The Man from the Alamo *** (1953, Glenn Ford, Julie Adams, Chill Wills, Victor Jory, Hugh O’Brian) – Classic Movie Review 9,777

Budd Boetticher’s taut, fine looking 1953 Technicolor Western film The Man from the Alamo stars Glenn Ford as Battle of the Alamo sole survivor John Stroud, who sets out for revenge. 

Director Budd Boetticher’s 1953 Technicolor Western film The Man from the Alamo stars Glenn Ford as 1836 Battle of the Alamo sole survivor John Stroud, who struggles to prove that he was not a coward – he has been picked to leave the fort to save five families from Mexican forces.

But he finds that tragedy has struck, as they have been wiped out by US renegades, and he sets out for revenge and unmasks the bad guy, Jess Wade (Victor Jory).

Universal International Pictures’ always interesting Western is lifted by a highly competent screenplay by Steve Fisher and D D Beauchamp (based on the story by Niven Busch and Oliver Crawford), taut direction, the fine looking Technicolor cinematography by Russell Metty, and slick performances by the good cast.

Hugh O’Brian plays Lieutenant Lamar and was rewarded with a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, albeit tied with two other actors, including Steve Forrest in So Big (1953).

It also stars Julie Adams (aka Julia Adams) as Beth Anders and Chill Wills as John Gage.

Julie Adams in 1953.

Also in the cast are Jeanne Cooper, Neville Brand, John Daheim (aka John Day), Myra Marsh, Marc Cavell (aka Mark Cavell), Edward Norris, Guy Williams, Fred Coby, George Eldredge, Frank Wilcox, David Sharpe, Howard Negley, Hugh Prosser, Kenneth MacDonald, Arthur Space, Duke Taylor, Bob Herron, Robert F Goy, Monte Montague and Dennis Weaver.

Ford was thrown against a tree by a horse during production and had three broken ribs. Filming was suspended for five weeks.

It runs 79 minutes.

It was released on August 21, 1953.

The cast are Glenn Ford as John Stroud, Julie Adams as Beth Anders, Chill Wills as John Gage, Hugh O’Brian as Lieutenant Lamar, Victor Jory as Jess Wade, Neville Brand as Dawes, John Daheim as Cavish, Myra Marsh as Ma Anders, Jeanne Cooper as Kate Lamar, Marc Cavell as Carlos, Edward Norris as Mapes, Guy Williams as Sergeant, Arthur Space as Lieutenant Colonel William Barrett Travis, Stuart Randall as Jim Bowie, Trevor Bardette as Davy Crockett, Dennis Weaver as Reb, Ethan Laidlaw as Citizen, Jack Mower as Patriot, Fred Coby, George Eldredge, Frank Wilcox, David Sharpe, Howard Negley, Hugh Prosser, Kenneth MacDonald, Arthur Space, Duke Taylor, Bob Herron, Robert F Goy, and Monte Montague.

Julie Adams (born Betty May Adams; October 17, 1926 – February 3, 2019) also starred with James Stewart in the classic Western film Bend of the River (1952) and most famously in Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954).

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9,777

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Julie Adams is menaced in the 1954 horror classic Creature from the Black Lagoon.