Rich Curilla's ALAMO: The New Defenders

[Nefarious]

Filmmaker Richard Curilla (Center) stands over the Waynamo compound's main gate, flanked by Ned Huthmacher and Kaj Andersen

ALAMO… THE NEW DEFENDERS (1999, Directed by Richard L. Curilla)

Available exclusively from Alamo Village Trading Post, P.O. Box 528 F.M. 674, Brackettville, TX, 78832, (tel.) 830-563-9768, (fax) 830-563-9226

Upon visiting Alamo Village and entering the Trading Post, you will find many souvenirs, books, pictures and other items of interest. If you are a tourist you will purchase postcards or mugs. If you are a fan of Alamo movies you will opt for a poster or a T-shirt. If you are deeply interested in the history of the Alamo story as well as the films, then you would be well inclined to buy books and, if you are smart, this video.

First up, let me say I do not get royalties for plugging anything! In fact, when I first saw this video for sale in the Trading Post I was somewhat skeptical about it since I’d never heard of it before. But I was assured by the staff that it was informative and well done. Then having the opportunity to meet and chat with Richard Curilla, the writer/director of this project and the on-site Alamo historian and guide, I became convinced his video would be highly interesting and educational. I’m glad to report that it is all of that and more.

This is a video, not a film. Video does not look as professional as film. Richard had no crew to operate lights or reflectors, no Art Director to dress the sets, no make-up artist to beautify his subjects. He did it all himself. The technical limitations do show, but he presents his material with a sure hand and an invested interest in the subject matter that is infectious.

ALAMO… THE NEW DEFENDERS is essentially a documentary and chronicles the three day retreat of a special group of people who call themselves Living History Interpreters. These are folks whose passion for a specific period and place in history (in this case the Alamo at the time of the siege) is so all-encompassing that they live the parts of the historical personages they are representing to such a degree that they eat the same food, wear the same clothes and deny themselves any modern conveniences during the course of their retreat. Some of these same people were employed in the documentaries mentioned above.

Because Alamo Village is a prime tourist attraction and educational tool, this retreat was a tremendous opportunity to introduce children to the history of Texas in 1836 and the people who lived at that time. Living History Interpreters interact with visitors and provide a personal touch, explaining the premise of their retreat and asking everyone to ‘pretend’ with them. Once the ground rules are established, characters speak in the first person. It is almost eerie to be among people so committed to getting it right.

This video follows both Alamo defenders and Mexican soldiers during the siege and seeks their comments and observes their actions. It is the same premise that was used in the classic BBC documentary CULLODEN in the mid-sixties, whereby the camera served to plunge viewers into a ‘you are there’ scenario and followed both the Scots and the English before and during one of the most horrible, bloody battles in the history of the United Kingdom. The experience of that program (which had a full crew) was visceral and unforgettable, and was followed a year later by another program by the same team called THE WAR GAME that depicted a future war rather than an historical episode. It was equally effective and won further critical acclaim.

Richard seems less ambitious in his undertaking but still involves the viewer, though in a more low-key way. The interpreters are not actors but they are quite convincing as their various characters. When a Mexican soldier tells you that Santa Anna has not provided for medical supplies in this campaign, you believe him when he tells you that the soldiers all agree it is better to be killed outright than to be wounded. And as a result of such observations from participants on both sides of the conflict, the countdown to the final battle begins to unfold a genuine sense of drama. These are living, breathing people here and the stakes are high.

It is at this point that a practical, necessary and highly effective switch in presentation occurs. Using a diorama model, Richard treats the viewer to a three-dimensional table-top outline of what happened in the final Alamo battle. Mexican battle tactics are shown and the movements of both sides are clearly illustrated. Informed narration mixed with battle sound effects give a surprisingly stirring impression of this bloody conflict. The juxtaposition of the every day lives of the people we have just met from both sides with the clinical bird’s eye view of the battle works very well. Had we just been shown the diorama without knowing the people the video would have been educational at best, boring at worst. As presented, it actually succeeds in involving the viewer, despite the technical limitations on hand.

One simply cannot compare this video with professionally produced dramas or documentaries with large budgets and all the inherent resources. Like a number of the other presentations reviewed here one must simply take this video on its own modest terms. It is the result of a passion to share the Alamo story, make it meaningful to people today and introduce a younger generation to this important historical incident.

There is nothing pretentious about this video. In fact, Richard jokingly calls it ALAMO… THE NUDE DEFENDERS. Certainly he had no budget, but his subjects did have clothes! It is but one of many things to be thankful for in this informative, satisfying program.

Alamo fans will Alamo fans will appreciate the original perspective presented here. It is an important addition to any Alamo library.


That fine, insightful article (how's that for "unpretentious") was written by Jon Ted Wynns for his great website einsiders.com. He didn't charge me a cent. I sent him Frank Thompson's credit card number. RICHARD CURILLA
P.S. -- That number again is 830-563-9768. Get the video while it lasts!


Many on this board will appreciate the living historians who volunteered their efforts to help make ALAMO...The New Defenders the fine piece of work that it is. With Steve Aabolt as William Barrett Travis, Mike Waters, as Jim Bowie and Jeff Bearden, as Davy Crockett, ALAMO...THE NEW DEFENDERS allows the viewer to meet these Texas heroes firsthand, until they ultimately become as familiar as old friends.

With historian Steve Hardin on hand to give his perspective of the siege and battle and with Rich Curilla himself as narrator, this is one Alamo video that will make you want to refer back to it again and again.

[neferetus]

A little more info on Rich Curilla---from the 'horse's mouth', so to speak...

My teen eyes were glued to the television on Monday, November 14, 1960,
for ABC-TV's "SPIRIT OF THE ALAMO" on the Pontiac Star Parade. This show
marked the first time a television promotion was done for a movie and the
first time a show was ever videotaped out on location. It also marked
the first time I ever laid eyes on Happy Shahan. I recall that he
reminded me of actor Joe Flynn (from "McHale's Navy").


After I saw John Wayne's "THE ALAMO" thirteen times in as many weeks, my
dad and mom said "Let's take him down there and get it out of his
system." That's when I met Happy and Virginia Shahan -- on June 16,
1961. It was like stepping into my fantasy. They owned and operated my
fantasyland.

Over the next four years, I corresponded with Happy. I believe he was
fascinated with a kid who could asked him why his Alamo faced the wrong
direction, and I know I was fascinated with a man who owned 35 square
miles of Texas -- and had run with John Wayne.

Many Alamo Village alums think of the Shahans almost as parents. That is
not true for me. My own father and mother have always been such strong
and loving images in my life that I have never had to seek out
"surrogate" parents. No, Happy and Virginia Shahan have, to me, served
the role of close friends, guiding mentors and unique personalities. As
I grow older in a world that is growing too much "the same" (read:
McDonalds, Hard Rock Cafe, shopping malls... ), I particularly value the
Shahans' uniqueness. Texas author and folklorist J. Frank Dobie had an
expression that fit them perfectly: "Out of the old rock." These are
the pair that ARE Alamo Village -- a place as unique as its creators.

The village itself has been both my retreat and the place from which I
retreat. Nothing is ever completely perfect, and Alamo Village has
always had its share of thorns. But mostly, I think of the village as my
Fantasyland. I went there as a teenager and did much growing up during
my five summers in the sixties. When others were doing drugs, I was
doing Alamo Village.

As I developed as a filmmaker in Pennsylvania throughout the seventies, I
always had dreams of shooting westerns and Alamo movies at Alamo Village.
In 1983, I moved to Dallas to start producing movies, and finally in
1988, I moved to Brackettville and went to work for Happy again -- this
time to make movies. We had talked since 1972 about making our own
westerns. Now it was time.

Others came and went, but I stayed. Finally, in 1992, Happy and I
produced "TRAVIS SMITH," our first western. In his words, "You called my
bluff." Since Happy's death, I have continued my efforts to realize
those movie-making dreams, now with Virginia's encouragement. Had I gone
to Hollywood instead of Happyland, I could no doubt have made a lot more
money and achieved my goals quicker -- but never better.


And I'm still the "toughest man in town!"


by Richard L. Curilla, 5/16/01


[e-mail]


P.O. Box 528
Brackettville TX, 78832

[neferetus]

Mike Waters is JIM BOWIE and Jeff Bearden
is DAVY CROCKETT, in Richard Curilla's
[glow=red,2,300]ALAMO: THE NEW DEFENDERS[/glow]

[neferetus]

Filmmaker Rich Curilla, on the Brackettville set of ALAMO:
THE NEW DEFENDERS.

[neferetus]

Alamo Village manager, historian and fillmaker Richard Curilla, on the set of ALAMO:
THE NEW DEFENDERS.

[neferetus]

For those of you who do not already have a copy of Rich Curilla's video, ALAMO: The New Defenders, best get one as soon as you can. It's a good video postcard of what the Waynamo looks like now and, once the Village gets refurbished and the Alamo set, restored, it will never look quite the same again.

Order information is above, except that Rich's email address has changed to: [e-mail]

[RebAl]

Do they not produce it on DVD as I have gotten rid of my video players?

[neferetus]

rebal said:

Do they not produce it on DVD as I have gotten rid of my video players?

I wish Rich would have it available on DVD, but as of now, I don't think so. One option would be to have it transferred onto a disc. DVD recorders are going as low as $50.00 now, here in the States.

As for me, I've still got too much good stuff on VHS tape, that I think I will always keep a player around. You can get one of those for under $30.00, here.

[seguin]

Only $50 for a DVD recorder? Wow - that´s cheap! Here it´s $200-350 for one without any hard disk! Sooner or later I´ll have to buy one so I can transfer my favourite videos to DVD, but I too will always keep a video player around because transferring hundreds of video tapes onto DVD will be too much a job...

[Greg C.]

Best to get a Video/DVD combo. Called a GoVideo and going for as cheap as $80, its well worth it!

[seguin]

admin said:

Best to get a Video/DVD combo. Called a GoVideo and going for as cheap as $80, its well worth it!

Right! I hope they´ll keep manufacturing them for many years to come. At the moment I have my Video player and my DVD player separately. That way you avoid to buy a whole new combo if either the Video or the DVD player breaks down. You can just replace the broken down part. But next time one of the players break down I´ll probably buy a combo anyway because, as you say, they are cheap. You safe space by having a combo too...

[Bromhead24]

I got mine for $39.00

[seguin]

bromhead24 said:

I got mine for $39.00

I´m baffled! Good deal!

[RebAl]

seguin said:

Only $50 for a DVD recorder? Wow - that´s cheap! Here it´s $200-350 for one without any hard disk! Sooner or later I´ll have to buy one so I can transfer my favourite videos to DVD, but I too will always keep a video player around because transferring hundreds of video tapes onto DVD will be too much a job...

You need to be aware if your videos are purchased films they usually have some sort of copywrite protection that prevents them from being copied. I have tried unsuccessfully to transfer some of the ones that I own that cannot be replaced with DVDs of the same title.

I still have a video recorder but I am not prepared to buy any more videos I would rather have DVDs now.

[seguin]

rebal said:

seguin said:

Only $50 for a DVD recorder? Wow - that´s cheap! Here it´s $200-350 for one without any hard disk! Sooner or later I´ll have to buy one so I can transfer my favourite videos to DVD, but I too will always keep a video player around because transferring hundreds of video tapes onto DVD will be too much a job...

You need to be aware if your videos are purchased films they usually have some sort of copywrite protection that prevents them from being copied. I have tried unsuccessfully to transfer some of the ones that I own that cannot be replaced with DVDs of the same title.

I still have a video recorder but I am not prepared to buy any more videos I would rather have DVDs now.

I see! You can get around copywrite protection on DVD´s, but on purchased Videos it´s probably going to be a problem. Luckily, most of my Videos are taped from TV.

I too, prefer dvd´s and try to avoid buying Videos. I only buy Videos if that´s the only option and that´s very rare. Unfortunately, some movies are only available on Video. The directors cut of The Alamo (1960) and Iron Mistress fx., but if they´re not copywrite protected you could transfer them to DVD...

[neferetus]

There will be some radical changes to Alamo Village, in Brackettville, over the course of this coming year. New owner David Jones has great plans for the location. Starting with a restoration of the Alamo set that will put the place back as close as possible to how Al Ybarra envisioned it, Jones also hopes to put a hotel in the village itself for folks who want to stay over. That's the deal; to try and get folks to want to stay in Alamo Village for more than just a few hours.

New additions will include a train that will take you from the front gate, around back of the village. Don't worry, a screen of trees will block the train from view, so that those who still want to feel they are back in 1836 will not have their vision shattered by the presence of a choo-choo.

The village itself will be revitalized and that means all new plumbing and electrical, all around. Most of the current plumbing and electrical dates back to 1958 and THE ALAMO film. Speaking for myself and from experience, I'm all for those restrooms actually working again.

Hopefully, by March, 2008, when many of us in town for the High Holy Days go to visit the Village, we will be in for some pleasant surprizes.

[Greg C.]

How about some air conditioning in the cantina?

[neferetus]

admin said:

How about some air conditioning in the cantina?

Currently, they have those two, big air conditioning units on the porch ouside the Cantina and they take away from its 'period' appearence. Under David Jone's guidance, all new air conditioning will be installed in the major tourist buildings in the Village---and it will be hidden from view, so as to not detract from the Western ambiance of the place.

[Greg C.]

Sounds good to me!

[RebAl]

seguin said:

rebal said:

You need to be aware if your videos are purchased films they usually have some sort of copywrite protection that prevents them from being copied. I have tried unsuccessfully to transfer some of the ones that I own that cannot be replaced with DVDs of the same title.

I still have a video recorder but I am not prepared to buy any more videos I would rather have DVDs now.

I see! You can get around copywrite protection on DVD´s, but on purchased Videos it´s probably going to be a problem. Luckily, most of my Videos are taped from TV.

I too, prefer dvd´s and try to avoid buying Videos. I only buy Videos if that´s the only option and that´s very rare. Unfortunately, some movies are only available on Video. The directors cut of The Alamo (1960) and Iron Mistress fx., but if they´re not copywrite protected you could transfer them to DVD...

The Alamo (1960) version copied from video tape to DVD OK and you should have no problem with the ones you copied from the television. I still have my laser disc player operational where I can play the full version of The Alamo (1960) I just wish they had been able to make a decent copy of it on DVD.

I have quite a few American video tapes of Civil War sites etc the problem with converting NTSC to our PAL the quality is not very good.