Customer Reviews

The First Texan

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the pantheon of great western film stars, Joel McCrea (1905-90) surely makes everyone's top 10 list (along with Wayne, Scott, Johnson, Bond, Stewart, Eastwood). McCrea had a long career starting in the silent film era, and appeared in more than 70 films, usually as a hero in westerns - "Wells Fargo" (1937), "Union Pacific" (1939), "The Virginian" (1946), and "Four Faces West" (1948). But McCrea wasn't limited to western films, and he gave good performances in films such as "Foreign Correspondent" (1940) and "Sullivan's Travels" (1941). Here, toward the end of his career in 1956, we see him starring as Sam Houston - "The First Texan".

Sam Houston was a giant, in all respects. He became the 1st and 3rd President of Texas, its first U.S. Senator (1846-59), and its Governor (1859-61), making him the only person to ever have served as the Governor of two different states (Tennessee, 1827-29). The film depicts Houston when he was about 40, and McCrea was 51 at the time. There is a good resemblence between the two men.

Houston has been portrayed often in film. Actors include Dennis Quaid ("The Alamo", 2004), Tom Skerritt ("Two for Texas", 1998), Stacy Keach ("Texas", 1994), Lorne Greene ("The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory", 1987), Sam Elliott ("Houston", 1986), Richard Boone ("The Alamo", 1960), Hugh Sanders ("The Last Command", 1955), Howard Negley ("The Man from the Alamo", 1953), and Richard Dix ("Man of Conquest", 1939). William Farnum played him twice ("The Conqueror", 1917 and "Men of Texas", 1942). Personally I don't think anyone has really captured his combination of gravitas, enthusiasm, and showmanship. In this film, McCrea does a good job of playing McCrea.

The film co-stars Felicia Farr and Jeff Morrow with a supporting cast that includes Wallace Ford, Abraham Sofaer, and James Griffith. Look for McCrea's son, Jody as Lt. Baker.

Jeff Morrow (1907-93) plays Jim Bowie. Morrow split his time equally between TV and films, but often playing in westerns. He was a regular on "Union Pacific" (1958-9) and "Police Story" (1974-5).

Wallace Ford (1898-1966) appeared in more than a dozen John Ford films among the 200+ films he made. He's best known from his co-starring role in the Henry Fonda TV series "The Deputy" (1959-60). He plays a storekeeper and unclude to Felicia Farr.

Felicia Farr (1932) made her film debut in 1955 and made more than 30 films, often in westerns like "3:10 to Yuma" (1957) and "Hell Bent for Leather" (1960). From 1960 onwards she worked primarily on TV. She is the mother in law of Joel McCrea's son Peter, and the wife of Jack Lemmon.

Abraham Sofaer (1896-1988) plays Don Carlos, a magistrate. Sofaer's deep tones, bulging eyes, and sharp features adorned more than 50 films, although he's probably best remembered for his recurring role as Hadji, the master genie, in "I Dream of Jeanie" (1965-70). I liked him best as Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" (1947).

All the usual suspects are present in the film (Davy Crockett, Steve Austin, William Travis), but there are there briefly and barely utter a word.

The film is directed by Byron Haskin (1899-1984) who is better known as a Special Effects editor and received 4 Oscar nominations for his work ("Essex and Elizabeth", "The Sea Hawk", "The Sea Wolf", and "Desperate Journey"). He directed a few dozen films, most of them forgettable, but did a few good ones like "Treasure Island" (1950) and "His Majesty O'Keefe" (1954). Haskins was always more comfortable with films that took place at sea or on islands.

As a biographical film "The First Texan" is adequate. It doesn't stray from the truth by too much and does give us some minimal background about the life and times of the principal. But the low budget is disturbing in a story so broad that it tells the birth of Texas. A "cast of dozens" hardly makes for impressive battle scenes, and some battles (LIKE the Alamo, for instance) are completely missing. Joel McCrea fans will like this film, since he is in virtually every scene and since his performance is pure Joel McCrea. Otherwise this is a forgettable film.

For my money, the best Sam Houston film remains the 1986 version. The best Alamo picture is John Wayne's 1960 epic, and Joel McCrea's best western was "Ride the High Country".

Allied Artists Pictures presents "THE FIRST TEXAN" (1956) (82 min/Color) -- Starring Joel McCrea, Felicia Farr, Jeff Morrow, Wallace Ford, Abraham Sofaer & Jody McCrea

Directed by Byron Haskin

The title character is Sam Houston, played with rugged assuredness by Joel McCrea. The film begins when Houston leaves Tennessee for Texas, where at first he keeps to himself and avoids politics. As events overwhelm him, however, Houston evolves into the territory's most conspicuous patriot. His efforts to thwart Mexican general Santa Ana's efforts to recapture Texas for Mexico culminate in the battle of the Alamo.

Told from the perspective of Gen. Sam Houston, this film begins as Houston has just moved to the Mexican territory which is now Texas. We then witness his growing thirst for Texas independence and his subsequent call to arms by President Andrew Jackson.

With Jeff Morrow as Jim Bowie, James Griffith as Davy Crockett and William Hopper as Colonel Travis>

That's Joel McCrea's son Jody playing Lt. Baker.

As usual Joel McCrea steals the film and gives us that laid back attitude performance of all his Westerns, he's one of the best!

BIOS:
1. Byron Haskin [aka: Byron Conrad Haskin] (Director)
Date of Birth: 22 April 1899 - Portland, Oregon
Date of Death: 16 April 1984 - Montecito, California

2. Joel McCrea
Date of Birth: 5 November 1905 - South Pasadena, California
Date of Death: 20 October 1990 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

3. Felicia Farr [aka: Felicia Dines]
Date of Birth: 4 October 1932 - Westchester County, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 82 min on VHS/DVD ~ Allied Artists Pictures ~ (November 17, 2009)

Any resemblance between Joel McCrea's portrayal of Sam Houston, and the historic Houston is purely coincidental, but "The First Texan" is still great fun, as Houston leaves politics and his Tennessee home for the open ranges of Texas...and rides into the fight of the settlers against the tyrannical Mexican dictatorship of Santa Anna! All the famous personalities make appearances (Bowie, Travis, Davy Crockett), as Houston sets up a law practice, providing a legal voice to the oppressed. While pursuing justice, and courting a beautiful Texas girl, revolution erupts, as Santa Anna leads a large force into Texas, and massacres the defenders of the Alamo. Appointed commander of the Texan army, Houston gains time to build a seasoned force by avoiding battles, in a retreat that infuriates many, but wears the Mexican forces down...leading to the battle of San Jacinto, a spectacular victory that insures Texas independence, and Houston, immortality.

Certainly low-budget (major historical events, such as the Alamo, are only referred to, not shown), and with a fanciful, unnecessary romance tossed in, the film's success is due entirely to the solid, reliable performance of McCrea, with his customary strength and integrity. No actor ever 'fit' the Western genre better, and he plays Houston simply, without the embellishments of other Houston portrayals (from Richard Boone to Dennis Quaid). The 'real' Houston was gigantic, flamboyant, and often bizarre in dress and temperment, elements McCrea would have been uncomfortable portraying, but his 'take' on the role is hard not to like!

A short, but very entertaining saga, well worth owning!

New, shrink wrapped played flawlessly. Old hard to find western. Looked and searched for 6 months for thus title. Very pleased especially the gift recipient.

IMDB list this film as 2.35/1 aspect ratio but Amazon has it at 1.77/1.
Well Amazon, which is it?