Mexican troops control San Antonio and their disrespect for American women there are causing frequent problems.
To keep the local citizenry under control, Santa Anna (Walter Long) orders that all Americans turned over their firearms to the Mexican army.
New friends Davy Crockett (Allan Sears) and Jim Bowie (Alfred Paget) conspire to hide a large cache of weapons.
And when Santa Anna moves on, leaving only a skeleton force behind, the Americans bring those guns out of hiding and capture the town.
Gen. Cos, the leader of the Mexican forces, is allowed to keep his sword in return for a promise to never again raise it against Texans.
When news of the defeat reaches Santa Anna, he vows to recapture San Antonio.
And he’ll show no such mercy in the process.
Sam De Grasse as Silent Smith in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
Allan Sears as David Crockett and Alfred Paget as James Bowie, meeting in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
Review:
This silent is the earliest surviving film about the Battle of the Alamo and is most noteable for the impressive battle scenes, filmed more than a century ago.
And director Cabanne had an interesting way of handling the deaths of the martyrs of the Alamo. His cameras would zoom in as each met his fate, then fade to black.
Not that he was shying away from violence. One scene shows Jim Bowie, lying in his sick bed with two bayonets embedded in his chest. Another shows a Mexican soldier bayoneting a young boy and tossing him aside.
And Santa Anna is depicted as quite the lecher, sparing attractive women at the Alamo with the intent of making them his playthings and being caught napping at the Battle of San Jacinto because he was focused on the young girls taking turns dancing for him.
Walter Long as Santa Anna in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
John T. Dillon as Col. Travis (right) taking over for ailing Jim Bowie (Alfred Paget) at the Alamo as Davy Crockett (Allan Sears) looks on in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
Directed by:
W. Christy Cabanne
Cast:
Sam De Grasse … Silent Smith
Allan Sears … David Crockett
Walter Long … Santa Anna
Alfred Paget … James Bowie
Fred Burns … Capt. Dickinson
John T. Dillon .. Col. Travis
Augustus Carney … Old soldier
Juanita Hansen … Old soldier’s daughter
Ora Carew … Mrs. Dickinson
Tom Wilson … Sam Houston
Runtime: 75 min.
aka:
The Birth of Texas
Ora Carew as Mrs. Dickinson in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
Fred Burns as Capt. Dickinson in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
Memorable lines:
Travis to a Mexican courier: “If Santa Anna wants the Alamo, let him come and take it.”
Travis: “Those who wish to die like heroes and patriots, cross this line to me.”
Title card: “An inveterate drug fiend, the Dictator of Mexico also famous for his shameful orgies.”
Augustus Carney as the former soldier and Juanita Hansen as his daughter in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
John T. DIllon as Col. Travis, sending Silent Smith (Sam De Grasse) for reinforcements in Martyrs of the Alamo (1915)
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