With Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo

[Greg C.]

Does anyone know if this movie is still in print or has it been lost in time? Ihave seen a few documentaries that show old movie footage and I thought it was from this movie but no matter where I look, it's like this movie doesn't exist. I thought Cullen Landis (Crockett) was pretty well known at the time so I don't know why there isn't more information on this movie. Anyone?

[neferetus]

The film still exists, Greg. I've even seen a video of it with added piano music that gets a bit distracting, at times. In his book, Alamo Movies, author Frank Thompson dedicates a full chapter to the film.

The film commences with a Grandfather who is seen reading the story of Davy Crockett to his Buster Brown looking Grandson who sits in his lap in a rocking chair, outdoors somewhere.

The scene dissolves to Crockett, arriving at the old homestead dressed in his Congressional frock coat and cravat. On his way in the gate, he is stopped by the "Champion Spitter of Tennessee" to be told that "Election's gone agin you, Davy." Crockett tells the spitter that it is just as well, as he is through with politics and will go to Texas.

Crockett goes inside the cabin alone to contemplate his Congressional loss and heads for his wardrobe to don the buckskin jacket and coonskin cap. Like an early incarnation of Clark Kent, Crockett changes from his city duds into his "Davy Crockett" costume and becomes the Davy of legend, once more.

There's a love story between "The Bee Hunter" and his would be darlin' that gets thrown away, just as Crockett, the "Champion Spitter" and the "Bee Hunter" all prepare to leave for Texas. Crockett's faithful black servant, "Mose" asks Davy if he can come along too, but Crockett asks Mose to stay and guard the women, instead.

They ride away and travel some, camping for the night at last, near San Antonio, but are accosted by Mexican cavalry. By tying a rope between two trees, Crockett's company manages its escape by tripping up their pursuers horses.

Riding up to the Alamo---an oversized, square chapel with a very peculiar pointed hump and palisade---they are greeted by Travis who tells them that Santa Anna is on the way. Being a fatalist, Travis immediately draws a line inside of the chapel and asks all who are willing to die with him to cross over. Supported by two Texans, Bowie is assisted out of the confessional room to join his pals.

Santa Anna arrives and immediately begins a bombardment and assualt on the Alamo. The constant assault and barrage lasts 13 days without a letup. Then, just before the final assault---we know it is the final assault, because the title card reads MARCH 6, 1836--- young Alamo messenger "Pinkie" Smith rides in through a hail of fire to say that there will be no help.

The battle continues and Travis is killed by the palisade---the first defender to die in the battle, though a tad early.

The Mexican army makes their final charge with ladders and the Texans fall back from their palisade into the chapel. (The rest of the compound has been matted in and looks much like the Theodore Gentilz overview of the battle, except for that peculiar, pointed hump.) The doors are breached and a tremendous, weapons over the head struggle begins with the Texans very soon getting overwhelmed. Crockett, Pinkie and the Champion Spitter retreat out of a side door in the chapel and head for the 'monastery', represented here by a real adobe ruin somewhere in California. Pinkie and Crockett fight hand to hand until Pinkie falls, exhausted. "Up, Pinkie, up!" exhorts Crockett, who pulls his friend to his feet. "GIVE 'EM HELL!" they both cry and charge outside into the 'plaza'. The Champion Spitter, meanwhile, out of ammunition, climbs a ladder to the monastery and spits down a chaw of tobacco into the eyes of an unsuspecting Mexican soldier. The fellow is not at all pleased and moments later, the spitter is silenced. But not before he expends his last chaw upon the pompom of a nearby shako seen lying on the ground.

Pinkie Smith seems to think that it is a good idea to run about the fort waving the Texas flag and is shot for his efforts. Crockett, the only Texan left alive at this point, fights on, shirtless, to look more macho, no doubt. He wrestles a musket from a Mexican soldier and then kills him with the bayonet. Crockett is soon overwhelmed by four Mexican soldiers who pin him to the ground so that a couple of others can bayonet him. Crockett gives his killers a final grin anyhow, as though proving to them that they have not defeated his spirit.

Santa Anna then orders the defenders bodies burned.

The scene fades back to the Grandfather and his Grandson who, as Frank Thompson points out, seems inexplicably delighted by the results. "Gee Grandpa," he gushes, "They didn't surrender!" No they didn't, my boy," returns the Grandfater, "for they were AMERICANS!" A waving American flag accompanies the final credits.

(I have a few photos from DAVY CROCKETT AT THE FALL OF THE ALAMO, but cannot get to them at the moment, as they are packed away. (So, stay tuned for the NEXT installment...)

[neferetus]

Here's a synopsis of the film from the movietimes site:

Synopsis:Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo

Produced by Anthony J. Xydias, Hollywood's only Greek tycoon, this very low-budget retelling of the famous story was directed by the redoubtable Robert North Bradbury, whose young son, Bob Steele appeared in a bit part. Handsome juvenile lead Cullen Landis starred in the title role, with Kathryn McGuire (late of Buster Keaton comedies) as the fictive love interest, Joe Rickson as Colonel Travis, Robert Fleming as Jim Bowie, and Fletcher Norton as the villainous Santa Anna. Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo was but one of three historical Westerns released by Xydias' Gower Gulch company, Sunset Productions. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide

[neferetus]

DAVY CROCKETT AT THE FALL OF THE ALAMO (IMDB)
-1926-

Directed by
Robert N. Bradbury (as Robert North Bradbury)

Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Ben Ali Newman adaptation
Clover Roscoe titles


Cast (in credits order)
Cullen Landis ... Davy Crockett
Kathryn McGuire ... Alice Blake
Joe Rickson ... Colonel Travis
Bob Fleming ... Colonel Bowie
Ralph McCullough ... Colonel Bonham
Fletcher Norton ... General Santa Anna
Anne Berryman ... Kate Kennedy
Jay Morley ... Zachary Kennedy
Thomas G. Lingham ... 'Dandy Dick' Heston (as Thomas Lingham)
Frank Rice ... Lige Beardsley
Betty Brown ... Myra Winkler
Bob Steele ... 'Pinky' Smith (as Bob Bradbury Jr.)
Steve Clemente ... Mose (as Steve Clemento)

Produced by
Anthony J. Xydias .... producer

Cinematography by
William Brown Jr.
E.M. MacManigal (as Elvert M. McManigal)

Film Editing by
Della M. King

Art Direction by
Paul Cosgrove
Wilson Silsby

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William T. Dagwell .... assistant director (as William Dagnell)
Jack Pierce .... assistant director

(NOTE: THis is a considerable cast here, with some female leads. The version of the film I saw must've been missing a lot of footage.)

[Greg C.]

Thanks for the information. Xydias must have loved the Alamo becuase he also directed Heroes of the Alamo, if I'm not mistaken. I wonder if the rest of the footage will ever be found? I also heard that this movie is a bonus feature on the Heroes of the Alamo dvd. I'm tempted to buy it but I think I'll wait.