The courageous struggle of a small group of Texas rebels, with the help of some Tennessee volunteers, against the entire Mexican Army, is told in this major production from John Wayne. With Wayne as the legendary Davy Crockett, Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie, Lawrence Harvey as William Travis, and Richard Boone as Sam Houston, this giant film is a true epic. The film received 7 Academy Award nominations and was a monster to produce, using over 7000 extras in the cast. John Wayne had to fight his own battle to make the film, being rejected from studios but with the help and backing of his favorite director John Ford, Wayne was able to get it produced through United Artists, some wealthy Texas businessmen, and by putting loans on his own car and yacht.

Sam Houston needs time to build an Army to fight Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico, and William Travis, a stubborn, rude, southern Colonel volunteers to hold out at an old , broken down mission outside of San Antonio, to help. Davy Crockett, defeated in Congress, leads a small band of Tennessee volunteers down to Texas to help with the fight. Altogether, 180 men hold up in the old mission and stand off against the Mexican Army for almost a week. The story centers on the principle leaders of the battle; Travis, Crockett, and Bowie, who had many disagreements along the way except the their united cause for Texas independence. This film brings in a fictional story of romance for Crockett as he woos a Mexican widow, played by the unbelievably gorgeous Linda Cristal. The colorful characters in this film that accompany Wayne were veterans of many westerns, include Chill Wills, his son Patrick Wayne, and Ken Curtis. While this film is big on legend and patriotism, the story is mostly factually accurate in its depiction of the battle scenes and the fate of the men. No riding off in the sunset for Wayne in this one. It's actually one of a handful of films in which the Duke actually dies. The first part of the film is the slowest, as we learn about the men occupying the Alamo and why they are there. Nearly an hour goes by with this build up before the first Mexican troops arrive. Once they are there, the action picks up as skirmishes take place and raids out into the Mexican camps grab your attention. The dramatic line drawn in the sand is also a highlight.

The anamorphic widescreen Technicolor transfer does show a few dust spots in its long presentation. The 40 year old film's colors have been preserved well, and the rich red and blues of the Mexican Army uniforms are still present, with a little tweaking from your television controls. The picture is sharp and in focus throughout. Like many older films that have been remastered in Dolby 5.1, the films main information comes through the center and front channels, with just a few enhancements added to the surround speakers. The sound is full and rich, but the cannon fire lacks a bit of power. Not much information is fed to the subwoofer. The Dimitri Tiomkin score is ever present, and underlines the patriotic nature of the film in almost every scene. It faithfully captures the different moments of the film with just the right themes to fit the action.

The DVD includes a forty minute documentary about "John Wayne's The Alamo", and tells of the Dukes struggles in making the film as director and producer. It is a nice bonus, and this film was a gigantic undertaking. A booklet with additional facts about the production is also included, along with the original trailer.

A must for Wayne fans, this shows Duke at his best being patriotic, brave, and heroic figure. The supporting cast brings life to the long script with their colorful characterizations and humor. The technical quality of the DVD is good, as MGM continues to improve its transfers, and the 40 minute extra is a real and valuable bonus feature. With all its grand spectacle, this truly American film is a good buy on DVD.