Gone to Texas (1986)

Sam Elliott is Sam Houston in this TV movie about his life from 1829 through 1836.

As the story begins, he’s governor of Tennessee, marrying pretty Eliza Allen, a woman half his age and the daughter of a wealthy landowner.

But the marriage quickly falls apart because Eliza loves another man and can’t stand the thought of consumating her marriage to Houston.

Houston takes her back home and requests a divorce. Rumours and scandal over what transpired prompt his resignation.

It also prompts him to retire from public life and live with the Cherokee. He marries Tiana Rogers, the cousin of Chief John Jolley, and helps the tribe negotiate with the U.S. government.

Houston’s interest in politics is re-invigorated when the U.S. government purchases their land east of the Mississippi and forces the tribe to accept script rather than gold as payment.

Houston rushes off to Washington to make an urgent plea on their behalf and winds up gaining a national spotlight after beating a Congressman with a walking stick.

He also renews his friendship with President Andrew Jackson, who urges him to head to Texas.

Trouble is brewing in the land controlled by Mexico. And the right leaders might be able to pry it from the grasp of Mexican President Santa Anna.

Sam Elliott as Sam Houston, ready to stop and fight for Texas independence in Gone to Texas (1986)

Richard Yniquez as Gen. Santa Anna, captured by the Texicans, but not recognized at first in Gone to Texas (1986)

Review:

Elliott blusters his way through the lead role in an obviously white-washed version of Houston’s life that treats him more as a legend than a real person.

He’s the defender of women’s honor, refusing to divulge the reason his marriage failed. He’s friend to the Cherokee, so important he becomes an honorary member of the tribe.

When he beats a lawmaker senseless, it’s clearly because the lawmaker deserved it. And Houston’s brilliant eloquence as an orator gets him out of trouble.

Once in Texas, he’s the one commander who understands the best way to defeat Santa Anna is to retreat and retreat some more, until his supply lines are stretched to the breaking point.

It’s all a bit much to swallow, though the real Houston compiled a long list of achievements, including becoming the only American to be elected governor of two different states (Tennessee and Texas), becoming president of Texas and one of the first U.S. senators to represent the state after it joined the union.

As for the film, it deserves credit for admitting the U.S. had machinations on Texas before fighting broke out. And it picks up steam during the second half, which is dedicated to the revolution.

And while The Battle of the Alamo is covered in a quick scene showing its aftermath, we see Mexican troops executing the survivors.

The Texans’ earlier capture of the mission is also re-enacted. So is the execution of captured Texans at Goliad.

Claudia Christian as Eliza Allen, being returned home after a failed marriage to Sam Houston in Gone to Texas (1986)

Donald Moffat as Col. John Allen, disgusted that Sam Houston has returned his daughter in Gone to Texas (1986)

Directed by:
Peter Levin

Cast:
Sam Elliott … Sam Houston
Claudia Christian … Eliza Allen
Devon Ericson … Tiana Rogers
Michael C. Gwynne … Mosely Baker
Donald Moffat … Col. John Allen
John Quade … Sen. Stansbury
Ned Romero … Chief John Jolley
William Russ … William Travis
John P. Ryan … David Burnett
James Stephen … Stephen Austin
Richard Yniquez … Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Michael Beck … Jim Bowie
Bo Hopkins … Col. Sidney Sherman
G.D. Spradlin … President Andrew Jackson
Ritch Brinkley … Sen. Buckley
John de Lancie … John Van Fossen
Peter Gonzales Falcon … Juan Seguin

Runtime: 144 min.

aka:
Houston: The Legend of Texas

Ned Romero as Chief John Jolley, the Cherokee leader who has Houston negotiate on the tribe’s behalf in Gone to Texas (1986)

Devon Ericson as Tiana Rogers, Chief Jolley’s cousin and Sam Houston’s second wife in Gone to Texas (1986)

Memorable lines:

President Andrew Jackson: “I, sir, am the president of the United States. And you will show respect to me and the office I hold.”
Sam Houston: “Which one of you lied to the Cherokee? The man or the office?”

President Andrew Jackson: “Sam’s being long-winded as usual. Never uses two words when 700 will do … If words were bullets, he could win a war single-handed.”

Sam Houston: “A corrupt and distant government wielding power over a vast territory with a population that loves freedom and independence. That sounds to me like the very prescription for revolution, Mr. Austin.”

Sam Houston: “The first thing you can do, Col. Bowie, is burn that mission to the ground.”
Sam Bowie: “You don’t tell me what to do, General. And you most certainly don’t tell me to burn down the best fortification in Texas.”
Houston: “We can never hope to defend it. I’ll send Will Travis with some men to help you blow it up.”
Bowie: “I took this place, Sam, and by God, I will hold it.”
Houston: “With what? This is a death trap. You have to destroy the Alamo.”

J.D. Spradlin as President Andrew Jackson, toasting Sam Houston in Gone to Texas (1986)

John Quade as Sen. Stansbury, beaten by Sam Houston because of an insult in Gone to Texas (1986)

James Stephen as Stephen Austin, explaining the state of affairs in Texas to Sam Houston in Gone to Texas (1986)

Katherine Ross as Susannah Dickinson, watching Alamo survivors being executed in Gone to Texas (1986)

Bo Hopkins as Col. Sidney Sherman, questioning Houston’s will to fight the Mexican forces in Gone to Texas (1986)

Sam Elliott as Sam Houston, disgusted that the Cherokee have been paid for their land in script, not gold, in Gone to Texas (1986)