THE ALAMO (1960)

Directed by: John Wayne
Written by: James Edward Grant
Studio: United Artists
Starring: John Wayne, Richard Widmark, Laurence Harvey
Rated: Not Rated

About the film:
The Alamo tells the story of the brave men who defended a small position against the far superior force of the Mexican general, Santa Anna. Although the possibility of success was nonexistent, this small handful of men decided to stay and fight against overwhelming odds.

Movie Quote:
"There’s right and there’s wrong. You got to do one or the other. You do the one and you’re living. You do the other and you may be walking around, but you’re dead as a beaver hat.”
Davy Crockett (John Wayne) in The Alamo (1960)

Bible Quote:
“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”
1 John 1:11 (NIV)

Commentary:
God willing, we will never have to make the kind of choices the men in The Alamo had to face. But we should not fool ourselves… life is all about choices. We make them every day. We have a God who has granted us the right to have free will. He lets us know what He desires for our lives but the ultimate decision or choice is ours. If we choose poorly, we set our lives on a course that has no destination… at least no destination worth reaching. When we choose well, we choose life. And as God has promised us, it is a life more than abundant.

The nice thing about truth is that it is not dependent upon the verbal skills of the one delivering it. Truth is truth… whether it is presented by a man in an Armani suit or some Tennessee backwoodsman in a coonskin cap. Whenever we follow truth or the “right way,” we receive the blessings and protection of a loving God. When we resist the truth and choose the wrong way, we receive the consequences of our actions and we lose all the benefits that the right way affords.

One way leads us to a life worth living. One way leads us away from that life. The choice is and has always been ours.

Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. Why are people so influenced by outward appearances? How can we guard ourselves against falling into that trap?

2. What principle is worth our lives? How do we draw the line between survival and survival at a cost?