The Alamo (1960)

As of today, the fundraising has officially begun.

While it will be a few days before we have links for credit cards and Paypal,
our charitable sponsor can now accept checks toward the restoration of the film. Their website, where prime links for cc and pp will reside is: http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/

Contributions via check should be made out payable to:

Jacob Burns Film Center, Inc.

with the information: "f/b/o Alamo Restoration" in the memo field, normally lower left. It is very important that Alamo be noted on the checks.

The mailing address is:

Jacob Burns Film Center
405 Manville Road
Pleasantville, NY 10570
Att: Dominick Balletta

All contributions are tax deductible.

It goes without saying that any aid is appreciated.

RAH

Howdy Robert, and welcome to the JWMB. I know that you will find a lot of supporters here at the board, myself among them. The restoration of The Alamo has long been a dream for many of us, and I'm sure we will all be looking forward to the day that this project is completed.

I hope you don't mind what is probably a stupid question, but can you tell me the difference between the different versions of The Alamo that are out there now? I bought the DVD several years ago, and it is shorter than the VHS tape that I have. The VHS set is two tapes and has the Overture, the Entr'acte, Intermission, and Exit music in it, plus the birthday scene with Lisa Dickinson (Aissa Wayne). But I always thought that there was more to it. That even the VHS tapes had something missing. Maybe I'm wrong. I had always thought that the original film had been cut down to make a roadshow version and that the roadshow version was made into the VHS double tape set, and then cut down again for the DVD version. I thought that the original was completely lost. I read the article that you wrote, but sometimes I'm a little dense and need things explained a little more before I understand them.

Thanks again for undertaking this not only monumental, but historically important task. I know that all of us here at the JWMB truely appreciate it.
-Colorado Bob

This is a film that must be saved. there is a forum that I belong to which is solely dedicated to this great movie, it is a very small forum which has only been going for about 6 months and only has about 60 or so members but the info and knowledge and love pertaining to the film here is second to none.

I feel sure that should you inform them of this ongoing fundraising campaign the response would be a positive one.

I am not keen on the practice of coming onto forums and preaching the virtues of others, but in this instance perhaps the mods here will forgive me for doing so as hopefully the ends will justify the means.

johnwayne-thealamo.com • Index page

Quote from Alamo John UK

This is a film that must be saved. there is a forum that I belong to which is solely dedicated to this great movie, it is a very small forum which has only been going for about 6 months and only has about 60 or so members but the info and knowledge and love pertaining to the film here is second to none.

I feel sure that should you inform them of this ongoing fundraising campaign the response would be a positive one.

I am not keen on the practice of coming onto forums and preaching the virtues of others, but in this instance perhaps the mods here will forgive me for doing so as hopefully the ends will justify the means.

johnwayne-thealamo.com • Index page

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I don't think the mods would have any problems with posting that link.

I do think to save Robert Harris from having to post on multiple site's that if you could just post a link to our thread here or post the link that Robert posted on this thread to the Jacob Burns Film Center http://www.burnsfilmcenter.org/ at your web forum. That way your member's will have way to contribute.

Thanks.

Quote from Colorado Bob

I hope you don't mind what is probably a stupid question, but can you tell me the difference between the different versions of The Alamo that are out there now? I bought the DVD several years ago, and it is shorter than the VHS tape that I have. The VHS set is two tapes and has the Overture, the Entr'acte, Intermission, and Exit music in it, plus the birthday scene with Lisa Dickinson (Aissa Wayne). But I always thought that there was more to it. That even the VHS tapes had something missing. Maybe I'm wrong. I had always thought that the original film had been cut down to make a roadshow version and that the roadshow version was made into the VHS double tape set, and then cut down again for the DVD version. I thought that the original was completely lost. I read the article that you wrote, but sometimes I'm a little dense and need things explained a little more before I understand them.

Thanks again for undertaking this not only monumental, but historically important task. I know that all of us here at the JWMB truely appreciate it.
-Colorado Bob

Not a "stupid question" at all, with a bit of a complex answer, but here goes.

The Alamo ran for a limited period in a version running approximately 192 minutes PLUS Overture, Entr'acte, Intermission tag and Exit music, which added about an extra 10, bringing the total to about 202 minutes.

Shortly after the release the film was cut reducing the length to about 162 minutes. 70mm screenings still had the music intact, while most 35mm prints were without.

When the 70mm Roadshow print was discovered in the exchange in Toronto around 1992 it was used toward the creation of the laser disc boxed set, which was released as the Roadshow. However, because of print damage during transfer, the laser and all other variants packaged as Roadshow were not. There were no major changes, but a bit of re-cutting with loss of footage did occur. Our new version will be the actual Roadshow, with frame losses, still within a second of the original.

I'm unfamiliar with the cut on VHS. You mention the birthday party, which was reel 9B, and this is where it gets confusing. As reels were re-cut the original 65mm negative elements as well as 65mm protective masters were destroyed. Since reel 9B was removed in its entirety, it was simply set aside, and still survives today. So when you mention VHS and birthday party, it is possible that just that reel was somehow added back, which would have created other problems, as bits and pieces of connective tissue in 9A would have been missing.

If your VHS tape runs over 200 minutes, then it is simply another release on VHS of the laserdisc boxed set. If not, then it is something entirely different and somehow between the two.

In reality, there have been three versions: The Roadshow, The General Release and the home video version called "The Roadshow."

The DVD is the General Release version, as the Roadshow footage was not of high enough quality to work on DVD without complaints.

Our final versions would be available in both General Release as well as the ACTUAL Roadshow in both Blu-ray as well as standard definition DVD.

I hope this is helpful!

RAH

Previous discussion of this also took place from Page 9
of our dedicated thread on this film.

The Alamo

I know someone who has a German 70mm print. I don't know whether it has a longer running time than the 'general' German 35mm version that was released at the same time.
Are you still looking for better picture elements or is this just all about restoring the print you already have?

Quote from Juniormike

I know someone who has a German 70mm print. I don't know whether it has a longer running time than the 'general' German 35mm version that was released at the same time.
Are you still looking for better picture elements or is this just all about restoring the print you already have?

The film was released in Germany after the negative was re-cut, which means that the chances of a print being the longer version are very slim. The print that we have serves our purposes.

We've been reviewing our fundraising plans, and have made a decision to accept only Corporate sponsorships toward the restoration of The Alamo, and will keep you in the loop as things progress.

Thank you all for your support.

RAH

Quote from Robert Harris

We've been reviewing our fundraising plans, and have made a decision to accept only Corporate sponsorships toward the restoration of The Alamo, and will keep you in the loop as things progress.

Thank you all for your support.

RAH

Is it possible that any donations sent to the address you gave previously will still be accepted towards your work? We are certainly interested in anything we can do to assist in the support of this project.

Chester

Quote from ethanedwards

They are great scenes, and I am lucky to have the uncut VHS version.
On one of the YouTube comments, it says it was 'butchery'
to cut these scenes, and they're right!

Hi Keith

Thats interesting, are there many deleted scenes missing from my original post that are within your VCR version?

There is also a laserdisc (anyone remember those?) which has the complete director's cut as well as the long version of Brian Huberman's great documentary. The doc shows the Mexicans turning the Alamo's cannon inside the fort, probably toward the long barracks.
I've also seen stills of the defenders fighting and dying on the steps up to Travis' office.
The scene with the cannon being blown over backward was preceded by the defenders running out of shot and loading their spurs and other objects into the muzzle, causing the flip.
I think Duke filmed a lot of battle action that never made it into the final cut. That's what I'd like to find.
Can anyone shed any light on Jack Pennick's fate? Old Sergeant Lightfoot was there the night before the attack, but unless he pulled a Moses Rose, his death must have been filmed.

We deal in lead, friend

It was 50 years ago this very day that the battle scenes for The Alamo were being filmed.

I was wondering if anyone had some interesting images from the Alamo that they might be willing to post. I know that quite a few die hard fans have some collectibles that they wish to keep private. I guess they think it might diminish the estate value to their heirs or they intend to line their coffins with the stills. At any rate, once my scanner is replaced, if anyone has any interest in this, I'll be glad to reciprocate.

We deal in lead, friend.

I do know my good friend Joe Zuke has a shirt of Dukes from the Alamo and a mexican army uniform, whether he can post them I do not know. They will be on display this year at Winterset for the 50th. year anniversaty showing of this work of love by the Duke.

I have a Mexican Uniform that is an officers uniform from the picture.

Best dressed army I ever did see!
Outstanding. I'm glad much of Wayne's dream still lives on. I would have loved to have tried that on for size before my sedentary lifestyle and age interfered. Now I need Sergeant Garcia's uniform from Zorro.

We deal in lead, friend.