is a disgrace to John Wayne and America
Review: This DVD of "The Alamo" is not the "Director's Cut" that was shown at the LA premiere and issued on Laser Disc and VHS. It is the edited version that was issued for general release. It is missing at least 26 minutes of footage. It also does not contain the Overture or Intermission. I do not know if it contains the Exit music because I turned it off after the part where the Intermission should have been. "The Alamo" is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time. This DVD version broke my heart. Anybody who loves films knows how I feel. MGM has been having experiencing numerous problems with their DVD division this year. This latest DVD of "The Alamo" is just one more example of their proliferation into the abyss of non-existent quality assurance at their facilities. For example, on the opening credits they can't even keep control of horizontal movement as the frame moves up and down. This film deserves better. The Alamo is one of America's greatest icons. Through word, song and picture the legend of the Alamo was handed down and stills lives today. Men and women of different religious, ethnic and social backgrounds came together and died or lost loved ones at the Alamo in a noble effort to overcome tyranny and preserve basic human freedoms. John Wayne preserved that legend on film. "The Alamo" is one of America's greatest films. Like I said, this DVD version is a real heartbreaker.
Rating:
Summary: Epic that's been forgotton
Review: Great DVD release in the UK. Superb picture quality. A big big shame that the missing 30 minutes has been left off! Why? I'll still have to keep my VHS copy for a while longer yet. The film slightly suffers because of this shortened length.
Rating:
Summary: Wayne's Texas Saga Long, but Exciting!
Review: Viewed as history, John Wayne's epic production of 'The Alamo' is as full of holes as Swiss Cheese (the final battle actually lasted less than an hour, in the predawn darkness of March 6; current scholarly consensus is that the historical Crockett attempted to surrender, at the end of the furious onslaught, but was executed), but just as Wayne mentor John Ford never let 'the facts' interfere with a good story, first-time director Wayne wanted to tell a tale of larger-than-life heroes, taking a stand for what was right, and being willing to die for that cause. It was a firm belief in these truths that pushed Wayne into investing over ten years of his life, and much of his personal fortune, in telling this story, and 'The Alamo' was, and is, a triumph! The film can really be broken into two distinct parts; the first part introduces the characters, providing insights into their personalities, and tells a melodramatic tale of a beautiful woman (the radiant Linda Cristal), being forced into an unwilling relationship with an evil, profiteering Texan, who is rescued by the plain-spoken and heroic Davy Crockett, as portrayed by Wayne. The story bears similarities to 'The Fighting Kentuckian', a Wayne vehicle of twelve years earlier. In this version, however, Wayne doesn't 'win' the girl, but gives her a rather preachy speech about patriotism, and doing what's right, and sends her on her way! Despite a terrific fight scene between a bunch of the Texan's henchmen, and Crockett and Jim Bowie (portrayed with easy charm by Richard Widmark), this first part drags, a bit, and seems contrived to allow Wayne to air his political beliefs! Bear with it, though, because when the action moves to the mission/fortress of the Alamo, for the second half of the film, Wayne's talents as a director truly shine! The story of the 13-day siege between the Alamo's 187 defenders, and General Santa Anna's 6,000-man army, has NEVER been told on a grander scale than in the John Wayne version, and the uncut edition of the film is presented in a wide-screen format, which allows the viewer to really share Wayne's vision! With a nod to the fact that the Mexico of today is a staunch ally (several characters make a point of saying how 'proud' they are of the Mexicans, even as the two forces are killing each other!), the story flows between exciting 'victories' (stealing the cattle, spiking the Mexican cannons), and an understanding of the inevitable conclusion (defined by Lawrence Harvey, as Travis, in the memorable 'sword in the sand' scene). Harvey's Travis is the best-realized of the film's many characters; he brings a humanity to the complex, driven commander, growing from someone insensitive to others, into a leader who earns everyone's respect. Wayne used thousands of Mexicans as extras in the film, which gives the viewer a far greater sense of the magnitude of the siege than Republic's 'The Last Command' or Disney's 'Davy Crockett' ever could. The battles, particularly the final one, as row after row of Mexican footsoldiers overrun the pockets of defenders, are unforgettable! Each character is allowed to die heroically, and is given a lingering moment to make a final gesture (Travis breaks his sword over his knee as Mexicans surge past, Bowie fires his unique gun, a brace of pistols, and swings his famous knife, Crockett, bayoneted to a door, still manages to pull free, and torch the magazine). The film's climax, alone, would make the film a 'must' for any action fan! The cast includes many well-known character actors and long-time Wayne friends, including Ken Curtis as Lt. Dickinson, Travis's adjutant; Chill Wills as the most outspoken of Crockett's men; Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Denver Pyle, Chuck Roberson, and many others, as defenders. Wayne's son, Patrick, has a small but visible role as James Butler Bonham, the famous Alamo dispatch rider, and his daughter Aissa plays the Dickinson's child, Angelina. 'The Alamo', for all it's faults, is a magnificent spectacle, monumental in scope. It is a fitting tribute to it's star/director, and an ESSENTIAL part of any John Wayne collection!
Rating:
Summary: Better than the short version.
Review: I saw the shorter version of this film and felt that it was overlong and boring. But, it is my nature to try to find the longest versions of movies and in widescreen. This is one of those movies, and for some reason, it didn't feel overlong like the shorter version. Also, the final battle is a lot better in widescreen than non widescreen. The movie has brilliantly handled action scenes, and it is a shame John Wayne didn't direct more action movies like this. The final battle and the ending are heartbreaking, especially when the last survivors, a woman her daughter and a black slave, are spared and the little girl, played by one of John Wayne's daughters, asks her mother "Where's Daddy, Mommy?" It still brings tears to my eyes when I hear that. Forget Gone With The Wind. This is the 200+ minute long movie to get and enjoy.
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