HEROES OF THE ALAMO (1937) Earle Hodgins, Lane Chandler & Ruth Findlay | Adventure, War | B&W

Heroes of the Alamo (1937) is a low-budget retelling of the events of the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo. It was produced by Anthony J. Xydias and reuses the battle scenes of his 1926 silent film Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo. About 35 minutes of the latter film is available on the DVD of Heroes of the Alamo, all that remains of the silent film.Show more

SYNOPSIS
Unlike other Alamo films that concentrate on Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, the main protagonists are Almaron (Bruce Warren) and Susanna Dickinson (Ruth Findlay) and their daughter Angelina (Marilyn Haslett). The film gives a fictionalised fast moving account of the restriction on American emigration to Texas, the arrest of Stephen F. Austin by Santa Anna (Julian Rivero), Sam Houston (Edward Piel) appointed General to build the Texian Army, and Dickinson's participation in both the Battle of Gonzales and the Battle of the Alamo.

In early spring of 1833, the smoldering resentment of American settlers in Texas against their oppression by Mexico dictator General Santa Anna/Ana coming to a head. When a decree is issued that no more Americans may enter Texas, William H. Wharton, fiery head of a faction determined on independence or nothing, warns Stephen F. Austin that the time for half-measures is past. Austin, responsible for bringing the Americans to Texas as colonists, reminds Wharton that a settler's revolt against Mexico would dishonor his name and the arrangements he had with the Mexican government. He gets the "Whartonites" to agree to a general convention of all colonists. Almerian Dickinson, biggest land owner in the settlement of Gonzales, deeply in love with his wife Anne, warns Wharton that a bloody revolt would endanger every wife and mother in the colony. He proposes they send Austin to Mexico City to ask Santa Anna to grant Texans a voice in their own government. After months in Mexico City of waiting to see Santa Anna, Austin is granted a mock interview and then arrested and thrown into a dungeon. In Texas, the months pass with no news from Austin and Wharton goes to work in earnest in early 1835 to fan the fires of revolution. Santa Anna decides to march troops north and finish off the rebel "gringos" - a description that only came later in the conflict - once and for all, and frees Austin to serve as an example. The Texans, under Dickinson and William Barrett Travis, send the advance Mexican troops back across the border in retreat. Austin goes for help from the United States, and the Texans fortify themselves at the old Alamo mission in Bejar with Travis in command. And one February morning, his scouts bring news that Santa Anna is coming with an army of 5,000 men. Anne Dickinson takes her baby, rides for Bejar (San Antonio), slips through the Mexican lines and joins her husband in the beleaguered fort to his mingled joy and horror. The Mexican troops storm the walls day after day but are thrown back by the 183 defenders. At dawn, March 6, 1836, Santa Anna orders the buglers to sound the "deguello" (No quarter) and the final assault begins.

CAST & CREW
Bruce Warren as Capt. Al Dickinson
Ruth Findlay as Anne Dickinson
Earle Hodgins as Stephen F. Austin
Lane Chandler as Col. Davy Crockett
Roger Williams as Col. Jim Bowie
Rex Lease as Col. William B. Travis
Jack C. Smith as William H. Wharton
Lee Valanios as Col. James Bonham
Edward Peil Sr. as Gen. Sam Houston
Julian Rivero as Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna
Willy Castello as Gen. Martín Perfecto de Cos
Paul Ellis as Gen. Manuel Fernández Castrillón

Directed by Harry L. Fraser
Written by Roby Wentz
Produced by Anthony J. Xydias
Cinematography Robert E. Cline
Edited by Arthur A. Brooks
Music by Lee Zahler
Distributed by Sunset Productions, Columbia Pictures, Astor Pictures
Release date September 24, 1937 (U.S.)
Running time 75 minutes
Country United States
Language English

NOTES
After producing two 1935 Westerns, Xydias ambitiously announced the production of epic films about Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull, George Armstrong Custer, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett in 1937-1938 that were remakes of his Sunset Productions silent films,[1] however only the Alamo film was made. Xydias had planned the film as a tie in with the 1936 Texas Centennial but fell behind in his plans.[1]

Columbia Pictures acquired the film for 1938 release[2] and changed the billing of the actors in the film.

The film featured the song The Yellow Rose of Texas being sung by the defenders though it had not been written at that time.

This was the last film Xydias produced. When World War II broke out he was in the Philippines and was interned by the Japanese.