Another attempt to revive the Western failed with the tricky production history of The Alamo. This project was started by Ron Howard with Russell Crowe among the cast, but various factors led to it ending up directed by John Hancock and starring Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid.

It’s finally surfaced on R1 DVD and is nowhere near the disaster that everyone claimed. It deliberately sets out to be more stately and realistic than previous versions, and as a result misses out on some excitement, but has several striking scenes and gives the fine cast a chance to create some memorable characters – Thornton’s Davy Crockett in particular.

Mild Peril Rating:

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