Glen Ford, as Texan settler John Stroud, finds himself threatened with death by 3 opposing groups during the fight for Texas independence from Mexico, his only apparent friend an orphan Mexican boy: the only survivor of a raid by American renegades dressed as Mexicans, who killed Stroud's family and burned his house. Stroud was one of the American defenders holed up inside the crumbling Alamo mission, being used as a fort, until he drew the black bean, used to decide who would try to ride through the Mexican lines to lead the families around his farm in a retreat. But he discovered that the renegades had already destroyed everything before he got there. The Mexican boy decides to 'adopt' Stroud as his new father, but when they go to town, the people figure out that he is the man who quit the Alamo, thus he is labeled a notorious coward. His association with the boy further suggests to them a pro-Mexican stance.
The screenplay is very tightly constructed, and includes a complex web of ironies, which is one of the main selling point of the film. For example, the renegades unwittingly saved Stroud's life twice 1) the report of their proximity to some settlements caused Stroud to leave the Alamo, thus saving his life 2) Later, the renegades save Stroud from an imminent lynching by the enraged town people. This was an incidental result of their attack on the town, with the goal of robbing the bank and freeing one of their members from jail. Stroud professes his desire to join them, but they don't really trust him. Thus, he engages in several fist fights with them, the last leaving him presumably dead after tumbling down a long rocky slope. But , he is found by searching members of the fleeing townies plus cavalry protectors, and after recovering, he organizes the defense of the seemingly defenseless townies, minus their men, after the cavalry unit receives orders to immediately join Houston at San Jacinto. The women, kids, old men, and Stroud manage to annihilate the renegades, using borrowed cavalry firearms. Thus, Stroud achieves his revenge and resurrects his reputation as a brave and smart man.
Chill Wills and the other townies, along with Hugh O'Brian, as commander of the cavalry unit, want to lynch Stroud when he refuses to vacate the region. Ironically, Wills is later pressured by Beth(Julie Adams) into doctoring the unconscious Stroud, after his long tumble, against an overriding sentiment to let Stroud die. Again, ironically, O'Brian's troops soon thereafter are called to abandon the wagon train and join Houston. Initially, O'Brian refuses to obey, but Stroud convinces him that he can lead an effective defense of the wagon train. Thus, the man they wanted to kill a short time before becomes their savior.
Stroud effectively rescued the Mexican boy from starvation. but the association of the boy with Stroud increases the perception of Stroud as pro-Mexican, thus increasing the call to lynch him. The boy tries to tell the others why Stroud really left the Alamo, which Stroud inexplicably refuses to do. But, initially, he is disbelieved. Later, the boy saves Stroud's life by leading a search for him after he tumbled down that hill, and insisting that Wills try to revive Stroud. Also, he corroborates Stroud's statement why he left the Alamo, thus diffusing a renewed demand by the fleeing townies to kill Stroud. At the end, the implication is that Stroud, the boy, and Beth will form a new family.
The biggest weakness of the screenplay is the extreme reaction of some of the Alamo defenders and of the townspeople to Stroud's leaving the Alamo, and his curious refusal to adequately explain why he did so, until late in the film. Also, Stroud recovered awfully quickly from his long tumble down that hill, and his being found by the boy is unlikely.
Ford's character is very loosely based on the disputed historical fact or legend that one man(Moses Rose) chose to leave the Alamo, when given a choice. He said he saw no reason to stay and die in a hopeless defense. Thus, he was labeled a coward. Unlike the portrayal of Houston's attitude toward defending the Alamo, the historic Houston sent Bowie with instructions to remove the cannon and destroy the make-shift fort, as being indefensible! While at the Alamo, Stroud risks his life to reraise the Texas flag on the wall, while under cannon bombardment. The scenes of Mexican cannon bombardment are pretty cheesy.
Only some of the firearms are the historically-relevant flint locks. The use of repeating firearms speeds up the gunplay for the audience. Yes, the women reloaded their muskets impossibly fast! Also, an obvious photocopy of President Hayes(1876-80) should have been removed from the jail wall!
Several of the renegade actors took impressive body-slamming falls when shot off their horse or their horse was shot. Also, Victor Jory, as the head renegade: Jess Wade, takes quite a plunge down a waterfall. I don't see how this could have been faked. The assumption is that Wade drowned. However, it looks survivable to me, assuming a deep plunge pool.
Presently, part of the Classic Western round-up, Vol. 2, DVD set, along with "The Texans", "California" and "The Cimarron Kid"
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