Last Night at the Alamo

Last Night at the Alamo
Directed by Eagle Pennell
Produced by Kim Henkel
Eagle Pennell
Written by Kim Henkel
Starring Sonny Carl Davis
Lou Perryman
Music by Chuck Pinnell
Wayne Bell
Cinematography Eric Alan Edwards
Brian Huberman
Editing by Kim Henkel
Eagle Pennell
Distributed by Cinecom
Release date(s) March 19, 1978 (1978-03-19)
Running time 80 min
Country United States
Language English

Last Night at the Alamo is a 1983 American black-and-white independent film directed and co-produced by Eagle Pennell, written and co-produced by Kim Henkel and starring Sonny Carl Davis and Lou Perryman.

Contents

Plot

"The Alamo" is a dive bar in Houston, Texas. On the eve of its demolition, the regular patrons gather to reminisce and discuss the future. Cowboy Regan (Davis) tries a last ditch effort to save the place by contacting his former college roommate who is now a powerful politician.

Production

Pennell received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Southwest Alternate Media Project in Houston provided free office space and film equipment. Production began in May 1982 at an old bar in East Houston and lasted for three and one-half weeks. The bar where the film was shot was still in business so daily shooting had to finish by 4 p.m. It is believed that Henkel finished the film as Pennell was having issues with alcohol and drugs and quit showing up.[1]

Release

The film was shown at the New York Film Festival in 1983 and received mostly good reviews. The movie then played the USA Film Festival in 1984. It won the Special Jury Prize: Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival. Last Night at the Alamo started distribution in a limited commercial release in July 1984.

References

  1. ^ Alison Macor. Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids 30 Years of Filmmaking in Austin, Texas University of Texas Press: Austin, 2010.

External links