SYNOPSICS
The Last Command (1955) is a English,Spanish movie. Frank Lloyd has directed this movie. Sterling Hayden,Anna Maria Alberghetti,Richard Carlson,Arthur Hunnicutt are the starring of this movie. It was released in 1955. The Last Command (1955) is considered one of the best History,War,Western movie in India and around the world.
During the Texas War of Independence of 1836 American frontiersman and pioneer Jim Bowie pleads for caution with the rebellious Texicans.They don't heed his advice since he's a Mexican citizen,married to the daughter of the Mexican vice-governor of the province and a friend to General Santa Anna since the days they had fought together for Mexico's independence.After serving as president for 22 years,Santa Anna has become too powerful and arrogant.He rules Mexico with an iron fist and he would not allow Texas to self-govern.Bowie sides with the Texans in their bid for independence and urges a cautious strategy,given Santa Anna's power and cunning.Despite the disagreement between the Texicans and Bowie regarding the right strategy they ask Bowie to lead them in a last ditch stand, at Alamo, against General Santa Anna's numerically superior forces.
The Last Command (1955) Reviews
Spectacular and exciting adaptation about ¨ El Alamo¨ with epic finale battle
In the habitual group of various characters we find the starring Jim Bowie of ¨Bowie knife¨ fame (Sterling Hayden) who held command until stricken with typhoid-pneumonia , Colonel William Barret Travis (Richard Carlson) , commander of the small garrison of some 180 men and Davy Crockett of Tenesse (Arthut Hunnicutt) who had arrived with a dozen volunteers . They're guarding El Alamo against a Mexican militia commanded by General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna , President of Mexico (J. Carroll Nash) . They're featured in more realistic roles than successive films , though here predominates the melodrama . It's a spectacular film hampered by a tiring screenplay and including Max Steiner's excellent score with a title song by Gordon McRae . The motion picture well produced by Republic's founder , Herbert J. Yates, was professionally directed by Frank Lloyd . Subsequently , five years later , John Wayne made his own retelling : ¨El Álamo¨ (1960) , utilizing a lot of the still-standing sets that were used in this movie . The film is rightly based on historic events , these are the followings : On 23 February 1836 a army of 5000 entered San Antonio. When Santa Anna demanded the surrender, William Travis answered with a cannon shot. So began thirteen day siege that ended with the Mexicans storming the fortress, the defenders, to a man , fought on until death .With bugles sounding the ¨deguello¨(signifying no quarter to the defenders) attacked the adobe walls from all four sides and broke through. Travis was shot dead over his cannon . Crockett using his rifle as a club, fell under a swarm of the enemy . Bowie fought to the last from his sickbead. The Mexicans had won a Pyrrhic victory suffering more than 1500 casualties. Forty six days after the fall ,less than 800 Texans and American volunteers led by General San Houston defeated Santa Anna and his army of 1300 at San Jacinto. Shouting ¨Remember the Alamo¨ Houston's men completely routed the Mexicans in a matter of minutes, killing 630 while losing only 8. Santa Anna was captured, and the Republic of Texas was born.
Sometimes less is more, this film proves it.
Republic did a good job with this film, specially in their choice of actors. Sterling Hayden is a very convincing Jim Bowie, also Richard Carlson as Travis and I can't think of a better Davy Crockett than Arthur Hunnicutt. Ana Maria Alberghetti has a sweet face and through the love that she shows for Jim Bowie, we are able to understand what a living legend he must have been. All films about the story of Texas have one problem: it is very confusing to those who are not familiar with it. "The Last Command" suffers from this problem, too many events are only mentioned, without being shown. What is incredible is how well this film compares with John Wayne's "The Alamo". Even though the costs here are a fraction, this film reaches you more. And I can see John Wayne as a great Jim Bowie, but not as Davy Crockett, which he was in his film.
The Part John Wayne Lost
Studio politics prevented John Wayne from getting the role he coveted.Wayne would have to wait nearly a decade before he would put his own vision of the Alamo on the silver screen. The film is magnificent and told remarkable for its era (a) with a recognition that Mr Bowie having married into the Mexican elite had become an assimilato, a naturalized Mexicano, (b) with sympathy for the Mexican viewpoint and (c) with respect for General Santa Ana. The Travis of this version is not nearly the superbly arrogant martinet of the Wayne film nor the dummy who matures in combat of the more recent edition. Regrettably unlike the Wayne film, this version omits the heroine of the story who knitted the Alamo flag-- the Mexican tricolor with the legend 1824 for the liberal constitution for which the Texans fought. Cut off by the Mexicans, the Alamo defenders would never have known of the declaration of independence or the adoption of the Lone Star flag. Yet as the story of heroism against the odds, Last Command is first rate.
Historic accuracy vs bravery
While not totally historically accurate, this film is at least as accurate, if not more so, than most of the other Alamo epics. There are points in all the films that are arguable, if not totally wrong. However, I have researched most of the Alamo films and find this one more accurate from the viewpoint of the depiction of the Mexicans in the Alamo and some of the more personal facts about Bowie. For example, the death of his wife sometime before the start of the battle. No Alamo film is totally accurate, including the newly made Alamo with Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid. The important thing is that this is the story of brave men fighting a battle they cannot win against a far larger army. The spirit of the story is the important thing in this case.
Not a minute is wasted in the script, music and acting to enhance the best portrayal on screen of the two sides that confront in an unbettered action at the Alamo.
Max Steiners stirring melodic score gives the already wonderful script and superb acting the icing on the cake to this tale of more truth than fiction. Outlining both sides of the confrontation before the final outcome. Giving reason and substance to the characters not just lifeless figureheads fighting against ghosts as in the later production. Some of the finest action sequences ever filmed in a western are in the final scenes, while the story and action keeps your attention all thru' the film, not just a wait for the end battle. The principal actors were made for the part.This film deserves a better place in noteriaty and film history.I rate this in my top ten westerns, yes maybe top five.