"The Man From the Alamo" is a slick fast paced littler actioner from Director Budd Boetticher and another of those little 80 minute gems that Universal produced during the 1950s.
It starts out during the siege of The Alamo in 1836. The battle scenes are quite well done in light of the small budget.
A group of ranchers draws straws to see which of them will leave the battle and go home to check on their families. John Stroud (Glenn Ford) "wins" the draw. A messenger from Sam Houston, Lt. Tom Larmar (Hugh O'Brian) arrives to inform the fighters that Houston is unable to send reinforcements. Stroud is the only fighter to choose to leave and Larmar is ordered back to Houston by Col. Travis.
When Stroud reaches the ranches, he discovers them burned and the families murdered. He find out that it was not the Mexicans who were responsible but a gang of pro Mexican Americans led by Jess Wade (Victor Jory) who were responsible. He then goes to the town of Franklin where he learns that The Alamo has fallen and all have been killed. He also learns that the town has branded him a coward for "deserting" the fighting and want to string him up when Lt. Larmar, who is assigned to escort the wagons, accuses him of cowardice.
Town elder John Gage (Chill Wills) plans to lead a wagon train of women and children away from Franklin when Houston warns them of an impending attack by Wade and his renegades. Stroud is jailed for his own protection and by chance is put in the same cell of one of Wade's henchmen (Neville Brand). The men manage to escape during Wade's raid on the town and Stroud joins Wade's gang to obtain his revenge.
Before Wade and his men can attack the wagon train, Stroud manages to warn them and escape Wade to the wagons. Lt. Larmar, still thinking Stroud a coward, places him under arrest. Beth Anders (Julie Adams) begins to sympathize with Stroud, believing him to be innocent. Eventually Larmar comes to believe in his innocence as well.
Before the wagon train can cross a river to safety, Larmer and his men are recalled by Sam Houston and leave the wagons unprotected. Stroud volunteers to lead the wagons. But as they are about to cross the river, Wade and his men attack and..............................
Glenn Ford as always, is better than his material. As the beleaguered Stroud, he steals the picture. Adams is a stock western heroine who comes to love the hero. Wills has little to do as the one-armed Gage and Jory, who is wasted here, looks ridiculous in his outlandish costume. Others in the cast include Trevor Bardette as Davy Crockett, Dennis Weaver as one of his men and Stuart Randall as Jim Bowie.
An excellent "B" Plus western.
It starts out during the siege of The Alamo in 1836. The battle scenes are quite well done in light of the small budget.
A group of ranchers draws straws to see which of them will leave the battle and go home to check on their families. John Stroud (Glenn Ford) "wins" the draw. A messenger from Sam Houston, Lt. Tom Larmar (Hugh O'Brian) arrives to inform the fighters that Houston is unable to send reinforcements. Stroud is the only fighter to choose to leave and Larmar is ordered back to Houston by Col. Travis.
When Stroud reaches the ranches, he discovers them burned and the families murdered. He find out that it was not the Mexicans who were responsible but a gang of pro Mexican Americans led by Jess Wade (Victor Jory) who were responsible. He then goes to the town of Franklin where he learns that The Alamo has fallen and all have been killed. He also learns that the town has branded him a coward for "deserting" the fighting and want to string him up when Lt. Larmar, who is assigned to escort the wagons, accuses him of cowardice.
Town elder John Gage (Chill Wills) plans to lead a wagon train of women and children away from Franklin when Houston warns them of an impending attack by Wade and his renegades. Stroud is jailed for his own protection and by chance is put in the same cell of one of Wade's henchmen (Neville Brand). The men manage to escape during Wade's raid on the town and Stroud joins Wade's gang to obtain his revenge.
Before Wade and his men can attack the wagon train, Stroud manages to warn them and escape Wade to the wagons. Lt. Larmar, still thinking Stroud a coward, places him under arrest. Beth Anders (Julie Adams) begins to sympathize with Stroud, believing him to be innocent. Eventually Larmar comes to believe in his innocence as well.
Before the wagon train can cross a river to safety, Larmer and his men are recalled by Sam Houston and leave the wagons unprotected. Stroud volunteers to lead the wagons. But as they are about to cross the river, Wade and his men attack and..............................
Glenn Ford as always, is better than his material. As the beleaguered Stroud, he steals the picture. Adams is a stock western heroine who comes to love the hero. Wills has little to do as the one-armed Gage and Jory, who is wasted here, looks ridiculous in his outlandish costume. Others in the cast include Trevor Bardette as Davy Crockett, Dennis Weaver as one of his men and Stuart Randall as Jim Bowie.
An excellent "B" Plus western.