The Last Command (1955) watch online HD

In the habitual group of various characters we find the starring Jim Bowie of ¨Bowie knife¨ fame (Sterling Hayden) who held command until stricken with typhoid-pneumonia , Colonel William Barret Travis (Richard Carlson) , commander of the small garrison of some 180 men and Davy Crockett of Tenesse (Arthut Hunnicutt) who had arrived with a dozen volunteers . They're guarding El Alamo against a Mexican militia commanded by General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna , President of Mexico (J. Carroll Nash) . They're featured in more realistic roles than successive films , though here predominates the melodrama . It's a spectacular film hampered by a tiring screenplay and including Max Steiner's excellent score with a title song by Gordon McRae . The motion picture well produced by Republic's founder , Herbert J. Yates, was professionally directed by Frank Lloyd . Subsequently , five years later , John Wayne made his own retelling : ¨El Álamo¨ (1960) , utilizing a lot of the still-standing sets that were used in this movie .

The film is rightly based on historic events , these are the followings : On 23 February 1836 a army of 5000 entered San Antonio. When Santa Anna demanded the surrender, William Travis answered with a cannon shot. So began thirteen day siege that ended with the Mexicans storming the fortress, the defenders, to a man , fought on until death .With bugles sounding the ¨deguello¨(signifying no quarter to the defenders) attacked the adobe walls from all four sides and broke through. Travis was shot dead over his cannon . Crockett using his rifle as a club, fell under a swarm of the enemy . Bowie fought to the last from his sickbead. The Mexicans had won a Pyrrhic victory suffering more than 1500 casualties. Forty six days after the fall ,less than 800 Texans and American volunteers led by General San Houston defeated Santa Anna and his army of 1300 at San Jacinto. Shouting ¨Remember the Alamo¨ Houston's men completely routed the Mexicans in a matter of minutes, killing 630 while losing only 8. Santa Anna was captured, and the Republic of Texas was born.

Republic did a good job with this film, specially in their choice of actors. Sterling Hayden is a very convincing Jim Bowie, also Richard Carlson as Travis and I can't think of a better Davy Crockett than Arthur Hunnicutt. Ana Maria Alberghetti has a sweet face and through the love that she shows for Jim Bowie, we are able to understand what a living legend he must have been. All films about the story of Texas have one problem: it is very confusing to those who are not familiar with it. "The Last Command" suffers from this problem, too many events are only mentioned, without being shown. What is incredible is how well this film compares with John Wayne's "The Alamo". Even though the costs here are a fraction, this film reaches you more. And I can see John Wayne as a great Jim Bowie, but not as Davy Crockett, which he was in his film.

Studio politics prevented John Wayne from getting the role he coveted.Wayne would have to wait nearly a decade before he would put his own vision of the Alamo on the silver screen. The film is magnificent and told remarkable for its era (a) with a recognition that Mr Bowie having married into the Mexican elite had become an assimilato, a naturalized Mexicano, (b) with sympathy for the Mexican viewpoint and (c) with respect for General Santa Ana.

The Travis of this version is not nearly the superbly arrogant martinet of the Wayne film nor the dummy who matures in combat of the more recent edition.

Regrettably unlike the Wayne film, this version omits the heroine of the story who knitted the Alamo flag-- the Mexican tricolor with the legend 1824 for the liberal constitution for which the Texans fought. Cut off by the Mexicans, the Alamo defenders would never have known of the declaration of independence or the adoption of the Lone Star flag.

Yet as the story of heroism against the odds, Last Command is first rate.

While not totally historically accurate, this film is at least as accurate, if not more so, than most of the other Alamo epics. There are points in all the films that are arguable, if not totally wrong. However, I have researched most of the Alamo films and find this one more accurate from the viewpoint of the depiction of the Mexicans in the Alamo and some of the more personal facts about Bowie. For example, the death of his wife sometime before the start of the battle. No Alamo film is totally accurate, including the newly made Alamo with Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid. The important thing is that this is the story of brave men fighting a battle they cannot win against a far larger army. The spirit of the story is the important thing in this case.

Frank Lloyd's career stretched back to the silent era--he was a major director and made films for the top studios in Hollywood. Winding up at a B studio like Republic would seem to be a step down the career ladder, but this film is actually one of Lloyd's best and one of the best to ever come out of Republic.

The studio didn't often get the services of directors of the calibre of Frank Lloyd--although John Ford and Fritz Lang had occasionally made films there--and it spared no expense on this one. The subject matter demanded a big budget, and Republic didn't stint. Thousands of extras, big sets, spectacular action scenes, robust performances--all combined to make a first-rate action picture. Sterling Hayden makes a good Jim Bowie, the always underrated Arthur Hunnicutt personifies Davy Crockett, and the cast is filled with familiar character actors--Roy Roberts, Slim Pickens, John Russell, Jim Davis--who contribute much to the overall atmosphere of the film. The setpiece of the movie, though, is the final siege of the Alamo itself, and it is spectacular. It compares well to the John Wayne version made five years later, and ranks right up there with the final battle scene in 1964's "Zulu"--expertly edited with top-notch stunt-work and special effects. Very highly recommended.

As the story goes...when John Wayne was at Republic Studioes, he approached owner Herbert J. Yates with the idea of a movie about the Alamo, in which he would play Davy Crockett. Yates turned him down and Wayne left the studio(eventually making "The Alamo" in 1960, on his own.) Yates, supposedly, to spite Wayne decided to make an Alamo movie. It was probably convenient that the "Crockett" craze was in full bloom at the time. What resulted was a very good epic(by Republic proportions) of Jim Bowie at the Alamo. Hayden leads a magnificent cast, and Hunnicut gives us a different 'type' of Davy Crockett(maybe to spite Wayne?) Action scenes are done on a grand scale, and the drama of lost love and love found work well. One of the better historical westerns of the 50s.

Max Steiners stirring melodic score gives the already wonderful script and superb acting the icing on the cake to this tale of more truth than fiction. Outlining both sides of the confrontation before the final outcome. Giving reason and substance to the characters not just lifeless figureheads fighting against ghosts as in the later production. Some of the finest action sequences ever filmed in a western are in the final scenes, while the story and action keeps your attention all thru' the film, not just a wait for the end battle. The principal actors were made for the part.This film deserves a better place in noteriaty and film history.I rate this in my top ten westerns, yes maybe top five.

I always liked this Alamo epic better than Wayne's because it moved faster and Sterling Hayden and Arthur Hunnicutt looked like Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett might have been. Hunnicutt's death scene influenced Wayne's in his epic but I'll rate Hunnicutt's an A+ for less "operatic" posing and a more real "I'll take you to hell with me realism. The teeny bopper love angle could've of been dropped though.

'The Last Command' is a film with a better backstory than the film itself! First batted around Republic Pictures as a potential vehicle for John Wayne, the production was put on the back burner when Wayne decided he wanted total creative control, and decided to produce and direct his own version, with a budget Republic couldn't match.

Republic DID, however, have an arsenal of talent available, and a shooting script, and eventually brought in veteran director Frank Lloyd, who had just come off a ten-year hiatus with 'The Shanghai Story', in 1954. Sterling Hayden, fresh from the cult classic 'Johnny Guitar', and a featured role in Fox's lavish 'Prince Valiant', signed to play Jim Bowie ("I needed the money to refit my boat," he joked). Richard Carlson, whose 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' had just been released by Universal (becoming a big hit) was tapped to play Alamo commander William Barret Travis. Ernest Borgnine, whose 'Marty' was garnering rave reviews (and would earn him an Oscar) took on the showy supporting role of Bowie adversary/friend Mike Radin and starlet Anna Maria Alberghetti, in her first non-singing role, became the female lead. Two veteran character actors rounded out the major cast: J. Carrol Naish, as a sympathetic yet decisive Santa Anna, and, in an offbeat but inspired casting move, bearded Arthur Hunnicutt as a rustic Davy Crockett (who would very nearly steal the film!).

The production was very modestly budgeted, so much so that the number of extras serving as the Mexican army was limited, but director Lloyd and cinematographer Jack Marta were old hands at making more out of less, and with some judicious editing by Tony Martinelli, the illusion of thousands of Mexican soldiers was achieved. Set design was minimal, as well, and the famous 'look' of the church/fortress was often achieved through mat paintings.

Scored by the legendary Max Steiner, with a theme sung by Gordon MacRae, 'The Last Command' seemed to teeter at the edge between 'B' movie and 'A' status; ultimately, the pedestrian script, by Sy Bartlett and Warren Duff, did the movie in, as there was too much time spent on an unnecessary love triangle, which slowed much of the film to a crawl. Despite an unforgettable final battle, audiences avoided the film, and it quickly faded from sight.

Unfortunately, John Wayne didn't learn from 'The Last Command', and he added a love story to his 'Alamo', with the same lethargic result; Crockett's explosive demise (historically inaccurate, but rousing!) must have impressed him, as well, as he staged an even bigger version of it in his film.

'The Last Command' is a curio, but is enjoyable, for the most part, and the spectacular final assault makes it a must for any action fan's collection!

Frankly, I don't watch movies expecting to see historical accuracy. Movies are basically a commercial product marketed to earn a profit, which means pleasing as large an audience as possible. So, if there's a conflict between historical accuracy and constructing a more saleable story, we know generally which factor will prevail. That's simply the way our capitalistic system works. Thus, well-intended folks should not be surprised at the liberties taken in this supposed account of events surrounding the siege of the Alamo.

That being said, I thought the movie was very enjoyable. I thought so back in 1955, and again the other night on TMC. It's a good lively cast. Hayden may not have liked his role, but he's motivated nonetheless—catch how much he puts into the emotional exhaustion when he raps in vain on a door and then faces the camera in near collapse. That's probably the most animated this fan of Hayden's has seen him in any movie. The under-rated Richard Carlson also delivers as Hayden's rival, and of course there's the inspired casting of Hunnicutt as Davy Crockett at a time when Disney's Crockett dominated the big screen and the pop music charts too. In fact, Hunnicutt's little speech after arriving at the fort amounts to a masterpiece of down-home eloquence. And Russell Simpson's parson of-very-few- words is just the kind of no-nonsense character you'd expect to find among a band of back- woodsmen. Too bad, however, that commercial factors required Alberghetti's role. She's fine as the teenage aristocrat, but the sub-plot pairing her with the very mature Hayden amounts to the movie's biggest drawback.

One thing lowly Republic was good at is action sequences. Here the battle scenes and spectacle are outstanding—the collapsing parapet is both surprising and especially well done. For sure, the studio knew how to get the most out of limited resources, even as constraints show up around the edges, particularly with painted backdrops. Nonetheless, the enemy is treated with due respect, and I particularly liked the elegiac final scene with the traumatized women and children. It's just the kind of somber mood fitting for what has happened. Of course, Republic's reputation as a cowboy studio would never get its product much attention from either the press or the artistic community. Nonetheless, this is a surprisingly well-mounted and entertaining feature that can hold its own against bigger- budget action features of its day. Too bad, its many merits have been so generally overlooked.

I saw "The Last Command" twice in my hometown at the theater in 1955. In the 70's, I saw it several times on the late movies. In the 80's, I copied off the air and have watched it lots of times. My kids, (born in the "70's"), as a rule don't like "Westerns". The three exceptions to that point of view, are three truly great movies: "The Last Command", "Rio Bravo" and "Big Jake"...in any order you choose.

In 1997, I bought the commercial video of "The Last Command" and still have it.

Almost immediately, you "fall in love" with the simple melodies in the film. And later, the lush orchestrations of those simple melodies are even more beautiful. And the color, it's just marvelous.

Another movie of about the same vintage (1954) with astounding color is "The Far Country" . You've never seen Alaska and the Canadian Rockies any better unless you've been there. Beautiful "Blues" and Intense "Greens"...real "sunshine". Both films are well done.

"The Last Command" pays great honor to our "Texas heroes". Jim Bowie, David Crockett, General Santa Anna: all would have adored this film.

Amoung alot of historians and reenactors, this is the best Alamo film ever made. It was very well done, acted, and directed. An all around great job by all! Alamo: Price of Freedom is the most accurate film ever made, but this film is considered the best by far!

Old time director and Hollywood pioneer Frank Lloyd made his final picture ("The Last Command") for Republic Pictures and he didn't have much of a budget to work with. Luckily, Lloyd knew his craft well and got the maximum effects he could despite the monetary restrictions. "The Last Command" is about the fall of the Alamo in 1836 and the main character is Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden). Hayden supposedly hated this movie and his role in it, but then, Hayden hated nearly all his movies and all his roles, so it's all irrelevant. In fact, he does a fine job as Bowie and carries the film with his riveting performance. Also on hand are Arthur Hunnicut as a very backwoods-type Davy Crockett and Richard Carlson in the thankless role of the stuff-shirted Colonel William Travis. A young and attractive Anna Marie Alberghetti provides the love interest for Hayden and Ernest Borgnine also stars as one of the Alamo's more ferocious defenders. Rounding out the cast is J. Carrol Naish as a somewhat sympathetic General Santa Anna. The real Generalissimo was a ruthless scoundrel who was noted for executing defenseless prisoners; why he's portrayed here as a congenial fellow is beyond the limits of any historical truth. Also stretching reality is the film's depiction of Bowie and Santa Anna as long lost buddies. Despite these obvious plot line gaffes, the action sequences are brilliantly staged by director Lloyd and will satisfy most fans of the genre.

Hayden went on to more complicated roles in his career, but according to his biographers, he mostly preferred sailing on his yacht with a well-stocked liquor cabinet. He never cared about his status in Hollywood and consequently his career never attained the heights that many had predicted for him. It's too bad he didn't get the chance to play the real Jim Bowie. That fellow was a slave-trading knife-wielding reckless adventurer who specialized in duels, Indian fighting and deadly barroom brawls. A nice guy he wasn't. As for the rest of the participants of this film, Anna Maria Alberghetti never became a huge star either, but she's still active in the business. Arthur Hunnicut enjoyed a long and successful career in both films and television. Of course, Ernest Borgnine's career has been near-legendary and he remains one of Hollywood's most formidable stars to this day.

Good casting was the hallmark of this version of the Alamo. Sterling Hayden did an excellent job of playing Jim Bowie. History has changed the projection of these indomidable heroes, but the movies wouldn't be quite as popular if they portrayed Jim Bowie as an adventurer running from the law, Travis as a divorced lawyer. But Davie Crocket always manages to emerge as a real life hero. This and most other versions of the Alamo overlooks the fact that the Mexican army had just finished putting down rebellions all over Texas and the Mexican government was very generous in awarding newcomers homesteads free for the taking. But then came the Taxation, hence the rebellions of Texicans and Mexicans. The story was entertaining and left us feeling like the Alamo defenders were truly heroes.

Forget any adherence to historical facts, directed by Frank Lloyd and with a Warren Duff screenplay, The Last Command is a slow moving piece that uses Jim Bowie as its focal point. Starring Sterling Hayden (Bowie), Richard Carlson (William Travers), Arthur Hunnicutt (Davy Crockett), Ernest Borgnine (Mike Radin), J. Carrol Naish (Santa Ana), and Anna Maria Alberghetti (Consuela), the piece was a project long courted by John Wayne. However, Republic refused to sanction the type of budget the Duke wanted for his vision. So after offering him a nominal fee for a part, he refused and Republic promptly went on to make the film anyway. The final result is an interesting film that finally pays off for those having the patience and tolerance for patriotic flag waving.

The story follows the battle of the Alamo in San Antonio, in 1836, where brave Texans gave their life to become free of Mexican rule by defending the former mission against overwhelming odds as the Mexican army of Santa Ana closed in for victory. The final battle is very well staged by Lloyd, and the acting, tho not making the earth move, is very competent, particularly Hayden who does a nice line in tortured ruggedness. Max Steiner provides a zippy score and the low budget use of Trucolor doesn't affect the work of cinematographer Jack Marta. Safe and enjoyable as a story telling piece, if ultimately far from being a rousing spectacle fit for that part in history. 6/10

While this is another of the "historically inaccurate" versions of the Texas Revolution and the Battle of the Alamo, I have enjoyed watching this movie since I was a young boy. This movie, and Disney's "Davy Crockett", inspired a life-long passion in me to learn the truth behind the real story of the Alamo. Sterling Hayden, as Jim Bowie, is the central figure of the film. The film depicts Bowie's gradual change from loyal Mexican citizen (and good friend of Mexican leader, Santa Anna) to a leader of the Texas Revolution. While historically inaccurate, the final battle scenes of the Alamo are exciting and well-filmed. My favorite moment is a shot of Mexican infantry and cavalry charging the fort as the defenders open fire. Be sure to watch for Arthur Hunnicutt as Davy (David) Crockett...His performance, while not quite true to Crockett's character, is still fun to watch.

Made in spite by Yates, well shot and mounted, replete with an excellent cast, 'The Last Command' still remains good value even if it rather pales besides Wayne's grandiose epic of just a few years later. The much underrated Hayden is superb as "big Jim Bowie" and Hunnicutt equally as good as Davy Crockett. Hayden has the ability to appear gentle, naive, rugged and brusque all at once - something few other actors, with perhaps the exception of Spencer Tracy, managed. Unfortunately Crockett and his 29 men don't appear until some way in. With only Hayden's latent dynamism really keeping things afloat, the first half an hour of the film is rather talkative in exposition, and it drags somewhat. Consuela de Quesada (Anna Marie Alberghetti) is a limp romantic foil to Bowie - I for one would be happy to have seen her written out and the structure tightened through her absence. Ernest Borgnine plays his small role with gusto - his confrontation with Bowie a standout scene in a film full of fighting, although his later genial acceptance of Bowie's superiority as a man is perhaps emphasised by the script too much for comfort.

Steiner's music (and especially the superb title song) goes a long way in making events move smoothly towards the climax. For it's the Alamo Battle the bums on seats will have come to see, and here it is done well (although again not *as* well as Wayne would manage with considerable more time and resources later (although any comparison isn't too much to the present film's detriment).

In short this is well worth seeing, and it provides a contemporarily staged contrast to the better-known epic which was to follow. I'd still like to see an historically accurate account of the events at the mission, though...

This is a version of the Alamo story often overlooked mainly because it focuses on Jim Bowie as opposed to Davy Crockett as the central character. Sterling Hayden in one of the many roles he truly hated before escaping to the seas is a stalwart and heroic Bowie.

As I said though in another review of a film with Bowie as the central character, Jim Bowie was anything but heroic. He was a land swindler, slave dealer, no good con man who very few people had anything nice to say about. He was a tough guy though, no question about that and the famous Bowie knife was made to his specifications.

Bowie was married into the Mexican aristocracy and did suffer the horrible tragedy of having his wife and children taken in an epidemic of the plague. We never see them here or in the John Wayne film or in the new Disney epic.

Possibly the best acting honors do go to Arthur Hunnicutt who was more the backwoods character that Davy Crockett was then John Wayne. Billy Bob Thornton in the 2004 Alamo was probably the best Davy Crockett ever put on film and the most accurate.

Probably too much is now known for the general public to appreciate a film like The Last Command. The principals at the Alamo were three dimensional characters and not the cardboard cutouts they are here.

This Republic picture can stand tall in the shadow of the other Alamo movies from major studios. Director Frank Lloyd presents a film that is similar to another Republic flick...Man of Conquest released in 1939. This movie actually has that feel of major studio about it. Terrific camera angles. There are heroes and there are heroes. This time Jim Bowie(Sterling Hayden)takes the lead. Patriot Sam Houston has stirred up his share of faithful Texicans and closed minded men become anxious and unsure of the future. Texas is threatened by the armies of Mexican general Santa Ana(J. Carrol Naish)and a coexistence policy of Bowie's is not sitting well. The arrival of Davy Crockett (Arthur Hunnicutt)is like a ray of hope for courageous defenders assembled in the Alamo. A confrontation with Santa Ana seems nearing and any thoughts of reinforcements for the Texicans is dashed.

Factual history is sidestepped for the sake of the movie. William Travis(Richard Carlson)agrees to share leadership with Bowie. It is a last-ditch stand with the overly outnumbered defenders of Texas and the Alamo dig in for one hell-of-a battle. A last man standing affair. Santa Ana can gloat, but not for long. Brilliant hand-to-hand combat sequences. The battle is realistic enough to almost smell the gunpowder. Actuality aside, this movie is well worth seeing.

Other players featured: Ernest Borgnine, Jim Davis, Otto Kruger, Ben Cooper, Virginia Grey, John Russell, Slim Pickens and the beautiful Anna Maria Alberghetti.

This film is different from the John Wayne film "The Alamo" because instead of focusing on action, "The Last Command" focuses on the causes of the War for Texan Independence that led up to the Alamo. Because of this, the movie puts a context for the rebellion--something that wasn't all too clear in Wayne's huge epic. While not all the reasons are explored (there were Texans who wanted to bring slavery into the territory--something Mexican law did not allow), the dictatorial policies of President Santa Ana were explored. History does record that Santa Ana was a rather inept leader and he sure did do a lot to encourage the revolution--not just in Texas but in other Mexican states.

Sterling Hayden plays James Bowie--the man who popularized a knife now known after him and one of the leaders at the Alamo. Unlike what I expected, Bowie was played as a very even-tempered man--a man who was initially unsure which side he was on in the war. Slowly, Bowie sees Santa Ana's excesses as justification for independence and I appreciated how he wasn't played as some macho hot-head.

As far as the historical accuracy of the film, it's not easy to do a film on the life of Bowie, as there really isn't a huge amount of information about the man. Oddly, however, what history does record about Bowie is generally not discussed in the film--such as the deaths of his wife and children in the years preceding the Battle of the Alamo. But, there are no major historical flaws, either--a plus.

Earlier I mentioned John Wayne's film, "The Alamo". While I think the Wayne film is better than most give it credit for, it is very odd that he sank so much energy and cash into making this film just five years after "The Last Command". And, both films are nearly equal in quality--though "The Last Command" cost a small fraction of the 1960 film and was a bit less long-winded--giving much more bang for the buck. "The Alamo" is better showing the grandness of the battle. It had a lot of extras playing Mexican soldiers, while "The Last Command" clearly only had a hundred or so extras dressed in Mexican uniforms in order to save money! But, "The Last Command" is also clearly better when it comes to portraying individuals and the reasons for the war--making it a much more personal and enjoyable film for me. The only part of the film I really disliked was the macho bull crap fight between Hayden and Ernest Borgnine near the beginning of the film--wow did that come off as stupid!

Previous posters have covered the back history of this film...some inaccurately, by the way. First of all, the Bracketville set for this film is NOT the same one used by John Wayne five years later. And WHAT a difference a few hundred miles make! Bracketville is about two hours southwest of SA, and looks NOTHING like the actual location. San Antonio is not in the desert - it's green. The SA River is basically a ditch in its natural state, not a "majestic" waterway. SA is at the base of the Hill Country - small rolling hills, covered "lushly" with green live oak trees. Disney's more recent "The Alamo," while pretty bad, at least filmed in the proper terrain (albeit closer to Austin, than San Antonio).

Interesting that the Alamo first appears an hour and fifteen minutes into this film. It plays a secondary role, in some aspects.

(I wonder if the 1800s natives called the city "San Antone" as often as they do in this movie. It's not a phrase used today - it's likely to instigate derision if uttered by a tourista in 2009. It's akin to referring to "San Francisco" with the horrid "Frisco"...it doesn't play well with the citizens.) Not being an historian, I can't comment on the accuracy of the film - others have covered that aspect. I will say that Hunnicutt's version of Crockett is cartoonish, at best. Most of the "famous" moments play in an overly-dramatic way. I suppose that is inevitable.

As an aside, the reasons that Ron Howard pulled out of directing the recent version of "The Alamo," are quite a story, on their own.

Most historians agree that the novel, 'The Gates of the Alamo," is a great and accurate depiction.

Another in a long line of Alamo films, this one was no better than the others and they were pretty mundane. I bellowed when Davy Crockett entered the picture and it was none other than old Arthur Hunnicutt. His toothy, good natured "howdy boys" left me on the floor rolling. A prolific western maker, Sterling Hayden does his usual average job in a so-so movie.

Sterling Hayden (James Bowie), Anna Maria Alberghetti (Consuela), Richard Carlson (William Travis), Arthur Hunnicutt (Davy Crockett), Ernest Borgnine (Mike Radin), J. Carrol Naish (Santa Anna), Ben Cooper (Jeb Lacey), John Russell (Lieutenant Dickinson), Virginia Grey (Mrs Dickinson), Jim Davis (Evans), Eduard Franz (Lorenzo de Quesada), Otto Kruger (Stephen Austin), Russell Simpson (the parson), Roy Roberts (Dr Sutherland), Slim Pickens (Abe), Hugh Sanders (Sam Houston).

Director: FRANK LLOYD. Screenplay: Warren Duff. Story: Sy Bartlett. Photographed in Trucolor by Jack Marta. Film editor: Tony Martinelli. Music: Max Steiner. Art director: Frank Arrigo. Set decorators: John McCarthy Jr, George Milo. Costumes: Adele Palmer. Make-up: Bob Mark. Title credits song, "A Man Six Feet Tall" by Sidney Clare (lyrics) and Max Steiner (music), sung by Gordon MacRae (a Capitol Recording Artist). Special effects: Howard Lydecker, Theodore Lydecker. Trucolor processing and optical effects: Consolidated Film Industries. Technical adviser: Captain John S. Peters. Assistant director: Herb Mendelson. Sound recording: Dick Tyler Sr, Howard Wilson. RCA Sound System. Associate producer: Frank Lloyd. Executive producer: Herbert J. Yates. Location scenes filmed in Texas.

Copyright 1955 by Republic Pictures Corp. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 3 August 1955. U.K. release: September 1955. Australian release through 20th Century-Fox: 22 June 1956. 110 minutes. (Cut to 106 minutes in the U.K.).

NOTES: Other versions include Man of Conquest (1939), The Alamo (1960).

COMMENT: After an extremely dull and talkative start, enlivened only by a knife fight between hero Bowie and heavy-but-soon-to-be-friend Borgnine, "The Last Command" settles down to an extremely dull and talkative middle, relieved only by a spot of action between Bowie's irregulars and a small detachment of Mexican cavalry.

While we're waiting for the expected slap-up climax, we've got plenty of time to listen to patriotic speeches and much cornball philosophy about liberty and justice. Unfortunately, all this talk seems even less interesting in the mouths of surly and/or dull players. You can always tell a Republic production by the lack of quality in the support cast. In this one, that lack extends to the principals as well. Borgnine is the only player who manages a bit of charisma — and his role is small. We are left with bores like Richard Carlson, Arthur Hunnicutt, J. Carroll Naish and Eduard Franz. Plus Ben Cooper, one of the dullest juveniles of all time.

Plus Miss Alberghetti. It's embarrassing to watch a nice girl trying to make something of the most dreadful dialogue tosh she's handed here. Wait for the scene in which Ben Cooper starts to share some romantic footage with Miss A. and you'll see at least a quarter of the audience leave their seats and walk out. Yes, with players like these, the true critic just knows he's going to be in for a pretty tedious time before the film even starts.

Despite the comparatively large-scale budget with lots of uniformed soldiers and location lensing south of the border, Republic's largess didn't extend to decent color. Trucolor with its mismatched grading and unnatural skin colors that vary from deep sun-burnt to the whitest paleface, plus its awful propensity to flood the screen with red and orange, is the least attractive of all non-Technicolor systems.

One of the best features of the movie is Max Steiner's music score, though one feels the composer is operating at only half-steam here. Melodic but mild. And as for that atrocious under-the-credits song delivered by Gordon MacRae of all people...

As usual, director Lloyd is at his best with the action material. Elsewhere the script lets him down. Badly.

OTHER VIEWS: Republic originally wanted John Wayne to star, but Duke wanted to do his own version of the Alamo. All the same, "The Last Command" does have some comparative interest as a scaled-down spectacle. With astute trimming — at least 30 minutes could go — it might even make a halfway passable picture. — G.A.

Much has been said about the apparent argument between Republic Pictures owner Herbert J. Yates and John Wayne over the filming of a story based on the siege of the Alamo. Evidently Yates didn't see Wayne as Davy Crockett and the two never agreed on the film.

Republic's version centers around the character of Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden) and the days leading up to the famous battle. President Santa Anna (J.Carroll Naish) has become a ruthless ruler of Mexico and of Texas. The Texicans are pushing for self government but are being denied their independence.

On his way to his Mexican home, Bowie is taken to Santa Ana by force even though the two men had become friends while fighting together for Mexican independence. Bowie learns that his family has succumbed to a plague. Bowie negotiates the release of Texas patriot Stephen Austin (Otto Kruger) while there.

Bowie rides around aimlessly following his family's death trying to make sense of all of the political problems. Eventually, he decides to side with the Texicans. He joins together with Colonel William Travis (Richard Carlson) and Davy Crockett (Arthur Hunnicutt) to mount a defence against Santa Anna and his army at an old mission known as the Alamo. They expect to receive reinforcements from Sam Houston (Hugh Sanders) but they never come. Santa Anna attacks the Alamo and............................

Republic Pictures was a minor studio but did excel in making westerns. There are many who consider this version of the Alamo to be as good or better than John Wayne version, which is twice as long, and was filmed five years later. You can decide.

Sterling Hayden makes a strong hero in Bowie. His knife fight with Mike Radin (Ernest Borgnine, just on the verge of stardom) is a highlight of the picture. Anna Maria Alberghetti was being groomed for stardom by Republic and plays the female lead Consuela who has her eye on the much older Bowie. Ben Cooper plays Jeb Lacey who is in love with Consuela. Others in the large cast includes John Russell, Virginia Grey, Jim Davis, Slim Pickens, Eduard Franz, Russell Simpson, Roy Roberts, Morris Ankrum, Charlie Stevens and Harry Woods.

The battle scenes as directed by Frank Lloyd are spectacular and well choreographed. Each of the principles gets to perish in a heroic fashion. Max Steiner's score adds to the excitement.

Whether or not Yates made his version of the story to spite Wayne, we'll never know.

I found the movie to be lacking in some key areas. For a movie to be historically based, it should be factually historically based. Some parts of the movie, like the friendship between to key figures, and the cause of the death of James Bowie, were not factually based. One thing I was happy to note, though, was that Susanna Dickenson did really exist like the movie says. But, being a Texan, I was very disappointed in the movie itself.