Post by neferetus on Apr 5, 2006 21:48:39 GMT -5
TEXAS AND THE MEXICAN WAR
A 16mm Sound Film, 18 Minutes
(1967) ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION
In this black and white photo from this color film,
Empressario Steven Austin (in white shirt) explains
to some settlers the rules thay must abide by to satisfy
Mexico of their loyalty, while the Mexican representative,
in top hat, looks on.
This film is a curiousity. With a script that was written by a UCLA professor, it is sympathetic to the Mexican side of the situation and gives ample screen time and dialogue to the Mexican participants.
It is also interesting to see what reenactors from 1967 were like. While the town and countryside scenes scenes are limited to a few costumed soldados and Texians, the majority of all action sequences were lifted exclusively from THE LAST COMMAND. In explaining the Texian Revolution, maps with arrows are heavily relied upon. The battles of the Alamo, Goliad and San Patricio are covered in one sentence and one scene from LAST COMMAND that shows lancers riding through the damaged palisade. Then there is a fleeting glimpse of a Texian reenactor slumped over a wall dead, with some blood showing. The few seconds of screen time covering the San Jacinto battle were lifted from the scene in LAST COMMAND where Bowie's men ambush the Mexicans coming over the river.
The Mexican war sequences show a mortar going off, followed by stock footage from LAST COMMAND of lancers riding over a hill. The capture of Mexico City is depicted by another LAST COMMAND scene showing lancers riding through the Alamo gate, while Texians scuffle on the wall above and Arthur Hunnicutt touches off the powder cache.
While I'm glad that I own this film as a curiousity, don't go running off to your local library, or DVD store for a copy, because it's just not good enough to be that readily available.
A 16mm Sound Film, 18 Minutes
(1967) ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA EDUCATIONAL CORPORATION
In this black and white photo from this color film,
Empressario Steven Austin (in white shirt) explains
to some settlers the rules thay must abide by to satisfy
Mexico of their loyalty, while the Mexican representative,
in top hat, looks on.
This film is a curiousity. With a script that was written by a UCLA professor, it is sympathetic to the Mexican side of the situation and gives ample screen time and dialogue to the Mexican participants.
It is also interesting to see what reenactors from 1967 were like. While the town and countryside scenes scenes are limited to a few costumed soldados and Texians, the majority of all action sequences were lifted exclusively from THE LAST COMMAND. In explaining the Texian Revolution, maps with arrows are heavily relied upon. The battles of the Alamo, Goliad and San Patricio are covered in one sentence and one scene from LAST COMMAND that shows lancers riding through the damaged palisade. Then there is a fleeting glimpse of a Texian reenactor slumped over a wall dead, with some blood showing. The few seconds of screen time covering the San Jacinto battle were lifted from the scene in LAST COMMAND where Bowie's men ambush the Mexicans coming over the river.
The Mexican war sequences show a mortar going off, followed by stock footage from LAST COMMAND of lancers riding over a hill. The capture of Mexico City is depicted by another LAST COMMAND scene showing lancers riding through the Alamo gate, while Texians scuffle on the wall above and Arthur Hunnicutt touches off the powder cache.
While I'm glad that I own this film as a curiousity, don't go running off to your local library, or DVD store for a copy, because it's just not good enough to be that readily available.
