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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 0:51:53 GMT -5
 ALAMO: The Price Of Freedom veterans, twenty years later. Left to Right: Jerry Laing, Benton Jennings, Larry Grimsley, Craig Covner & Ned Huthmacher. |
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Post by seguin on Jan 5, 2008 1:02:24 GMT -5
Ah, the five defenders who were taken prisoners after the battle! So they were´nt executed after all... ;D
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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 2:24:40 GMT -5
Ah, the five defenders who were taken prisoners after the battle! So they were´nt executed after all... ;D By the looks of them, they must've been forced laborors in the Mexican salt mines for many a year. |
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Post by Bromhead24 on Jan 5, 2008 12:47:35 GMT -5
By the looks of them, they must've been forced laborors in the Mexican salt mines for many a year. But well fed... ;D |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 5, 2008 21:59:23 GMT -5
By the looks of them, they must've been forced laborors in the Mexican salt mines for many a year. But well fed... ;D Here, here now! Let's be fair. It's well known that photos posted on the internet always make you look about 20 pounds heavier. Solemn fact. |
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Post by seguin on Jan 5, 2008 22:00:10 GMT -5
By the looks of them, they must've been forced laborors in the Mexican salt mines for many a year. But well fed... ;D ...and well preserved... ;D |
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dcs
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Post by dcs on Jan 22, 2008 12:38:12 GMT -5
True, Greg. Even in the WAYNAMO, Wayne, as Crockett hangs back for a few moments of indecision and reflection. Also, every Alamo film seems to require a 'Smitty' character. LAST COMMAND had Jeb, THE WAYNAMO had Smitty, 13 DAYS TO GLORY had Danny Cloud, PRICE OF FREEDOM had Jim Allen and THE ALAMO (2004) had that kid who dies in the unfinished well. In my opinion, were every visual reference to Jim Allen deleted from POF, the film would not suffer in the least. (And would perhaps allow for a longer version of the final battle, to boot.) Speaking of a scene with young Jim Allen, do you recall the one where he and Travis are standing by the palisade and Allen remarks how the music frightens him more than the cannon fire? Well, at the end of the scene, as Allen is walking away, Travis lifts his coffee cup to his lips to take a sip and practically bites the edge off of it as the palisade cannon booms. I was told later that this was no accident. The gun crew deliberately double-charged the cannon to get just such a reaction from Casey Biggs. I wonder why the scene was not reshot? Cost of IMAX film, I reckon. Nef, As the "unnecessary" participant  in this scene, I may be off. But, I can tell you what they told me about that scene. Actually, I believe we shot that scene several times - although my memory is that it was shot a little less than most others. Anyway, I was told that Casey had "trained" himself to look resolute and brave in my (Allen's) presence. Since Keith (Merrill) attempted to use much of this film to illustrate the horrors of war, he decided it would be a nice touch to show the contrast between COL Travis' "command face" and his true feelings/instincts. Therefore, Keith asked for the "surprise" discharge (I believe as a last minute eureka moment!) & got what he wanted. Personally, I thought it was a nice twist to the original script. Really enjoying these forums. Still can't see the pics here at work. But this is really bringing back memories! Thanks, Charley |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 22, 2008 19:47:25 GMT -5
Well, you got me there, 'Jimmy' boy! The negative things we say and do, will come back to bite us one day. Sorry for the rant.  It all comes down to sour grapes, in the end. You see, some of us were promised screen time in POF that either did not arrive, or was deleted altogether during the editing process. You were lucky indeed to have had such a prominent speaking role in the film. Thanks for the low-down on that scene by the palisade. Just how old were you when you played Jim Allen? Did you get to know Casey Biggs, or any of the other principal players? Also, will you be able to come to San Antonio in March? The Alamo Society symposium on Saturday, March 8 at the Rivercentre IMAX Theater will be dedicated to the 20th anniversary of POF. Bill Chemerka of the Alamo Society is trying to get together as many key players in the film as possible. (As well as the reenactors.) Hope you can make it. |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 22, 2008 20:17:54 GMT -5
 Here is new member Charley Sloan, as James Allen in ALAMO The Price Of Freedom. |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 22, 2008 20:30:21 GMT -5
 Here's the famous scene with Jim Allen, Travis and Travis' coffee cup, that Charley was talking about, above. |
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dcs
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Post by dcs on Jan 22, 2008 20:40:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the pic! That was a fun (if somewhat embarrassing)night of filming!! No need to explain yourself. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even if they do not recognize one of the greatest performances in screen history!  I'm trying to remember the other questions... I was 15 during shooting in 1987. I lived with all of the other actors. (Roger Ragland was my guardian after my dad left.) So, yeah... I got to know them pretty well. I have seen them around and spoken with them occasionally. I wrote back and forth with Don's wife for a couple of years after filming. But, after they got pregnant (and I got too busy with my own life) we lost track. Dad worked with Casey on a short lived TV series Legacy. As for the symposium. I am only just now learning of it. But... it does sound fun. Plus, it just so happens that I will be in TX March 3-7. I could stay through the weekend. It would be great to see a lot of the guys. I'll see what I can do. Maybe I'll see you there! Charley |
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Post by neferetus on Jan 22, 2008 20:48:27 GMT -5
Very good! I hope you can make it.
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Post by Greg C. on Jan 23, 2008 7:14:53 GMT -5
Welcome to Alamo Central Charley!
Very nice to have another film member aboard!
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Post by alamoalbo on Mar 30, 2008 15:02:33 GMT -5
Hi Ya'll; I really enjoyed this film; I think I saw it 6 times on my visit to San Antonio back in the 90's. I had become a reinactor by then and enjoyed watching the other reinactors at work. I thought Casey Biggs' portrayal of Travis to be and still is one of my favorites. I wish it could have been longer and I have seen the "long version" and wish that some scenes had been kept in the picture,but with the IMAX process back then a longer film wasn't possible. To much time in changeing reels I think. All in all this was a really good telling of the Alamo story. My hats off to everyone involved. Al
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Post by neferetus on Mar 30, 2008 18:48:07 GMT -5
alamoalbo, the "rough cut" of APOF is around 72 minutes. The official release was 48 minutes, but this included a brief introduction by San Antonio historian Henry Guerra that has since been expurgated from the print, bringing it down to roughly 45 minutes. The real reason the producers of APOF wanted a shorter film was so that they could get in more showings per day. Currently, the film is shown around 6 times a day, killing that argument. If the original footage still exists, I don't see them losing any money by coming out with say a 60 minute version. Might even make more money with additional popcorn and soda sales that way.
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Post by seguin on Mar 30, 2008 19:45:49 GMT -5
They should have stayed with the rough cut!
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Post by alamoalbo on Apr 1, 2008 20:59:15 GMT -5
Hi Ya'll; I agree Nef; a 60 minute version would be better. I saw a long version at a friends shop at an event I was playing Crockett at. It is interesting and certainly there are scenes they could show in a 60 minute version; but there are also a couple of scenes that are really dumb. If you have seen it one is the "boy;" with the mexican girl in the bell tower of the San Fernando Church. That was so badly acted as well as the one in which "boy;" tells Travis he's seen the Mexican Army. ("I think I did ; I think I did".) The best scenes to me are the ones in which the Texans are running for the Alamo after the Mexicans are spotted, and Bowie's death scene. The tossing of the body on the bayonets is very realistic. All in all this is a very good movie for the overview of the Alamo story. I wish they would sell copies in the gift shop at the IMAX. I'd buy one. Nite all. Al
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Post by Greg C. on Apr 2, 2008 13:49:58 GMT -5
Alamoalbo, do you have any pictures as yourself as Davy Crockett? We would love to see them...
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Post by neferetus on Apr 2, 2008 16:30:17 GMT -5
Hi Ya'll; The best scenes to me are the ones in which the Texans are running for the Alamo after the Mexicans are spotted and Bowie's death scene. Al Yes! My favorite, too!   |
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Post by neferetus on Apr 2, 2008 16:48:51 GMT -5
Alamoalbo, do you have any pictures as yourself as Davy Crockett? We would love to see them... Ditto! |
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in this scene, I may be off. But, I can tell you what they told me about that scene. Actually, I believe we shot that scene several times - although my memory is that it was shot a little less than most others. Anyway, I was told that Casey had "trained" himself to look resolute and brave in my (Allen's) presence. Since Keith (Merrill) attempted to use much of this film to illustrate the horrors of war, he decided it would be a nice touch to show the contrast between COL Travis' "command face" and his true feelings/instincts. Therefore, Keith asked for the "surprise" discharge (I believe as a last minute eureka moment!) & got what he wanted. Personally, I thought it was a nice twist to the original script.
It all comes down to sour grapes, in the end. You see, some of us were promised screen time in POF that either did not arrive, or was deleted altogether during the editing process. You were lucky indeed to have had such a prominent speaking role in the film.
