The Last Command *** (1955, Sterling Hayden, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ernest Borgnine, Anna Maria Alberghetti, J Carrol Naish, Richard Carlson) – Classic Movie Review 13,708

Republic Pictures’ Trucolor Western film The Last Command is based on the life of Jim Bowie and the Battle of the Alamo, and stars Sterling Hayden, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ernest Borgnine, and Richard Carlson.

Director Frank Lloyd’s 1955 American Republic Pictures Trucolor Western film The Last Command is based on the life of Jim Bowie and the Battle of the Alamo, and stars Sterling Hayden, Arthur Hunnicutt, Ernest Borgnine, Anna Maria Alberghetti, J Carrol Naish, and Richard Carlson.

Sterling Hayden leads the all-star cast of worthies in this Western yarn of Texan adventurer Jim Bowie and the 1836 Battle of the Alamo.

Frank Lloyd directs for eye-catching spectacle, it is beautifully shot in Trucolor by Jack A Marta, the battle scenes are particularly fine, and it is an involving history lesson. The complex intelligent script by Warren Duff is a useful attempt to make a tricky subject work. Sterling Hayden and Arthur Hunnicutt particularly impress as Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett.

Also in the starry cast are J Carrol Naish, John Russell, Jim Davis, Otto Kruger, Slim Pickens, Eduard Franz, Russell Simpson, Roy Roberts, and Hugh Sanders.

Other versions of this much-filmed tale include Man of Conquest (1939) and John Wayne’s 1960 The Alamo.

The film started at Republic Pictures in 1948 as The Alamo, written by Patrick Ford, John Ford’s son to star John Wayne. But Wayne and Republic Pictures head Herbert Yates fell out. Wayne wanted to film in Mexico but Yates wanted to shoot in Texas. Yates wanted Wayne to make the film for Republic, instead of Wayne’s company Batjac making it and Republic distributing it.

Wayne said: ‘Yates will have to make me a darned good offer to make another picture with him. I’m fed up with him. ‘ Wayne leaving Republic that he joined in 1935, breaking his contract for three more films. Yates had launched the film careers of Western stars Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and John Wayne. In a way, Wayne owed everything to Yates, but he didn’t see it that way.

Five years later Wayne played Davy Crockett in, as well as produced and directed, The Alamo, which features many elements of The Last Command.

Filming started in February 1955 and it was released on August 3, 1955. William Witney shot the battle scenes near Fort Clark, Texas. It was a big deal for Republic Pictures, costing $2,193,939. Meticulous care was put into it. The Sol Frank Uniform company of San Antonio made the uniforms for the extras playing the Mexican Army.

It is Lloyd’s last film as director. He retired soon after re-marrying in 1955 and died in 1960. He was one the founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Last Command is directed by Frank Lloyd, runs 110 minutes, is made by Republic Pictures, is written by Warren Duff and Allen Rivkin, is shot in Trucolor by Jack A Marta, is produced by Frank Lloyd, and is scored by Max Steiner.

Max Steiner’s theme song, ‘Jim Bowie’, is sung by Gordon MacRae.

The cast are Sterling Hayden as Jim Bowie, Arthur Hunnicutt as Davy Crockett, Ernest Borgnine as Mike Radin, Anna Maria Alberghetti as Consuelo de Quesada, Richard Carlson as William Barret Travis, J Carrol Naish as General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, John Russell as Captain Almaron Dickinson, Jim Davis as Ben Evans, Otto Kruger as Stephen F Austin, Slim Pickens as Abe, Eduard Franz as Lorenzo de Quesada, Russell Simpson as The Parson, Roy Roberts as Dr Summerfield, Hugh Sanders as Sam Houston, Charles Stevens as Villager, and Ken Terrell as Defender.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,708

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