The story of the defense of the mission-turned-fortress by 185 Texans against an overwhelming Mexican army in 1836.The story of the defense of the mission-turned-fortress by 185 Texans against an overwhelming Mexican army in 1836.The story of the defense of the mission-turned-fortress by 185 Texans against an overwhelming Mexican army in 1836.
Allan Sears
- David Crockett
- (as A.D. Sears)
John T. Dillon
- Colonel Travis
- (as John Dillon)
Joseph Belmont
- Undetermined Secondary Role
- (uncredited)
Monte Blue
- Defender of the Alamo
- (uncredited)
Douglas Fairbanks
- Texan Soldier
- (unconfirmed)
- (uncredited)
Betty Marsh
- Little Girl
- (uncredited)
Jack Prescott
- Undetermined Secondary Role
- (uncredited)
Charles Stevens
- Mexican Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough the participation of Douglas Fairbanks in this film, in an uncredited role as "Joe" / "Texan Soldier" is documented in the American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films 1911-1920, it is based on a reference found in the New York Times 22 November 1915, but not in any review of the film itself. Since Fairbanks was a leading player on the New York stage at this time, and about to make his screen debut as the star of The Lamb, such an uncredited and unidentifiable bit is unlikely, but not impossible. Nowhere in the film is Fairbanks visible today, nor is there any character named "Joe". A Negro servant, obviously an unidentified white actor in black makeup, is prominent in a couple of scenes and might be Fairbanks, just experimenting, anonymously, with working in front of the camera, at the same Los Angeles studio (Fine Arts) for whom he was about to film "The Lamb", but this is a long shot.
- ConnectionsVersion of The Immortal Alamo (1911)
Featured review
The 1836 attack on the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, by Mexico has been popularized several times in movies. The very first film on the battle was November 1915's "Martyrs of the Alamo." Based on a Theodosia Harris novel of the same name, "Alamo" visually introduces the popular characters of Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Santa Anna to the screen.
The film has been criticized as being highly historically inaccurate and inflammatory to the Mexican people. The film's interpretation to the events leading up to the battle showed drunken, lecherous Mexican soldiers harrassing San Antonio's womenfolk, to the point the Texans were force to honor their chivalry by calling out them. Things get ugly fast, and before the viewer knows it, the war is on. "Alamo," unlike most of its successors, include the decisive Battle of San Jacinto.
"Alamo" is also noted as being the first movie appearance of stage actor Douglas Fairbanks--although there is some ambiguity on this point. A New York Times report at the time of the movie's release stated he played an extra as a Texan soldier in "Alamo," but experts who have analyzed the film say the only character that resembles Douglas is a white actor made up in blackface playing a servant at the fort.
"Martyrs of the Alamo" was one of the initial movies released by the newly-formed prodcution studio, Triangle Film Corporation. Triangle was established by Harry and Roy Aitkin in July 1915. Harry was former co-owner and president of Mutual Film Corporation, the studio that brought over D. W. Griffith from Biography Studios. When Griffith was running over budget in making "The Birth of a Nation," Mutual Film's board refused to extend the director money to complete the film. Aitkin put up his life savings as well as got other investor money to help Griffith bring the movie to the screen.
The split between Mutual and the Aitkins was final when "Birth of a Nation" reaped fortunes for those investors. The Aitkins, along with Griffith, Thomas Ince and Mack Sennett, began Triangle Films, which made the studio, on paper, the strongest studio at the time, having cinema's three most highly-skilled and successful directors producing and directing movies for the new production and distribution film company.
The film has been criticized as being highly historically inaccurate and inflammatory to the Mexican people. The film's interpretation to the events leading up to the battle showed drunken, lecherous Mexican soldiers harrassing San Antonio's womenfolk, to the point the Texans were force to honor their chivalry by calling out them. Things get ugly fast, and before the viewer knows it, the war is on. "Alamo," unlike most of its successors, include the decisive Battle of San Jacinto.
"Alamo" is also noted as being the first movie appearance of stage actor Douglas Fairbanks--although there is some ambiguity on this point. A New York Times report at the time of the movie's release stated he played an extra as a Texan soldier in "Alamo," but experts who have analyzed the film say the only character that resembles Douglas is a white actor made up in blackface playing a servant at the fort.
"Martyrs of the Alamo" was one of the initial movies released by the newly-formed prodcution studio, Triangle Film Corporation. Triangle was established by Harry and Roy Aitkin in July 1915. Harry was former co-owner and president of Mutual Film Corporation, the studio that brought over D. W. Griffith from Biography Studios. When Griffith was running over budget in making "The Birth of a Nation," Mutual Film's board refused to extend the director money to complete the film. Aitkin put up his life savings as well as got other investor money to help Griffith bring the movie to the screen.
The split between Mutual and the Aitkins was final when "Birth of a Nation" reaped fortunes for those investors. The Aitkins, along with Griffith, Thomas Ince and Mack Sennett, began Triangle Films, which made the studio, on paper, the strongest studio at the time, having cinema's three most highly-skilled and successful directors producing and directing movies for the new production and distribution film company.
- springfieldrental
- Jun 14, 2021
- Permalink
Details
- Runtime1 hour 11 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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