This excellent historical drama covers the important events in the life of Sam Houston from 1829 - 36: from the time of his tenure as governor of TN, to the aftermath of the Battle of San Jacinto, which was his greatest claim to fame. Most of the details are reasonably accurate, historically. Apparently, it was mostly filmed in Texas. Sam Elliott was an excellent choice to play Houston.The film begins with discussions among Houston's apprehensive soldiers around their camp the night before the Battle of San Jacinto, then switches to a permanent flashback, to Houston's fancy wedding reception, when TN governor. Unfortunately, this turned into a fiasco, as it soon became evident that there was some fundamental incompatibility with his young bride. Historically unclear what this was. In the film, she indicates she loves another, but her father made her marry Houston. Thus, Houston returns her to her incensed father, graciously claiming the incompatibility was his fault. Houston then promptly resigned as governor amid much criticism, and headed for the Cherokee reservation in AK. On the way, he supposedly meets Jim Bowie, who tries to talk him into going to Texas, instead. This meeting is fictional, although it's true that Bowie spent this period trying to recruit settlers for Texas, and moved to Texas several years before Houston.According to the then narrator: Tiana Rogers(Devon Ericson): a Cherokee who became his wife for a spell, Houston had spent several years as a youth living with the Cherokee, then in TN(historically correct), and apparently they felt more like family at this time than white folks. There followed Houston's second 'hippy' period, when he dressed like a Cherokee and fought for perceived injustices by governments and their agents toward this tribe. The screenplay indicates he talked up the pipe dream of Native Americans joining together to run out the Mexicans and Americans from Texas, converting it into a nation only for N.A.s. I don't know if this is true. However, his historic beating of congressman Stanbery in Washington, D.C., and the subsequent trial are historically correct. Houston's love/hate relationship with President Jackson is also dramatized during this segment. After this incident, Houston(with Jackson's blessing?)decided to forsake the Cherokee for Texas, where he soon joined the pro-independence group.The film dramatizes the many conflicting opinions Houston had to deal with in responding to the threat of large Mexican armies intent on eliminating the independence movement. The details of the Battle of the Alamo are skipped(appropriately), and we see only the mopping up operation by the Mexicans. In the face of mounting criticism, Houston knows his only chance to defeat the Mexicans is to retreat, to buy time for possibly more army volunteers, and to wait for an opportune time and place to attack Santa Anna's forces. He finds this opportunity at San Jacinto, after Santa Anna divided his army into several segments, and his men were asleep in the afternoon, being exhausted from having worked all night on defenses. The film fails to adequately portray the importance of the tall grass in hiding the movement of his troops toward the Mexican line. However, it does portray the importance of an ankle wound in causing Houston to be evacuated to the US for treatment soon after the brief battle. The film dramatizes Houston's early relationship with Mirabeau Lamar. Initially, he's portrayed as a dangerous diversionary, proposing to lead a force to Mexico city to take over the government while the Mexican army is in Texas. This is actually an allusion to Lamar's later ill-advised ambition, as Houston's successor as Texas president, to extend Texas westward to the Pacific. The Texas congress knew that Texas alone was too weak to accomplish this at that time. Lamar also differed from Houston on the question of how to deal with the hostile Native Americans. In contrast to Houston's pro-N.A. attitude, Lamar wanted to exterminate them all. This was popular with most settlers. In the film, Lamar is later correctly portrayed as impressing Houston with his bravery, and is given command of the cavalry during the big battle.Houston's often adversarial relationship with interim Texas President David Burnet is also several times brought out. Burnet was the one who dealt with Santa Anna's fate after the battle, and drew up the Treaties of Velasco, which supposedly recognized the independence of Texas. The capture of Santa Anna is accurately portrayed. Despite the obvious desire of many Texans to execute Santa Anna, Houston knew he was more valuable alive to dissuade an attack by his other scattered forces.After serving 2 of the 3 terms as Texas's president, Houston served as a Texas senator until the eve of the Civil War, trying to counter extremists from both the North and South, correctly predicting that the Kansas-Nebraska Act would set the nation on the path to war. He also correctly predicted the ultimate outcome of the war for the South, thus was depressed when he died, during the midst of the war.The inscription on Houston's tomb characterizes him as he perhaps wished to be remembered: a brave soldier, a fearless statesman, a great orator, a pure patriot, a faithful friend, a loyal citizen, a devoted husband and father, a consistent Christian, an honest man.

Passable Western inspired by historical events about Sam Houston and his fight for Texas independence . Historic events and great action as well as an acceptable cast . Sam (Sam Elliott) left his mark across the West's thousand toughest miles to escape a scandal back east . From the Red River to the Rio Grande he was hunted and feared ; a restless giant in a violent land . Tall in the saddle, restless of heart , he ranged across a violent land , forging an era with cold steel . President Jackson (G.D. Spradlin) personally orders him to lead the battle for Texan independence, he overcomes his reluctance to become involved and leads his partners to a string of victories over the Mexican army . Advocate at law Sam Houston gets together with notorious Texan leaders , his compatriots as Jim Bowie (Michael Beck) , Davy Crockett , William Barrett Travis (William Russ) and Stephen Austin (James Stephens) . When the Texans revolted against Mexico rule in 1835 , Sam was made commander-in-chief of the rebel army . After the fall of the Alamo on 6 March 1836 to the Mexican army and the subsequent retreat of the Texan forces , Sam managed to keep together a small force of less than 800 men and on 21 April 1836 launched a furious surprise attack . At the end takes place the famous battle of San Jacinto , in which was imprisoned General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana (Richard Yniguez) . It's until the spectacular crushing spotlight of total defeat with Sam Houston as commander-in-chief when the movie comes alive at all . This exciting picture about Texas fights for independence contains action Western , drama , historical happenings and is quite entertaining . Interesting writing based on a story and screenplay by Frank Q. Dobbs , a Western expert and also producer . Good main cast in which Sam Elliott stands out , he gives a good acting as impulsive as well as two-fisted leader . Ample support cast formed by notorious secondaries playing brief roles , many of them performing historical characters , such as John P. Ryan as David Burnett , James Stephens as Stephen Austin , Richard Yniguez as Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna , Michael Beck as Jim Bowie ,John de Lancie as Van Fossen , Bo Hopkins as Col. Sidney Sherman , Ned Romero as Indian chief , G.D. Spradlin as President Andrew Jackson and uncredited , Katharine Ross , Sam Elliott's wife . Atmospheric as well as thrilling musical score by Dennis McCarthy . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Frank Watts , though in television style and being necessary a right remastering . Medium budget TV film , being professionally directed by Peter Levin , though with no originality . Levin is a good craftsman who has worked in Television for decades directing a lot of films , series and episodes . The picture is based on historical deeds about Texas independence, these are the followings : With Mexican permission Stephen Austin (James Stephens) brought the first Anglo-American colonists to Texas, the first of many, their numbers grew and they wanted self-government and this desire led to the revolt of 1835, the Texas war for Independence . General Santa Anna (Richard Yniguez) , stormed the Alamo , being defended by Jim Bowie (Michael Beck) , Davy Crockett and William Travis (William Russ) , and wiped out the garrison on 6 March 1836 . The legendary defense served as a rallying point for the beleaguered Texas . Although Santa Anna , who lost at least 600 of some 3000 troops against a force of less than 200 , referred as a small affair , the valor of the defenders gave the surviving Texan troops something to remember . But on 21 April 1836 General Santa Anna suffered a crushing defeat by Sam Houston (Sam Elliott) and was taken prisoner . Texas was declared a Republic in October 1836 and Houston became its first president. In 1845 Texas joined the US, this lead to war with Mexico and disastrous results for that country. Samuel Houston (1793-1863) well performed by Sam Elliott , was a frontiersman and politician , he went to live with the Cherokees and took a Cherokee wife . After the fall of the Alamo , he managed to keep together a small force and launched a furious surprise attack on the Mexican army of 1300 camped on the western bank of the San Jacinto River . With Texas free and independent republic , Houston was elected the first president . When Texas was admitted to the United States in 1845, Houston was a senator to Washington . Later , when civil war threatened , he was opposed to secession from the Union and refused to take oath of allegiance to the Confederate government . He relinquished his office and retired from public life .

The American West has produced more than its share of legends, but none greater than the true-life story of Sam Houston. Sam Elliott is the frontier hero and statesman whose bravery and vision led to the creation of Texas! 1829-Sam Houston's career as the popular governor of Tennessee ends in disgrace and heartbreak. He treks back to the happy place of his boyhood among the Cherokee Indians.Houston finds love with a part-Cherokee and honor as he negotiates peace among warring tribes. Yet the U.S. Government destroys his triumph by coldly seizing the Cherokee land.In despair, he heads to the Mexican territory of Texas to join his old friend Jim Bowie in an epic fight for the liberation of what will one day be the state of Texas.

This movie is very cheezy. The acting isn't perfect, but it is (sort of) accurate. I especially liked the way they portrayed the Cherokee and the Osage. It shows a little research on the producer's part, but they didn't really portray Sam Houston's life so accurately. A lot of his life was over dramatized, but I can look over that.If you look at the movie in a whole view, it is ok... for TV. Recommended for viewing if you are bored and have an hour and a half to spare.6/10