Rating: 
Summary: Still Enjoyable
Review: Following the cinematic release of this years retelling of this factually based story, interest is renewed in this dated, but still hugely enjoyable John Wayne epic. An impressive, if diverse cast of A list stars (for the year of production) do much for the flavor and intensity of the picture, which although a little lumbering in places, is a very accomplished piece of film making. I will spare the synopsis, as most viewers and collectors will know the story, but think it is enough to say that this will go down as a classic in the genre. Waynes flag waving, and at times almost overbearing political ideals are very much apparent in the fabric of the picture, but this should not disuade you from a very entertaining western. I use that term a little loosely, as it is more than a western, and was groundbraking in more ways than one at the time of it's production. The DVD also contains a very intimate and interesting peek at the movies production in a special documentary which more than adds to the value of this (now keenly priced) release. A movie that will grace any home collection, and well worth the money.
Rating: 
Summary: great movie
Review: The Duke's Alamo is a fine film. So is Walt Disney's Davy Crockett and the 2004 Alamo with Billy Bob Thorton as a fine Davy Crockett. You can't beat all of these for excellent historical adventures.
Rating:
Summary: One of the all-time greatest must see films
Review: However inaccurate this film's portrayal of the events of the Alamo may or may not be, the work is brilliantly entertaining, enlightening, and family-friendly. This film gives us a look at the seige that gave Texas its independence, and a heart-warming cast of characters that shall forever live in the minds of Texans.
Rating:
Summary: Even with the soft spots, very satisfying.....
Review: After watching "The Alamo" and being thoroughly disappointed, I turned to the Duke and Walt to fix the damage done.....I realize some folks think that Walt Disney's "Davy Crockett" is kids stuff, but it was just as accurate and much more engaging that this sad new one..... As much as Billy bob looks like some of Davy's pictures, the director fails to understand what men like that are like......Walt was one of them, he knew..... It takes a great director, with the understanding of finesse and legends that's required to pull something like this off..... Enjoy the new boxed restored set from Disney video, "Davy Crockett" to learn about the man, watch the Duke's film to understand what happened at the Alamo.....there was a reason they fought....... The directors cut is the one to get....
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne shoulda got a Best Director Oscar
Review: John Wayne's version of The Alamo is one of my favorite Alamo movies, next to the recent epic blockbuster The Alamo with Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, Jason Patric as James Bowie, Patrick Wilson as Col. William B. Travis, and Dennis Quaid as General Sam Houston.
John Wayne wanted to tell the story of the famous battle at the Alamo and it's sacrifice, but he couldn't do it because the movie studio, Republic Pictures, the one he was under contract with, said he could only act in it and not direct it or he could direct it and not act in it.
So Wayne decided to strike out on his own to make his picture, he selected the principal actors and the extras, he built his own set of the Alamo mission and it's inner courtyard and the town of San Antonio de Bexar, and most of the money that Wayne spent on the movie came from his own pocket.
I mean, John Wayne wanted to make The Alamo and he did, I personally think that he should have been nominated and perhaps, awarded a Best Director Oscar for his direction of The Alamo.
I have the DVD version of this movie, but the one I have is the one with John Wayne standing in front of the Alamo holding his rifle on his shoulder, I don't this version yet.
John Wayne: Best Director: The Alamo
Rating: 
Summary: Yes, Frankie does sing!
Review: I wrote a review for this movie years ago and my opinion of it as a overlong, hokey, wanna-be epic with an atrocious script still stands. (And this is in spite of the facts that John Wayne is my all-time favorite actor and that the Alamo was an obsession of mine when I was kid.) However, I just read another reviewer state that Frankie Avalon does not sing in this movie and that is technically not true. The presence of Frankie Avalon in this movie is absurd especially when you see this Italian-American, Philly native walking around in a coonskin cap. It's embarrassing that the Duke was so desperate to recoup his massive financial investment in this picture that he was forced to pander so blatantly to the teen market. The Duke then compounded this ridiculous casting mistake by having Frankie sing! In the original director's cut one gets to hear Frankie Avalon sing a few verses of "Here Come the Ladies" in his patented, kiddie, Dean Martin-imitation voice and, boy, is it cringe worthy! Personally, I really don't understand why so many people are clamoring for the director's cut. Most of the deleted scenes were deleted for good cause- they're overwrought nonsense that add little to an already bloated movie. That Frankie Avalon solo performance is pretty darn awful, but for pure schmaltz it doesn't compare to the duet sung by Ken Curtis and that dolled-up starlet who plays Mrs. Dickinson at a little girl's birthday party. That scene is so sappy that I've only been able to watch it once out of fear that I'll start suffering from diabetes if I ever see again! The little birthday girl is played by one of the Duke's daughters. (One also has to admire the Duke's nepotism- two of his daughters and his son, Patrick, have parts in this movie.)
Rating: 
Summary: NOPE! - TRY AGAIN!
Review: John Wayne so firmly believed in "The Alamo" that he went out on his own to direct this lumbering fictional account of the slaughter of 187 men at the Texas landmark. The film is a sprawling and unabashed flag waver that quite simply fails to get the patriotic juices flowing. Wayne plays Davy Crockett as something of a Disney-fied fun-loving frontiersman. Laurence Harvey needs less starch in his britches as the rigid Col. William Travis. Ricahrd Widmark as Jim Bowie is left to veer between Wayne and Harvey in a performance that can only be described as unsympathetic. Richard Boone, Chill Wills and (oh, you gotta be kiddin' me) Frankie Avalon are in it too. Frankie doesn't sing. No expense was spared in this literal brick-by-brick recreation of the Alamo. One would do well to remember that!
THE TRANFER: No good! Start over! The laserdisc contained the original director's cut of "The Alamo". This DVD is the standard theater release version. There's no entrance, exit or intermission music and the aspect ratio is misframed at roughly 2:25:1. Colors are generally rich and vibrant but during scenes taking place at night they tend to become a muddy, grainy mess. The scene in the saloon is riddled with age related artifacts and a faded camera negative that looks as though it were dragged by four wild horse through the Texas deluge. The audio is 5.1 but strident in spots and remarkable muffled in others.
EXTRAS: The Making Of The Alamo featurette - but it has been edited - presumably because, like the film, you just can't put that much info on one side of a DVD. So why didn't MGM do a 2-disc or flipper disc for this film?!?! Go figure.
BOTTOM LINE: Perhaps with the pending remake of "The Alamo" getting ready to hit theaters we'll see MGM go back to their vaults for a revisit to this Western saga.
Rating: 
Summary: GIVE US THE DIRECTORs CUT
Review: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey and the rest of the cast that portrayed the men who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo deserve the director's cut of this great American epic. This is an unforgettable movie but this version is very forgettable. Get the director's cut on VHS.
Rating:
Summary: Get the UnCut version out on DVD!!!
Review: I love this film. It was both my introduction to John Wayne and the Alamo. I've been hooked on both ever since.
I have not bought the DVD version as of yet since I prefer to wait until they release the original uncut roadshow version onto DVD with the trailers and the uncut documentary.
It's the only way to view it now.
Rating:
Summary: Heroes One and All
Review: This review refers to the MGM DVD edtion(2000 release) of "The Alamo"(1960)..... So many times in History, man has had to make the decision of whether to accept things the way they are and live in terror, or rise up against his oppressor no matter what the cost, to make life better for future generations. "The Alamo" is one story of the brave people in American History, who stood and fought for what they believed in, against overwhelming odds.John Wayne put his heart and soul into this epic story and breathes life into these dedicated and heroic Americans. Col.Davey Crockett,Col.Jim Bowie and Col. William Travis are the driving force behind a group of less then 200 untrained men and their families, barracaded in an old Texas mission("The Alamo"), being used as a fort to fend of the advances of the immense army being lead by Generalissimo Santa Anna. All knowing that they will probably lose their lives, and they could leave without shame at any time, they all stay to defend the right of freedom, and to give General Sam Houston the time he needs to prepare his army for battle. It is a touching and gripping account of the events, of the battles, and of the growing comraderie within the fort. John Wayne produced, directed and stars as a very convincing Davey Crockett. Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as Col Travis are fabulous in the roles as the two Colonels at odds with each other but are united for the cause.
Also starring is Richard Boone(every time I see him I expect the old "Palidan" music to start playing), a very young Frankie Avalon and western legend Chill Wills, who recieved a nod from Oscar for his performance as "Beekeeper" in the supporting actor catagory. The music is hauntingly beautiful, and will stay with you long after the film is over. Dimitri Tiomkin won a Golden Globe for his scoring as did Paul Francis Weber for his equally beautiful lyrics of "The Green Leaves of Summer".The cinematography, also garnering a nomination from Oscar,makes this film a joy to watch. I had previously taped this film from a classic film channel,finally bought the DVD, and when I saw the brillance of this transfer and heard it in the enhanced 5.1 Surround I was in movie heaven. The picture in the original theatrical widescreen and the colors looked magnificent. Every sound from the galloping of the horses, to the cannons blasting, the dialouge and the music were crystal clear. There is also a great documentary included on the making of the film, where you will see the great John Ford making an appearance on the set and adding his expertise as well.It may also be viewed in French and Spanish and also has subtitles in those languages. So why only 4 stars for my rave review of this film and the DVD?....As I mentioned I had this on tape and watched it many times. I noticed a couple of my favorite scenes are now missing and the film somewhat shorter in length. I especially missed the little birthday party scene(if you have seen it before, you know what I am talking about). This scene to me, depicted the growing closeness of the people inside the mission and the family like atmosphere. This film is a sentimental favorite of mine, and I really hope someday MGM will release the entire film to DVD, until then I will certainly enjoy this terrific transfer. It's absolutely worth the view. "Remember the Alamo"...and enjoy.....Laurie
|
