The Alamo
Seen it?1960 | 202 min | War, Adventure, History, Western
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It won an Oscar and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had middling reviews (55% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a box office loss. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for adventure fans and history buffs. If you loved Lawrence of Arabia or The Guns of Navarone, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Epic and sweeping, at 3 hr 22 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 3 hr 22 min.
- Made in 1960: an older pace and style.
The legendary true story of a small band of soldiers who sacrificed their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
55% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Best Sound. Also nominated for 5 more Oscars. Plus 1 other award.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$8 million worldwide on a $12 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 119K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Lawrence of Arabia
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed true-story adventure.
Midway
Weeknight WatchAnother true-story war story, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Guns of Navarone
Saturday SpecialAnother adventure, and a Saturday Special.
Sergeant York Saturday SpecialAnother war story that's easy to miss.
News of the World Saturday SpecialAnother western, and a Saturday Special.
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Cast & crew
Directed by John Wayne
- John WayneCol. Davy Crockett
- Richard WidmarkJim Bowie
- Laurence HarveyCol. William Travis
- Frankie AvalonSmitty
- Patrick WayneCapt. James Butler Bonham
- Linda CristalFlaca
- Joan O'BrienMrs. Sue Dickinson
- Chill WillsBeekeeper
- Joseph CalleiaJuan Seguin
- Ken CurtisCapt. Almeron Dickinson