Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
1915 · Silent film · 71 min · dir. Christy Cabanne
- Western
- silent film
- War
Synopsis
Santa Anna, dictator of Mexico, comes to San Antonio, Texas, and there follows a series of outrages upon Americans living there. The wife of Captain Dickinson is insulted by one of the dictator's officers. When her husband goes to demand satisfaction he is thrown into jail. Then are introduced Bowie, Crockett and Silent Smith. The last named falls in love with the old soldier's daughter. These leaders of the Texans successfully conceal their arms when Santa Anna issues a proclamation confiscating all weapons. With these arms the Texans attack the Alamo, a combined mission and fort, and capture it. Santa Anna, in whose absence they made their successful assault, starts back to San Antonio with 6,000 men. The Alamo is besieged and after ten days of fighting and desperate resistance, it is captured. Only Silent Smith, who had been sent to Sam Houston for help, Mrs. Dickinson and her baby and the old soldier's daughter are spared. Mother and child are sent to inform their countrymen of the fate that befell the rebels while the other woman is held by Santa Anna because of her beauty. Houston hears of the fate of the defenders of the Alamo when Mrs. Dickinson and her child ride into his camp. With his small force, Houston gave battle to Santa Anna's army on the San Jacinto river. The 6,000 Mexicans were routed by the few hundred Texans and Santa Anna was taken prisoner. He was released only after he agreed to grant the independence of Texas.
Synopsis from OMDb
Details
- Director
- Christy Cabanne
- Writer
- Christy Cabanne
- Composer
- Michael Boldt
- Cinematography
- William Fildew
- Studio
- Fine Arts Film Company
- Released
- 1915-11-20
- Running time
- 71 minutes
- Language
- English
- Collection
- Feature Films
Subjects on the Internet Archive
- Alamo
- Cabanne
Cast & crew
Christy Cabanne Director
Ora Carew
Tom Wilson
Juanita Hansen
Alfred Paget
Walter Long
Augustus Carney- John T. Dillon
Sam De Grasse
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★★ · Great film · AlecFairbanks · 2022-12-31
Great piece of history about our nation! A must watch for any White Texan interested in the past. Many may whine about the depictions of the mexicans but I find it pretty accurate.
★★★ · A historic film and a painful treat for Fairbanks fans · Cat Lady · 2008-07-04
It's a painful treat because Doug is in blackface here, as well as in a small and uncredited role. He spends most of his brief screen time crouched on the floor behind various objects to hide his physique and athletic movements. Sigh. This is one of the film's several weaknesses (apparently Douglas Fairbanks was under contractual obligation with Griffith, who was unsure what to do with the expensive star at this point), but it is most definitely a historic film, as it is the earliest surviving film and perhaps the first feature film ever made about the Alamo (an earlier film had been made…
