Martyrs of the Alamo
1915, NR, 70 min.
Directed by W. Christy Cabanne, Narrated by , Voices by , Starring Allan Sears, Walter Long, Alfred Paget, John T. Dillon, Douglas Fairbanks.

This silent feature is the oldest surviving cinematic depiction of the defense of the Alamo, directed by D.W. Griffith’s former assistant who went on to a successful directing career of his own. Also screening is a few minutes of the only footage remaining of the silent film With Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo. Noted local musician and silent film composer extraordinaire Graham Reynolds will provide live musical accompaniment to the movies, which are part of a three-part film series screening in conjunction with the Museum’s current exhibit, “Life, Legend and Legacy of Davy Crockett.” Guest speakers Frank Thompson, author of Texas Hollywood and Alamo Movies, and Richard Flores, author of Remembering the Alamo, will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A and booksigning. For more info about the series call 936-8746 or see www.TheStoryofTexas.com.

This article appears in May 31 • 2002.

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Marjorie Baumgarten is a film critic and contributing writer at The Austin Chronicle, where she has worked in many capacities since the paper's founding in 1981. She served as the Chronicle's Film Reviews editor for 25 years.