The Alamo

Yes, the war cry "remember the Alamo!" rings down through American history, but what, exactly, should we remember about this myth-enshrouded battle? In recent years, some scholars have suggested that the Alamo's defenders were not patriots, but rather shady men motivated by greed, political ambition, and the desire to extend slavery into new territories. Even more shocking are the claims that the exploits of Alamo icons Col. Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett were wildly exaggerated (some recent accounts even go as far as to depict Crockett begging Mexican President Santa Anna to spare his life). The Alamo, which originally aired on the History Channel, attempts--without fear or favor--to separate fact from fiction about the momentous events leading up to the siege and battle at San Antonio's famous fort in March 1836. The Alamo defenders were a motley crew, and the main 90-minute program “Remember the Alamo!” on this extras-laden DVD examines the diverse paths which led these men to be inside the old mission's walls, outnumbered, facing a disciplined, well-equipped Mexican army, and chronicles the battle itself with dramatic recreations. Ironically, the cruel, tyrannical Santa Anna's "take no prisoners" approach turned out to be a terrible blunder, enabling the men who fell at the Alamo to become martyrs, and further fueling America's expansionist territorial ambitions. With the April release of Touchstone's The Alamo, starring Dennis Quaid (who makes brief appearances before and after the documentary), interest in the subject is likely to be high. DVD extras here include the A&E Biography entry Davy Crockett: American Frontier Legend, and two episodes from The Real West documentary series--The Battle of the Alamo and The Texas Rangers. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)