Alamo Bay **** (1985, Amy Madigan, Ed Harris, Ho Nguyen) – Classic Movie Review 9204

Director Louis Malle tackles the meaty socially conscious theme of racial conflict between Vietnamese immigrants and a fishing bay town community in Texas in his 1985 drama Alamo Bay.

The telling of the story, inspired by real events, is boosted by Ry Cooder’s score, while Malle and screenwriter Alice Arlen ensure that there is much to think about, even if there is perhaps a slight lack of excitement and commitment in the handling.

Alamo Bay motors on strong performances from Ed Harris as despondent Vietnam veteran Shang, a brutish fisherman annoyed at the arrival of the Vietnamese, his real-life wife Amy Madigan as Glory, a smouldering old flame, and Ho Nguyen as Dinh, the bemused immigrant who begins by smiling politely but ends up caught in the crossfire.

Having an unsympathetic ‘hero’ in Harris’s character Shang is a problem that the film does not quite overcome. But, despite this, Alamo Bay is nevertheless a highly intriguing and involving movie.

Also in the cast are Donald Moffat, Rudy Young, Truyen V Tran, Khoa Van Le, Cynthia Carle, Martino [Martin] LaSalle, William Frankfather, Lucky Mosley, Bill Thurman, Michael Ballard, Gary Basaraba, Mark Hanks, Harvey Lewis, Jerry Biggs and Tony Frank.

Alamo Bay is directed by Louis Malle, runs 98 minutes, is made by Delphi IV Productions and TriStar Pictures, is released by TriStar Pictures (1985) (US), is written by Alice Arlen, shot in Metrocolor by Curtis Clark, produced by Ross Milloy (executive producer), Louis Malle and Vincent Malle, scored by Ry Cooder and designed by Trevor Williams.

Madigan and Harris married on 21 November 1983, and have one child.

Producer Vincent Malle brother of Louis Malle said: ‘The thing that I like most about Louis’ work is that each time, he tackles something completely different.’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9204

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