History Film / TheAlamo

* ''Film/TheAlamo1960'', a 1957 historical drama film starring John Wayne and Richard Widmark.

[[quoteright:214:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/alamo_2312.jpg]]

Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and the Texas militia [[ForegoneConclusion try to defend the Alamo]] from [[TheBigBad General Santa Anna]].

There have been two film versions as of this date--the first being the first directorial effort of Creator/JohnWayne (who also starred), the second being made by Creator/TouchstonePictures (Creator/{{Disney}} incognito at the time) in 2004 and starring Creator/BillyBobThornton as Crockett. This page is about both of them.

!!Both versions contain examples of:

* BigBad: Santa Anna.
* FamedInStory: Both Crockett and Bowie were already ''legends'' by the time they get to the Alamo to defend it.
* FinalBattle: On the thirteenth day of the siege.
* GallowsHumor: The defenders are realistic about their odds of survival.
* GeniusBruiser: Crockett shows himself to be a shrewd tactician and leader in addition to being a badass on the front-lines. He also displays a great deal of wit guile when dealing with his own men.
* LastStand
* LivingLegend: There's two among the Alamo defenders: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett Davy Crockett]] was a well-known frontiersman, sharpshooter, and Congressman. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bowie Jim Bowie]] had survived an infamous brawl known as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbar_Fight Sandbar Fight]] where he took on three other men with only his knife to defend himself.
** Bowie's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife knife]] was as legendary as he was.
* OneSidedBattle: Only a few hundred men defend the Alamo versus over a thousand Mexicans. The defenders hold out well, until they're overwhelmed in final battle during the climax.
* PowerTrio:
** TheSpock: Travis, the intellectual and well-educated leader trying to do what's right.
** TheMcCoy: Bowie, the irrepressible, hotheaded, complete opposite of Travis.
** TheKirk: Crockett, well-liked by both men, and acts as a mediator between the two.
* ShroudedInMyth: Davy Crockett had a BIG reputation.
** Lampshaded in the 2004 version, where Crockett admits to the temptation to bolt if given the chance, but knows that ''everyone'' (including history) is looking at him to be a hero.
* ZergRush: Santa Anna's entire strategy in the final assault. It works, but there are multiple wide shots that show how heavy a price the Mexicans paid just ''getting in''. TruthInTelevision in that Santa Anna is regarded as a GeneralFailure by many historians, so the poor performance of the strategy is no surprise.


!!The 1960 film contains examples of:

* AndNowYouMustMarryMe: Emil tries to force Flaca into marriage with him so he can ''legally'' own her land. Thankfully [[spoiler: he's killed before he can force her to go through with it.]]
* Main/ArtisticLicenseHistory: The film contains numerous historical inaccuracies. It depicts all the Alamo defenders as white men, while in real life a number of them were Hispanic. [[note]] Marty Robbins' song "Ballad of the Alamo", a country version of Tiomkin's main theme, mentions "Indian scouts with squirrel guns" who never show up in the film [[/note]] It shows the Mexican army assaulting the Alamo twice before it falls, while it only took one assault in real life. The real life final battle for the Alamo took place at 5 in the morning when it was still dark out, but the movie shows the assault happening in broad daylight. Jim Bowie is depicted as taking an active role in the Alamo's defense, while in real life he was so ill he could barely stand by the time the battle started. Also in the Wayne version, it states Fannin and his troops failed to reinforce the Alamo because they were ambushed and murdered. In real life, the attack and mass murder of Fannin's troops didn't happen until after the Alamo battle, and they were simply unavailable.
* BackToBackBadasses: Crockett and Bowie first team-up to fight off a bunch of hired thugs sent by Emil Sande, a corrupt and greedy San Antonio businessman.
--> '''Crockett''': Well thanks friend! (''gestures to the two men Bowie has firmly in a head-lock'') If you don't insist on having those two to yourself I'll give you a hand?
--> '''Bowie''': My pleasure friend. (''Crockett then renders both men out cold with Bowie's knife'')
* BadassBoast: The Tennesseans do this a lot, and have the balls to back up their claims.
* BookEnds: The film opens and closes with a view of the Mission, and the guard at his post.
* ButtMonkey: Beekeeper.
* CasualDangerDialogue: After Crockett's encounter with Emil Sande, he's accosted by some of Sande's men. Bowie decided to help Crockett and he and Crockett become acquainted during the fight.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: The three leaders of the Alamo all get one in the original version:
** William Travis fights and kills several of the Mexicans with his sabre, before he gets shot. [[DefiantToTheEnd He then breaks his sword over his knee, throws the remains at the man who shot him, and collapses.]]
** Jim Bowie only leaves the battle under Davy Crockett's orders after being wounded, where he eventually kills a few Mexicans who storm the room he's in before being bayoneted to death.
** Davy Crockett, after being lanced in the chest, takes a torch and throws himself into the Alamo's ammo magazine, detonating it.
** In RealLife, all three men's deaths were very different: [[spoiler: Travis was shot in the head early in the fight; Bowie, too ill to even fight, was in his bed when he was bayoneted to death; and Crockett was either overwhelmed and bayoneted, or survived the assault but was stabbed to death under Santa Anna's orders of no quarter (accounts vary).]]
* GoodShepherd: The Parson, one of Crockett's Tennessee volunteers.
* IronicEcho: "Do X mean what I think it do?" "It do."
* {{Jerkass}}: Travis, which is actually one of the film's rare TruthInTelevision moments as the real William Travis was not well liked by most of the defenders.
* NobleDemon: ''Santa Anna'' is heavily implied to be this, making it a point to allow all civilians to leave before the attack -- and then ordering his men to salute the widowed Mrs. Dickinson in the end.
* OnlyAFleshWound: Smitty tries to convince everyone (including a cute little lady that's very concerned for him) that the wound he has is nothing serious. Then Beekeeper goes and pours whiskey on it!
* RunningGag: The two Tennessee men.
--> '''Tennessean #1''': Do (...) mean what I think it do?
--> '''Tennessean #2''': It do.
** The sentry Bob's penitent for saying "Halt, who goes there?" to Jim Bowie, who didn't approve.
* TakingYouWithMe: All three leading men make an effort to take as many of the enemy with them as they ''go''.
* ThoseTwoGuys: The "it do" guys.
* WorthyOpponent: Surprisingly, the Mexican army gets this treatment. One scene has two of Crockett's Tennesseans admitting they admire the courage of the Mexicans assaulting the Alamo, praising them as "fighting men." (This reaches a high point when the boys take note of the Mexican's dignified treatment of their dead.) The Mexicans saluting Mrs. Dickinson and other survivors at the end suggests the feeling is mutual. Even Santa Anna is portrayed as something of a NobleDemon, honorably allowing all civilians enough time to leave the area safely before the attack begins.


!!The 2004 film contains examples of:

* ArtisticLicenseHistory:
** The tune Crockett plays on his violin in tandem with Degüello, "Listen to the Mockingbird", was not written until a few years after the war had ended.
** Zig-zagged regarding Crockett's death. Historians can't seem to agree on how he died. Either he was captured and executed (as the film shows) or he died during the fighting.
** The scene where Crockett takes a shot at Santa Anna. In actuality, this was done by Micajah Autry.
** Santa Anna is portayed as greying and implied to be on the far side of middle-aged, but he was only in his early forties at the time in real life and contemporary portraits show him with dark hair.
* BigFreakingGun: The 18-pounder cannon at the Alamo was designed to take on ships. The defenders load it with nails and scrap iron and use it to mow down swaths of Mexican infantry.
* BittersweetEnding: All the Alamo defenders die, but their heroic deaths spur Sam Houston's army into action at San Jacinto, and they win the battle in 18 minutes.
* BoomHeadShot: [[spoiler: How Travis dies.]]
* {{Deconstruction}}: [[DoNotCallMePaul David]] Crockett deconstructs the LivingLegend trope.
* DefiantToTheEnd: Crockett, captured by Santa Anna, is given the opportunity to beg for his life. He responds by calling him "Santanna", joking that he was ExpectingSomeoneTaller, asking to take Santa Anna to Sam Houston so that ''Santa Anna'' can surrender, and then on the order of his death, screaming at the top of his lungs at the executing soldiers as he is bayoneted to death.
* DirtyCoward: Santa Anna tries to flee on horseback during the Battle of San Jacinto, and is later caught wearing a private's uniform.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: General Castrillon, as the Texans overwhelm the Mexican camp, which contrasts with Santa Anna's cowardice. (see also Noble Demon entry below)
* GreyAndGrayMorality: The Mexicans get a lot more sympathy and a scene where their motives are explained, and Bowie is a real {{Jerkass}} to his slave.
* InsistentTerminology: Crockett prefers David to Davy.
* NobleDemon: Mexican [[FourStarBadass General]] [[OldSoldier Manuel]] [[TokenGoodTeammate Castrillon]], and in [[TruthInTelevision real life]]. He [[AFatherToHisMen wants to reduce Mexican casualties]], shows some amount of sympathy for the Texans, begs Santa Anna to spare Davy Crockett's life, and is visibly disgusted by Santa Anna's cruelty and arrogance. Sadly, it doesn't save him from the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath Texans' wrath]] at San Jacinto.
** In real life, it was even worse. Though his death was less gruesome (the rebels simply shot him), the Texan commander in charge of the men who killed him actually begged for them to spare his life, only for the bloodthirsty rebels to ignore him. At least he got a decent burial, and the Texans later admitted that they [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone shouldn't have killed him]].
* OhCrap: Travis, when he looks upon the Mexicans surrounding San Antonio de Bexar for the first time, and Crockett, as he stops playing his violin when he hears the Mexican troops approaching the Alamo just before the final attack.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Battle of San Jacinto, for both the Alamo and the Battle of Goliad that happened earlier. Until one Mexican general formally surrendered, the battle might have been called a massacre.
* RousingSpeech: Sam Houston gives one prior to the battle of San Jacinto.
--> '''Gen. Sam Houston''': You will remember this battle! You will remember each minute of it! Each second! 'Til the day that you die! That is for tomorrow, gentlemen! For today... REMEMBERTHEALAMO!
* SmugSnake: Santa Anna.
* ShownTheirWork: The film took ArtisticLicense with some things but overall was very accurate, especially compared to the above version.
* VillainSong: The Mexican army plays Degüello, which translates to 'slit throat'.
* WeHaveReserves: Santa Anna says to an underling concerned about casualties that he shouldn't worry because soldiers are nothing but "so many chickens".

* ArtisticLicenseHistory: The tune Crockett plays on his violin in tandem with Degüello, "Listen to the Mockingbird", was not written until a few years after the war had ended.

* Main/ArtisticLicenseHistory: The film contains numerous historical inaccuracies. It depicts all the Alamo defenders as white men, while in real life a number of them were Hispanic. [[note]] Marty Robbins' song "Ballad of the Alamo", a country version of Tiomkin's main theme, mentions "Indian scouts with squirrel guns" who never show up in the film [[/note]] It shows the Mexican army assaulting the Alamo twice before it falls, while it only took one assault in real life. The real life final battle for the Alamo took place at 5 in the morning when it was still dark out, but the movie shows the assault happening in broad daylight. Jim Bowie is depicted as taking an active role in the Alamo's defense, while in real life he was so ill he could barely stand by the time the battle started. Also in the Wayne version, it states Fannin and his troops failed to reinforce the Alamo because they were ambushed and murdered. In real life, the attack and mass murder of Fannin's troops didn't happen until after the Alamo battle.

---

----

!!This film contains examples of:

* ArtisticLicense: The original film, as it took a lot of liberties.
* Main/ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Wayne film contains numerous historical inaccuracies. It depicts all the Alamo defenders as white men, while in real life a number of them were Hispanic. [[note]] Marty Robbins' song "Ballad of the Alamo", a country version of Tiomkin's main theme, mentions "Indian scouts with squirrel guns" who never show up in the film [[/note]] It shows the Mexican army assaulting the Alamo twice before it falls, while it only took one assault in real life. The real life final battle for the Alamo took place at 5 in the morning when it was still dark out, but the movie shows the assault happening in broad daylight. Jim Bowie is depicted as taking an active role in the Alamo's defense, while in real life he was so ill he could barely stand by the time the battle started. Also in the Wayne version, it states Fannin and his troops failed to reinforce the Alamo because they were ambushed and murdered. In real life, the attack and mass murder of Fannin's troops didn't happen until after the Alamo battle.
* BackToBackBadasses: In the Wayne version, Crockett and Bowie first team-up to fight off a bunch of hired thugs sent by Emil Sande, a corrupt and greedy San Antonio businessman.

* BadassBoast: The Tennesseans did this a lot in the Creator/JohnWayne version, and they had the balls to back up their claims.
* BigFreakingGun: The 18-pounder cannon at the Alamo was designed to take on ships. The defenders load it with nails and scrap iron and use it to mow down swaths of Mexican infantry.
* BittersweetEnding: Or DownerEnding, it depends (a little) on which film you watch.
* BookEnds: The Wayne film opens and closes with a view of the Mission, and the guard at his post.
* BoomHeadShot: [[spoiler: How William Travis dies in the second film and in real life.]]
* ButtMonkey: Beekeeper
* CasualDangerDialogue: One scene in the Creator/JohnWayne film. After Crockett's encounter with Emil Sande, he's accosted by some of Sande's men. Bowie decided to help Crockett and he and Crockett become acquainted during the fight.
* {{Deconstruction}}: In the 2004 film, [[DoNotCallMePaul David]] Crockett deconstructs the LivingLegend trope.
* DirtyCoward: Santa Anna tries to flee on horseback during the final battle in the 2004 film, and is later caught wearing a private's uniform.
* DoNotGoGentle

** In RealLife, all three men's deaths were very different: [[spoiler: Travis was shot in the head early in the fight, Bowie, too ill to even fight, was in his bed when he was bayoneted to death, and Crockett, one of the few defenders to survive the assault, was stabbed to death under Santa Anna's orders of no quarter.]]
* FamedInStory: Both Crockett and Bowie were already ''legends'' by the time they get to the Alamo to defend it.
* FinalBattle: On the thirteenth day of the siege.
* GallowsHumor: The defenders are realistic about their odds of survival.
* GeniusBruiser: Crockett shows himself to be a shrewd tactician and leader in addition to being a badass on the front-lines. He also displays a great deal of wit guile when dealing with his own men.
* GreyAndGrayMorality: In the 2004 film. The Mexicans get a lot more sympathy and a scene where their motives are explained, and Jim Bowie is a real {{jerkass}} to his slave.

* {{Jerkass}}: Travis in the Creator/JohnWayne film.
** This is actually one of the film's rare TruthInTelevision moments as William Travis was not well liked by most of the defenders.
* LastStand
* LivingLegend: There's two among the Alamo defenders: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett Davy Crockett]] was a well-known frontiersman, sharpshooter, and Congressman. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bowie Jim Bowie]] had survived an infamous brawl known as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbar_Fight Sandbar Fight]] where he took on three other men with only his knife to defend himself.
** Bowie's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowie_knife knife]] was as legendary as he was.
* NobleDemon: Mexican [[FourStarBadass General]] [[OldSoldier Manuel]] [[TokenGoodTeammate Castrillon]] in the 2004 film, and in [[TruthInTelevision real life]]. He [[AFatherToHisMen wants to reduce Mexican casualties]], shows some amount of sympathy for the Texans, begs Santa Anna to spare Davy Crockett's life, and is visibly disgusted by Santa Anna's cruelty and arrogance. Sadly, it doesn't save him from the [[CruelAndUnusualDeath Texans' wrath]] at San Jacinto.

** In Wayne's film, ''Santa Anna'' is heavily implied to be this, making it a point to allow all civilians to leave before the attack--and then ordering his men to salute Mrs. Dickinson in the end.
* NoIndoorVoice: John Wayne's Davy Crockett.
* OhCrap: No one ever says so out loud but, you can see it on the faces of the defenders fairly often.
** Notably, Travis and Crockett's reactions in the 2004 film: Travis, when he looks upon the Mexicans surrounding San Antonio de Bexar for the first time, and Crockett, as he stops playing his violin when he hears the Mexican troops approaching the Alamo just before the final attack.
* OneSidedBattle: Only a few hundred men defend the Alamo versus over a thousand Mexicans. The defenders hold out well, until they're overwhelmed in final battle during the climax.
* OnlyAFleshWound: Smitty tries to convince everyone (including a cute little lady that's very concerned for him) that the wound he has is nothing serious. Then Beekeeper goes and pours Whisky on it!
* PowerTrio: The roles stand the same in both versions:
** TheSpock: Travis, the intellectual and well-educated leader trying to do what's right.
** TheMcCoy: Bowie, the irrepressible, hotheaded, complete opposite of Travis.
** TheKirk: Crockett, well-liked by both men, and acts as a mediator between the two.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: The Battle of San Jacinto is this in the 2004 version, for both the Alamo and the Battle of Goliad that happened earlier. Until one Mexican general formally surrendered, the battle might have been called a massacre.
* RousingSpeech: Sam Houston gives one prior to the battle of San Jacinto in the 2004 film.

* RunningGag: The two Tennessee men.
--> '''Tennessean #1''': Do (...) mean what I think it do?
--> '''Tennessean #2''': It do.
** The sentry Bob's penitent for saying "Halt, who goes there?" to Jim Bowie, who didn't approve.
* ShownTheirWork: The 2004 version, which took ArtisticLicense with some things but overall was very accurate, especially to the JohnWayne version.
* ShroudedInMyth: Davy Crockett has a BIG reputation.
** Lampshaded in the 2004 version, where Crockett admits to the temptation to bolt if given the chance, but knows that ''everyone'' (including history) is looking at him to be a hero.
* SmugSnake: Santa Anna (in the 2004 version), and Emil Sande (from the John Wayne film).

* TheCavalry: Discussed but averted
* TakingYouWithMe: In the Wayne version, all three leading men make an effort to take as many of the enemy with them as they ''go''.
* WeHaveReserves: In the 2004 version, Santa Anna says to an underling concerned about casualties that he shouldn't worry because soldiers are nothing but "so many chickens".
* WorthyOpponent: Surprisingly, the Mexican army (though not [[BigBad Santa Anna]] himself) gets this treatment in Wayne's ''Alamo''. One scene has two of Crockett's Tennesseans admitting they admire the courage of the Mexicans assaulting the Alamo, praising them as "fighting men." (This reaches a high point when the boys take note of the Mexican's dignified treatment of their dead.) The Mexicans saluting Mrs. Dickinson and other survivors at the end suggests the feeling is mutual.
** Even Santa Anna is portrayed in Wayne's film as something of a NobleDemon, honorably allowing all civilians enough time to leave the area safely before the attack begins.
* ZergRush: Santa Anna's entire strategy in the final assault is this. It works, but there are multiple wide shots that show how heavy a price the Mexicans paid just ''getting in''. TruthInTelevision in that Santa Anna is regarded as a GeneralFailure by many historians, so the poor performance of the strategy is no surprise.

** In RealLife, all three men's deaths were very different: [[spoilers: Travis was shot in the head early in the fight, Bowie, too ill to even fight, was in his bed when he was bayoneted to death, and Crockett, one of the few defenders to survive the assault, was stabbed to death under Santa Anna's orders of no quarter.]]

* ArtisticLicense: Davy Crockett's last scene, in both films.
** AluminumChristmasTrees: One of Santa Anna's officers wrote an account of the siege that ended with Crockett and several others brought before Santa Anna and ultimately sabered to death.

--> '''Crockett''': Well thanks friend! (''gestures too the two men Bowie has firmly in a head-lock'') If you don't insist on having those two to yourself I'll give you a hand?

* NoIndoorVoice: John Wayne's Jim Bowie.

--> '''Gen. Sam Houston''': You will remember this battle! You will remember each minute of it! Each second! 'Til the day that you die! That is for tomorrow, gentlemen! For today... REMEMBER THE ALAMO!

* ShownTheirWork: The 2004 version, which took ArtisticLicense with some things but overall was very accurate.

* ZergRush: Santa Anna's entire strategy in the final assault is this. It works, but there are multiple shots wide shots that show how heavy a price the Mexicans paid just ''getting in''. TruthInTelevision in that Santa Anna is regarded as a GeneralFailure by many historians, so the poor performance of the strategy is no surprise.

* Main/ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Wayne film contains numerous historical inaccuracies. It depicts all the Alamo defenders as white men, while in real life a number of them were Hispanic. It shows the Mexican army assaulting the Alamo twice before it falls, while it only took one assault in real life. The real life final battle for the Alamo took place at 5 in the morning when it was still dark out, but the movie shows the assault happening in broad daylight. Jim Bowie is depicted as taking an active role in the Alamo's defense, while in real life he was so ill he could barely stand by the time the battle started. Also in the Wayne version, it states Fannin and his troops failed to reinforce the Alamo because they were ambushed and murdered. In real life, the attack and mass murder of Fannin's troops didn't happen until after the Alamo battle.

* BadassBoast: The Tennesseans did this a lot in the JohnWayne version, and they had the balls to back up their claims.

* CasualDangerDialogue: One scene in the JohnWayne film. After Crockett's encounter with Emil Sande, he's accosted by some of Sande's men. Bowie decided to help Crockett and he and Crockett become acquainted during the fight.

* {{Jerkass}}: Travis in the JohnWayne film.

[[{{Badass}} Davy Crockett]], Jim Bowie, and the Texas militia [[ForegoneConclusion try to defend the Alamo]] from [[TheBigBad General Santa Anna]].

* {{Badass}}: Pretty much all of the defenders fit into this trope.

* Main/ArtisticLicenseHistory: The Wayne film contains numerous historical inaccuracies. It depicts all the Alamo defenders as white men, while in real life a number of them were Hispanic. It shows the Mexican army assaulting the Alamo twice before it falls, while it only took one assault in real life. The real life final battle for the Alamo took place at 5 in the morning when it was still dark out, but the movie shows the assault happening in broad daylight. Also in the Wayne version, it states Fannin and his troops failed to reinforce the Alamo because they were ambushed and murdered. In real life, the attack and mass murder of Fannin's troops didn't happen until after the Alamo battle.

There have been two film versions as of this date--the first being the first directorial effort of Creator/JohnWayne (who also starred), the second being made by Creator/TouchstonePictures (Creator/{{Disney}} incognito at the time) in 2004 and starring Creator/BillyBobThorton as Crockett. This page is about both of them.

There have been two film versions as of this date--the first being the first directorial effort of Creator/JohnWayne (who also starred), the second being made in 2004 and starring Creator/BillyBobThorton as Crockett. This page is about both of them.

* OneSidedBattle: Only a few hundred men defend the Alamo versus over a thousand Mexicans. The the defenders hold out well, until they're overwhelmed in final battle during the climax.

** In real life, it was even worse. Though his death was less gruesome (the rebels simply shot him), the Texan commander in charge of the men who killed him actually begged for them to spare his life, only for the bloodthirsty rebels to ignore him. At least he got a decent burial.

** In Wayne's film, ''Santa Anna'' is heavily implied to be this, making it a point to allow all civilians to leave before the attack--and then ordering his men to salute the women in the end.

** TheMc[=Coy=]: Bowie, the irrepressible, hotheaded, complete opposite of Travis.

* WorthyOpponent: Surprisingly, the Mexican army (though not [[BigBad Santa Anna]] himself) gets this treatment in Wayne's ''Alamo''. One scene has two of Crockett's Tennesseans admitting they admire the courage of the Mexicans assaulting the Alamo, praising them as "fighting men." The Mexicans saluting Mrs. Dickinson and other survivors at the end suggests the feeling is mutual.