The Alamo (1960 film) of the former Alamo Mission. The set was an extensive three quarter-scale replica of the mission, and has since been used in 100 other westerns, including other depictions of the battle. It took more than two years to construct. Wayne was to have portrayed Sam Houston, a bit part that would have let him focus on his first major directing effort, but investors insisted he play a leading character. He took on the role of Davy Crockett, handing the part of Houston to Richard Boone. Wayne cast Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William Barrett Travis. Harvey
The Alamo (1960 film) a success and Wayne lost his personal investment. He sold his rights to United Artists, which had released it, and it made back its money. Critical response was mixed, from the "New York Herald Tribune"'s four-star "A magnificent job...Visually and dramatically, "The Alamo" is top-flight," to "Time" magazine's "flat as Texas." The film has a score of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is thought to have been denied awards because Academy voters were alienated by an overblown publicity campaign, particularly one "Variety" ad claiming that the film's cast was praying harder for Chill Wills to win his award than