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HistoryWesternWar

The First Texan

- HE LEFT HIS MARK ACROSS THE WEST'S THOUSAND TOUGHEST MILES

After arriving in Texas to escape a scandal back east, lawyer Sam Houston just wants to hang out his shingle, keep a low profile, and stay out of any political intrigue. However, when President Jackson personally orders him to lead the fight for Texan independence, he overcomes his reluctance to become involved and leads his compatriots to a string of victories over the Mexican army.

Release Date : 1956-06-29

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Walter Mirisch ProductionsAllied Artists

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Joel McCrea

Character Name : Sam Houston

Original Name : Joel McCrea

Gender : Male

Felicia Farr

Character Name : Katherine Delaney

Original Name : Felicia Farr

Gender : Female

Jeff Morrow

Character Name : Jim Bowie

Original Name : Jeff Morrow

Gender : Male

Wallace Ford

Character Name : Henry Delaney

Original Name : Wallace Ford

Gender : Male

Abraham Sofaer

Character Name : Don Carlos - magistrate

Original Name : Abraham Sofaer

Gender : Male

Jody McCrea

Character Name : Lt. Baker

Original Name : Jody McCrea

Gender : Male

Chubby Johnson

Character Name : Deaf Smith - army scout

Original Name : Chubby Johnson

Gender : Male

William Hopper

Character Name : William Barrett Travis

Original Name : William Hopper

Gender : Male

Dayton Lummis

Character Name : Stephen Austin

Original Name : Dayton Lummis

Gender : Male

Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.

Character Name : Col. Cos (as Rodolfo Hoyos)

Original Name : Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.

Gender : Male

Roy Roberts

Character Name : Col. Sam Sherman

Original Name : Roy Roberts

Gender : Male

David Silva

Character Name : General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana

Original Name : David Silva

Gender : Male

Frank Puglia

Character Name : Pepe

Original Name : Frank Puglia

Gender : Male

James Griffith

Character Name : Davy Crockett

Original Name : James Griffith

Gender : Male

Nelson Leigh

Character Name : Col. Hockley

Original Name : Nelson Leigh

Gender : Male

Salvador Baguez

Character Name : Don Juan Veramendi (uncredited)

Original Name : Salvador Baguez

Gender : Male

Carl Benton Reid

Character Name : President Andrew Jackson (uncredited)

Original Name : Carl Benton Reid

Gender : Male

William Tannen

Character Name : President Jackson's Aide (uncredited)

Original Name : William Tannen

Gender : Male

Nestor Paiva

Character Name : Priest (uncredited)

Original Name : Nestor Paiva

Gender : Male

Tom Monroe

Character Name : Lt. Hargrave (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Monroe

Gender : Male

Maurice Jara

Character Name : Pablo Dominguez (uncredited)

Original Name : Maurice Jara

Gender : Male

Chris Willow Bird

Character Name : Vendor (uncredited)

Original Name : Chris Willow Bird

Gender : Male

Lane Chandler

Character Name : Col. James Fannin (uncredited)

Original Name : Lane Chandler

Gender : Male

Paul Fierro

Character Name : Lopez (uncredited)

Original Name : Paul Fierro

Gender : Male

Franklyn Farnum

Character Name : Delegate (uncredited)

Original Name : Franklyn Farnum

Gender : Male

Myron Healey

Character Name : Capt. Martin (uncredited)

Original Name : Myron Healey

Gender : Male

George Bruggeman

Character Name : Texan (uncredited)

Original Name : George Bruggeman

Gender : Male

Kermit Maynard

Character Name : Texan (uncredited)

Original Name : Kermit Maynard

Gender : Male

Al Haskell

Character Name : Texan (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Haskell

Gender : Male

Ted Smile

Character Name : Texan (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Smile

Gender : Male

John Roy

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : John Roy

Gender : Male

Fred Krone

Character Name : Soldier (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Krone

Gender : Male

Roydon Clark

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Roydon Clark

Gender : Male

Art Felix

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Art Felix

Gender : Male

Fred Aldrich

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Aldrich

Gender : Male

Sol Murgi

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Sol Murgi

Gender : Male

Fred Rapport

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Fred Rapport

Gender : Male

Herman Hack

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Herman Hack

Gender : Male

Charles Soldani

Character Name : Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Soldani

Gender : Male

Frank McGrath

Character Name : Mexican Horseman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank McGrath

Gender : Male

William Phipps

Character Name : Lt. Jack LeBlanc (uncredited)

Original Name : William Phipps

Gender : Male

Cosmo Sardo

Character Name : Delegate (uncredited)

Original Name : Cosmo Sardo

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

You are foolish Señor, but not lacking in courage. The First Texan is directed by Byron Haskin and written by Daniel B. Ullman. It stars Joel McCrea, Felicia Farr, Jeff Morrow, Wallace Ford and Rodolfo Hoyos. A Technicolor/CinemaScope production, cinematography is by Wilfrid Cline and music by Roy Webb. McCrea plays Sam Houston, who after travelling from Tennessee to San Antonio, Texas, starts to shape Texas history in spite of his initial reluctance. OK! So it's no Sam Houston biography of considerable substance or big bucks production values, I mean how was it ever going to be so when it only runs at just over 82 minutes? Yet this is still a very colourful and engaging picture, with the core essence of the Sam Houston story firmly put forward. We are basically watching what Huston was doing as elsewhere The Alamo was playing its part in historical legend. This means that the narrative is given to mostly talky passages as political machinations and power hungry posturings come to the fore. Thankfully, in McCrea's hands Houston comes off as a fascinating and inspiring man, which in the grand scheme of things is objective achieved. There is, perhaps inevitably, a romantic sub-plot, which explains why the gorgeous Felicia Farr is in the movie, sadly it's not only a token characterisation, but also historically suspect to say the least. But again, take it with a pinch of salt and buy into Houston the man and it never hurts the story. It all builds towards the battle of San Jacinto, where spurred on by famous chants about remembering The Alamo, Houston led his forces to victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army. Financial restraints mean we don't get the big and bold battle that history deserves, but what is on offer is deftly staged regardless, as stunt-men flail about and cannons do roar. Nothing approaching educational class standards here, but with McCrea a strong and rugged presence, and Haskin rising above budget limitations to tell a literary story, The First Texan is as solid as a San Antonio mission built with limestone that has been cemented by a stucco layer. 7/10