Por la patria

Budd Boetticher made several films for Universal Pictures before going to Columbia studios. His movies were westerns and adventures movies. Universal standard, where the bull fighter director could only show his professional skills but maybe nothing more. Anyway, I guess that served him for his later Columbia westerns starring Randolph Scott. This one surprised me because the presence of Glenn Ford, a Columbia star borrowed by Universal. I am sure it was the only one, knowing that later Ford will "emigrate" towards MGM. So this movie shows something rather unusual, related to Alamo battle, something surprising. A man falsely accused of cowardice instead of a murder, yes, very interesting. But the rest is predictable; good, effective but predictable. See for instance SPRINGFIELD RIFLE, more or less same plot and scheme.

There is always something interesting and just a bit different in this Director's Movies. This one is no exception. It is replete with thought provoking ideas like cowardice, bigotry, loyalty, and other values only found in the better Westerns.

This is an action filled Film with guns blazing, galloping Horses, Wagon Trains, bushwhackers, Mexican impersonators, fist-fights and all that is expected in this type of thing. But the difference here is the intelligence. The injection in a popular genre some things that rose above the material.

Budd Boetticher, Anthony Mann, and sometimes John Ford and Howard Hawks always gave more than the raw material. This is a modest effort from one of the Greats with an OK cast and a Production that looks so much bigger than it was. That was Boetticher, he was always so much bigger and better than what he was allowed.

Every single picture signed by Budd Boetticher worthwhile to see, one the greatest western director of all time, The Man From The Alamo is a minor work, about the famous Alamo when Texas became an independent Republic and Col. Santa Anna tries incorporate it on Mexico territory, the story starts at Alamo under siege and strong attack, some farmers decides that one of them will be choose to look out how are their families around, the chosen one is John Stroud (Glenn Ford), he left the Alamo before the massacre took place.

Aftermaths find out his whole family killed by American allied at Santa Anna's cause, solely remainder a one survivor only, the little Mexican boy Carlos who is a kid of his old employee also killed in the raid, Carlos told to Stroud that weren't Mexican soldiers that killed them, but American men disguised as Mexican outfits lead by the renegade Jess Wade (Victor Jory) reaching at near city Stroud is treat as coward and he needs clean your name, however first he wants a revenge against Jess Wade that killed his family meanwhile Gen. Huston is gathering men to strickes back.

It displayed a lit bit about Texas story, re-telling how the lonely territory was still apart of the United States at its time, the Alamo and all unfold the real happenings afterwards over the Alamo massacre and under leadership of the Gen San Huston at final battle of San Jacinto, instead the picture focuses on the story of a supposed man John Stroud, the casting have so many interesting people as Julie Adams, Chill Wills, Hugh O'Brien, Neville Brand an upcoming stars as Guy Williams, Stuart Whitman and Dennis Weaver, also the old acquaintance of us uncredited Kenneth MacDonald who was a usual guest as bad guy on The Three Stooges.

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First watch: 2023 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7.

By chance, June clouds threatening, I sat down and watched this entertaining western on a Saturday afternoon. An earlier commentator ended his praise for this film by noting that it is "an excellent western for a Saturday afternoon." And it was. The ethical dilemma of leaving a field of battle (in this case the Alamo)to try and save the lives of loved ones is a powerful theme. The repercussions to John Stroud, Ford's weary but stalwart character, are scorn, accusations of cowardice and worse. The best part of the film are the sweeping shots of the Texas plains. The movie is well-composed, capturing the majestic plains and hills with a strength of purpose that demands an emotional response. One of the early films of Jeanne Cooper, who is a favorite of mine.

Glenn Ford plays the title role in The Man From The Alamo which probably should be better titled The Man Who Left The Alamo. Don't worry, Glenn had good and sufficient cause for doing so.

Ford is one of the men who was there at the mission fort at San Antonio De Bexar when word is received of some renegade Texans raiding some of ranches up where Ford and his family have settled. He and three others draw lots to see who goes out of The Alamo to check on their families. Ford gets the short straw and when William B. Travis played by Arthur Space draws his famous line in the sand, Ford is the only one who opts out of the fight.

Of course when Ford arrives he finds his and the other families dead at the hands of renegade Victory Jory and his band who are in league with Santa Anna. After that it's a struggle to clear his good name and alert others to the dangers of Jory's band.

The Man From The Alamo is a short, but action packed western. Budd Boetticher got good performances out of his cast which besides those mentioned include Julie Adams. Hugh O'Brian, Neville Brand, and Chill Wills who as we all know was in John Wayne's blockbuster film on the same subject.

The film is very similar to a lot of the westerns that Boetticher did with Randolph Scott and I wouldn't be surprised if the film wasn't created with Randy in mind originally for the lead. If it was, Glenn Ford was more than adequate in the part.

Western fans and other fans will not be disappointed.