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This weekend the excitement and glamour of Hollywood shone on San Antonio as the yellow carpet was rolled out for the world premiere of Disney’s newest film, The Alamo. Yes, the movie premiered with a 1,500 foot yellow carpet, instead of the traditional red one, paying homage to the famed yellow rose of Texas. Actor Dennis Quaid, touched by the outpouring of people who lined the streets to welcome the Hollywood visitors said, “This is like the Beatles came to town.” I was privileged to join in the festivities and pay tribute to the storied stone edifice that so defines the fight for freedom waged by Texas in 1835-36.This isn’t the first movie made about the Alamo, but it is the grandest. With a budget of more than $100 million, six months of shooting, Hollywood stars like Mr. Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton, and a movie set believed to be one of the largest ever built, the film goes to great visual, cinematic and theatrical lengths to recall the mystique of the legendary battle.The fact that, after nearly two hundred years, this story is still being retold is testament to the significance of our state’s heritage. We Texans know the importance the Alamo played in shaping that history. From our earliest years we are taught the legacy of bravery, heroism and sacrifice that is held within the hallowed walls of the old mission. In fact, Texas history is a requirement for all 7th grade students in our public schools. Our children grow up learning the tales of their ancestors and understanding the challenges and sacrifices they overcame to pave the way for the Lone Star state we know and love today. For me as a youngster, Texas history was something personal since my family helped to form it. My great-great-grandfather, Charles S. Taylor, signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, for which the battle at the Alamo paved the way. I hope to pass on that love of history to my children and keep the stories of our past alive for generations to come. Though historians are always wary of any attempt to breathe life back into ancient stories, and Texans don’t like the idea of anyone messing with our history, Disney’s take on the saga is engrossing, adding color, flair and personality for entertainment value as seen in the official plot synopsis: “Where myth meets history … where legend meets reality … the roads cross at San Antonio de Bexar and the small, ruined mission there: The Alamo. In the spring of 1836, nearly 200 Texans – men of all races who believed in the future of Texas – held the fort for 13 days under siege by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, ruler of Mexico and commander of its forces. Led by three men – the young, brash Col. William Travis; the violent, passionate James Bowie; and the larger-than-life legend David Crockett – the Texans and their deeds at the Alamo would pass into history as General Sam Houston’s rallying cry for Texas independence and into legend for their symbolic significance.”To many, the character of Davy Crocket will forever be recalled with the image of John Wayne complete with a raccoon skin cap and a rifle slung over his shoulder in the 1960 version of The Alamo. But perhaps the 2004 version of the film with all of its special effects and modern technology will bring this tale to a new generation. In my unprofessional opinion – it is an absorbing movie … very interesting. It is my hope that all Americans who see this film will appreciate the deep history that inspired it, and be encouraged to preserve and pass down their own stories.
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