The Last Command

Western in which Jim Bowie, returning to the garrison town of Anahuac in Texas in 1834, finds white settlers planning a rebellion against the Mexican leader. Bowie tries to quell the simmering antagonism, but soon finds himself having to side with the Texans as they face the might of the Mexican army., Jim Bowie at the Alamo. Exciting action scenes., Frank Lloyd’s film is one of the eight cinematic versions of the story of the Alamo, where a small group of Texians held out to the last man against the Mexican army. This version concentrates on Jim Bowie, who urges a policy of peaceful co-existence with the Mexicans until they become too aggressive, when he joins William B Travis, Davy Crockett and the other defenders at the mission for the fateful 13-day siege., Frank Lloyd’s film is one of the eight cinematic versions of the story of the Alamo, where a small group of Texians [sic] held out to the last man against the invading Spanish army. This version concentrates on Jim Bowie, who urges a policy of peaceful co-existence with the Mexicans until they become too aggressive, when he joins William B Travis, Davy Crockett and the other defenders at the mission for the fateful 13-day siege., When Texas is threatened by the armies of Mexican general Santa Ana, Bowie at first adopts a policy of peaceful coexistence. When this proves impossible, Bowie joins Davy Crockett and the rest of the courageous defenders of the Alamo., Frank Lloyd’s film is one of the eight cinematic versions of the story of the Alamo, where a small group of Texians [sic] held out to the last man against the Mexican army. This version concentrates on Jim Bowie, who urges a policy of peaceful co-existence with the Mexicans, until they become too aggressive, when he joins William B Travis, Davy Crockett and the other defenders at the mission for the fateful 13-day siege. Edited for violence., The Republic super-production The Last Command is a partial remake of the same studio’s Man of Conquest (1939). But whereas the earlier film concerned itself with the exploits of Texas patriot Sam Houston, Last Command concentrates on Houston associate James Bowie, played by Sterling Hayden. When Texas is threatened by the armies of Mexican general Santa Ana (J. Carrol Naish), Bowie at first adopts a policy of peaceful coexistence. When this proves impossible, Bowie joins Davy Crockett (played as an irascible old cuss by Arthur Hunnicut) and the rest of the courageous defenders of the Alamo. The climactic confrontation between the heroes of the Alamo and Santa Ana is long in coming, but well worth the wait. Frank Lloyd’s large-scale direction and the vibrant musical score of Max Steiner imbues Last Command with a “major studio” aura not often found in Republic productions.