Product Details

• Actors: Frank Thompson (IV), Joseph Musso, Joan Headley, Stephen L. Hardin, Richard Flores (II)
• Directors: Lynn Stevenson
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Delta
• DVD Release Date: March 30, 2004
• Run Time: 127 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001LYFGI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,851 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Alamo Documentary" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

INVESTIGATES THE HISTORY, MYTH AND POPULAR CULTURE OF THE ALAMO!

On March 6, 1836 the 13-day siege of the Alamo ended. Among the dead were three men destined to become martyrs and heroes: David Crockett, James Bowie and William B. Travis. Cries of Remember the Alamo! would eventually fuel an American victory over Mexico. The Alamo and its defenders grew into enduring symbols of courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds.

Controversy has always been part of the history and legend of the Alamo. Whether they hold traditional or revisionist views, people are passionate about their opinions.

~Were Crockett, Travis and Bowie a "Holy Trinity" or less than perfect human beings?
~Why were Tejanos like Juan Seguin, who fought for Texas liberty alongside the Anglos, virtually ignored in history books until recently?
~How did Crockett die?
~Did Travis draw a line in the sand?
~How many defenders were really there, and how many attackers?
~Did everyone die, or were there survivors?

Since 1836, the Alamo and its heroes have been immortalized in countless poems, songs, plays, books and movies. The films of Walt Disney starring Fess Parker inspired a Davy Crockett craze that covered the nation with coon skin caps and merchandise ranging from games to salt shakers to ladies underwear.

TOTAL RUNNING TIME APPROXIMATELY: 115 MIN.

*Interviews with authors, historians, anthropologists, reenactors, collectors, and others contrast and collide as history meets myth meets popular culture.
*See rare photos and movie clips from the collection of Alamo author and historian, Frank Thompson.
*Tour the Alamo grounds in San Antonio, Texas with curator/historian, Bruce Winders.
*Watch highlights of a Battle of Bejar reenactment staged by the San Antonio Living History Association.
*Visit rare, private collections of period weapons, uniforms, movie costumes (including John Wayne’s), props, posters, artwork, and Crockett craze memorabilia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Remember the Alamo - forget this DVD, May 27, 2006

By 

K. Gittins (CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Alamo Documentary (DVD)

The main problem with this 75-minute documentary is it does not give a sense of the historical "big picture".

It starts off with historians and museum curators telling us what was wrong with all the movies made about the Alamo and the depiction of the characters in them, then wanders around the subject of the battle itself. However, it fails to present a decent time-line of history, and leaves you wondering what all the fuss was about.

Extras include the 40-minute 1937 movie called "Remember the Alamo", which at least gives a little historical perspective on the subject. Also is a 5-minute piece about weapons and uniforms described by an unusually dressed (in real life) man from the main documentary. Finally there is a trailer from John Wayne's 1960 version of "The Alamo".

There must be better presentations of the subject, though the inexpensive price makes this DVD not a total waste as a second source of information.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Investigates the Alamo as no other documentary has done!, April 20, 2004

By 

Info32545 (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alamo Documentary (DVD)

This documentary explores the history and pop culture as no other has done before: it explores how the Alamo became a cultural icon, and tours Alamo collections (including some rare John Wayne memorabilia!). There is also a re-enactment battle scene, which I found rather interesting as I may not ever get a chance to see it in person.
This DVD is a rather fascinating look at things about the Alamo that you never knew before. There is an introduction by Frank Thompson, noted Alamo authority!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for a college classroom, January 30, 2010

By 

K. Meyer "kat lady" (Las Cruces, NM) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Alamo Documentary (DVD)

I use this documentary in my classroom to talk about the mythology of Texas: how Texas is viewed by other parts of the country, how the ideas of individualism and courage are mythologized by the battle of the Alamo, and how Texas itself is affected by these legends and images. Granted it is not the best documentary ever made, but the movie clips, memorabilia, and re-enactment scenes are great for getting as sense of how the Alamo is such a strong part of creating the myth of American exceptionalism.