Bill hunt at the digital bits has a bit more news on the status of john waynes the alamo 1960 i was up in l. But during our conversation last week, robert alerted us to the fact that another beloved classic film is not faring nearly so well. Alamo, original john wayne movie poster original vintage. The alamo after restoration of the chapel but before. Alamo the 1960 produced and directed by john wayne with an original screenplay from james edward grant the sheepman 1958 this overlong epic about the famous 1836 battle against impossible odds that one must never forget that took place in. Events at the battle of the alamo the battle of the alamo latin american historythe battle of the alamo latin american history the battle of the alamo occurred on march when the fortresslike mission was attacked by the mexican army. In 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new republic of texas. Rumors persist that waynes old pal john ford directed most of the alamo. Just as if there never was a movie called davy crockett, king of the wild frontier or a fellow name of fess parker, who educated a whole generation of youngsters to the coonskin cap five years. Comparison between the original theatrical version, here being represented by a recording from the german paytvnetwork premiere on its mgmchannel identical to the usdvd and the restored directors original cut, also from mgm but released exclusively on vhs laserdisc. A newly restored alamo 1960 would be most welcome in this house. Most sources call the movie a critical and box office failure. Thoughts on the alamo 1960 roadshow version youtube.
In 2014, an internet campaign was formed urging mgm to restore the alamo from the deteriorating 70mm elements. I have read several comments about this restoration, is there any chance the full version of the alamo will ever be released on dvd or bluray thanks. The alamojohn wayne, richard widmark, laurence harvey. This is the lyrics for the song,taken from the movie,as im watching it right now,its as they saulte her as she walks with her daughter on the donkey and meets up with smitty. Soon after its initial release in 1960, a situation arose based primarily on. The production was closed down and restarted at brackettville on highway 90, about 100 miles west of san antonio toward del rio, west texas, where wayne leased 400 acres of a 22,000 acre ranch belonging to one jt happy shahan, and the alamo was rebuilt. The picture also stars richard widmark as jim bowie. Mgm needs to step up now and give the alamo the restoration it desperately needs. Restoration the alamo was produced as a large format 70mm 5 perf motion picture, with an original running time of approximately 192 minutes plus overture, entracte and exit music. The goal of the alamo plaza restoration project click to download a pdf of the alamo plaza executive summary is to enhance the visitors pilgrimage to the cradle of texas liberty by providing a historic atmosphere for personal reflection, inspiration, and learning.
Woodlawn theater made big changes to show the alamo. Despite what mgm has claimed officially, let me assure you, having now seen the tests firsthand which the studio has apparently not done yet for some strange reason and how weird is. The reconstruction and restoration of john waynes the alamo. The alamo is a 1960 american historicalwestern epic movie about the 1836 battle of the alamo. With john wayne, richard widmark, laurence harvey, frankie avalon. The alamo is a 1960 film that tells the legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new republic of texas directed by john wayne. Is this really going to happen or just wishful thinking. There is no more time for delay, footdragging, or excuses. The alamo 1960 roadshow version author rgstammer date 15apr2014, 2. The alamo restoration bluray movie discussion, expert. Probably there has been hardly any other film project that was as important to the duke john wayne as the alamo. Here is the roadshow directors cut of john waynes the alamo 1960, the first of two films that wayne was ever officially credited with directing. The alamo, american epic film, released in 1960, that was john waynes dream project about the battle of the alamo 1836. His expert opinion and there are no better experts in the business on the topic of proper film restoration is that the film is very nearly gone.
The woodlawn opened in august of 1945 as a movie theater in san antonios famed deco district. The original 65mm roadshow version of john wayne s 1960 film, which ran approximately 192 minutes. The alamo 1960 the worldwide guide to movie locations. The restoration of the alamo footprint, combined with a worldclass alamo museum and the current alamo chapel is the legacy that all texans especially the alamo defenders deserve.
The picture also stars richard widmark as jim bowie and laurence harvey as william b. If she is currently restoring the film to the original roadshow version of the film, she is going to find herself short if she is restoring 20 minutes. Chang cheh, and his colleague cheng kang must have been fans of this movie or john wayne in general. As of april 2007 all dvd releases feature the shorter general release version. Travis, and the supporting cast features frankie avalon, patrick wayne, linda cristal, joan obrien, chill wills, joseph calleia, ken curtis. The alamo was one of the top grossing movies in 1960. Hes effort to gather more signatures of brandname directors in support of robert harriss attempt to persuade mgm honchos to allow an independentlyfunded restoration of 65mm elements waswell, awaiting the next adrenaline shot. This may not have any effect on getting the film properly restored, but i would recommend to any who have liked this page, and want to see no film being destroyed by purposeful neglect as is the case with the alamo, then send an email to the library of congress requesting that the film be added to the national film registry. Moviechat forums the alamo 1960 discussion song at the very end song at the very end. Adam has hailed this movie in the past, but what are his thoughts on the. A look at film restoration and why a certain studios neglect may turn the alamo into dust. It was a special event film distributed via roadshow with advance ticket sales. It was the first directorial effort of john wayne, who also starred as davy crockett in the film, crockett, bowie, and the texas militia try to defend the alamo from general santa anna.
The problem with it turning a profit was that wayne spent too much in making it. The classic john wayne alamo movie, into which he put so much effort to get the film made, is entertaining and heroic, being a romantic take on the story of less than 200 defending the alamo against some 7000 mexican soldiers. Potter7 draft of the painting concept8 hymn of the alamo9 picture. In 1960, the driveins and indoor theaters were loaded with couples and friends. There may be some historical interest in restoring the 70mm print for the sake of having the roadshow version available, but i dont see anybody clamoring to see it and i. The alamo is a 1960 american historical epic and war film about the 1836 battle of the alamo. Mcardle3 foreword4 biographical sketch of mcardle5 newspaper article on mcardle6 photo of reuben m. Now this roadshow cut runs more than 40 minutes longer than the theatrical cut that you can find on dvd. The roadshow version was only available on laserdisc and vhs. Darren aronfosky, jj abrams, guillermo del toro, alfonso cuaron, rian johnson, alejandro gonzalez inarritu. Film preservation and restoration should be done on all strips of film we can get our hands on. It was the first movie location built in texas, originally constructed for and best known as the setting for the alamo 1960, directed by john wayne and starring wayne, richard.
Tcm messageboards post your comments here add your comment share. Not to be confused with the 2004 version starring billy bob thornton. Many of the characters in the film specifically davy crockett were portrayed as larger than life figures. Movie poster starring john wayne, richard widmark, laurence harvey, frankie avalon, linda cristal, chill wills and richard boone. The cast also includes richard widmark as jim bowie and laurence harvey as william b. Alamo chief executive doug mcdonald said the fundraising campaign would cover restoration expenses, and any excess money would go toward an artifacts conservation fund that would pay for work on. Restoring the john wayne alamo film alamo studies forum. Mgm goes on record as alamo restoration campaign enters fifth. A couple of years later republic did make an alamo movie, 1955s the last. The alamo 1960 movie simple english wikipedia, the. Harris is working on an extensive restoration of john waynes the alamo 1960, with plans to rereleasing the movie in a 70mm.
Harris is working on an extensive restoration of john waynes the alamo. That film, as you might already suspect, is the alamo 1960, directed by and starring the legendary john wayne. Select a notebook page 87 items1 letter of transmittal2 photo of h. Picture, supporting actor, cinematography, sound winner, editing, score and song. Song at the very end the alamo 1960 discussion moviechat.
Saddle up for a stunning new 4k restoration of clint eastwoods brilliant revisionist western. Moviegoers of the time who expected to see the style of john wayne got. Harris is working on an extensive restoration of john waynes the alamo 1960, with plans to rereleasing the movie in a 70mm presentation in selected cities by 2010. Grant, john wayne, michael wayne, james edward grant. Released 1960, the alamo stars john wayne, richard widmark, laurence harvey, richard boone the movie has a runtime of about 2 hr 41 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic, which. The film does little to explain the causes of the texas. He did finally clear his debts from making the movie when the television rights were sold. This film is a relic of john wayne in the 1960s at the height of his career, and that is the reason to watch it. Alamo, original john wayne san antonio western movie. The alamo is a 1960 american historical epic and war film about the 1836 battle of the alamo produced and directed by john wayne and starring wayne as davy crockett. The alamo restored original directors cut laserdisc john.
I realize theres another thread on this movie, but i wanted to put this in here separately for the benefit of those who wish to discuss exclusively the restoration aspect of the movie. Frontier legend davy crockett played by wayne and his men arrive in san antonio, texas, and volunteer to help defend the alamo, a hopelessly outgunned missionturnedfort. Mgm goes on record as alamo restoration campaign enters. Tell mgm its time now to save john waynes the alamo. The alamo, the 1960 john wayne texas war of independence cowboy western mammoth thousands upon thousands in the cast. Many of these roles were inflated just for hollywood production and entertainment. June 20, 2014 by toby bill hunt at the digital bits has a bit more news on the status of john waynes the alamo 1960. Alamo plaza restoration project, alamo plaza, a star. The alamo restoration campaign was idling this week.
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