The Man From The Alamo (1953)

Before the final siege at the Alamo, several of the men vote that one of them should leave to warn and help their families of the impending attack by the Mexican army. The man (Glenn Ford) selected finds that he's too late and that his family has been slaughtered but he is branded a coward for fleeing the Alamo in its time of need. Though directed by the wonderful Budd Boetticher, this is a rather conventional western. Boetticher doesn't seem much interested in the material and it could have benefited from the edgy darkness he often infused into the classic films he did with Randolph Scott. It's not a bad film by any means, just nothing special. The film looks vibrant thanks to the Technicolor lensing by the great Russell Metty (TOUCH OF EVIL) who makes use of the Southern California canyon locations as well as the Universal backlot. Co-starring Julie Adams, Chill Wills (who would appear the John Wayne THE ALAMO seven years later), Hugh O'Brian, Victor Jory, Neville Brand, Jeanne Cooper and Guy Williams.