The Last Command (1955 film)
| The Last Command | |
|---|---|
 Original Australian film poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Lloyd |
| Produced by | Frank Lloyd |
| Screenplay by | Warren Duff |
| Story by | Sy Bartlett |
| Starring |
Sterling Hayden Anna Maria Alberghetti Richard Carlson Arthur Hunnicutt Ernest Borgnine J. Carrol Naish |
| Music by | Max Steiner |
| Cinematography | Jack A. Marta |
| Edited by | Tony Martinelli |
Production company |
Republic Pictures |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Last Command is a 1955 Trucolor Western film directed by Frank Lloyd starring Sterling Hayden, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Richard Carlson, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ernest Borgnine and J. Carrol Naish. about Jim Bowie and the fall of the Alamo during the Texas War of Independence in 1836. Filmed by Republic Pictures, the picture was an unusually expensive undertaking for the low-budget studio. Released during the Walt Disney Davy Crockett frenzy, the film follows Jim Bowie (Sterling Hayden), who was initially a friend to Generalissimo Antonio López de Santa Anna (J. Carrol Naish) but now sides with the Texans in their bid for independence.
Cast
- Sterling Hayden as Jim Bowie
- Anna Maria Alberghetti as Consuelo de Quesada
- Richard Carlson as William Barret Travis
- Arthur Hunnicutt as Davy Crockett
- Ernest Borgnine as Mike Radin
- J. Carrol Naish as Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana
- Ben Cooper as Jeb Lacey
- John Russell as Capt. Almaron Dickinson
- Virginia Grey as Mrs. Dickinson
- Jim Davis as Ben Evans
- Eduard Franz as Lorenzo de Quesada
- Otto Kruger as Stephen F. Austin
- Russell Simpson as The Parson
- Roy Roberts as Dr. Summerfield
- Slim Pickens as Abe
- Hugh Sanders – Sam Houston
Production
The film was originally set to be produced and directed by John Wayne[1] but Republic Pictures head Herbert Yates wanted Wayne only to star, not produce or direct as Wayne wanted. Wayne left Republic to form Wayne-Fellows Productions. Five years later he would play Davy Crockett in, as well as direct, the three-hour-plus Todd-AO production The Alamo, released by United Artists, that featured many elements of The Last Command in its screenplay.
Max Steiner's theme song for The Last Command, "Jim Bowie," is sung by musical star Gordon MacRae, who that year was starring in the smash hit film Oklahoma!, adapted from the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.
References
- ↑ Thompson, Frank Alamo Movies 1994 Republic of Texas Press