By: Elías de la Cerda Jr.
May 21, 2003

The Alamo, a Franciscan mission transformed by the rigors of fate into a citadel, now stands as a glorious shrine to the greatest heroes of Texas.

A movie currently in production will depict the story of the tragic siege and fall of the citadel.

Analogous to a fantastic voyage aboard a time machine was a tour of the Alamo movie set occupying 51 acres of an estate called Eugene Reimer’s ranch, just minutes from Austin.

Nestled within the hills of Dripping Springs lies what Ernie Mallik, the movie’s publicist, calls “The largest free-standing movie set in North America.”

More than 300 workers toiled for months to replicate with intricate detail the legendary citadel and what was San Antonio de Béxar in the 1830’s.

Mallik gave a tour of the set to a special group of people who have more than a casual interest in the history of the Alamo - Direct descendants of Col. Juan N. Seguin.

Col. Seguin, dramatically portrayed by Jondi Molia in the movie, was a Tejano hero of the Texas war for independence. He fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and was responsible for the memorial services of the fallen at the Alamo.

During the May 17, tour Albert Seguin Gonzales exuded pride and excitement to be standing in what may have been witnessed by his great-great-great grandfather, Col. Seguin.

The Seguin descendant, is founder of the Seguin Family Historical Society and organizer of the tour which included Seguin family members and Dr. J.B. Kline, public information officer; Julia Aguilar, president; Paul Casanova Garcia, a member of the Canary Island Descendants; Joanna Fitzpatrick, vice-chairman of the Sidney Chapter- Daughters of the Republic of Texas; Astrid Lowery, journalism professor at College of the Mainland; and other family members who converged on the movie set from different places in Texas.

For more than 40 years, to relive the tragic drama and glorious demise of the Tejano and Texian defenders of the Alamo, the public had to rely on the less-than- accurate and equally less-than-successful John Wayne production of The Alamo which at best received an academy award for best sound.

If the efforts vested in the production of The Alamo are any indication of the potential success of the movie, the Alamo is poised to gain much acclaim.

Directed by John Lee Hancock who, according to publicist Mallik, read some 50 books on the Alamo to ensure historical fidelity.

The saga unfolds through the words of Juan N.Seguin, played by Jordi Molia who speaks in fluent 19th century Castilian.

English subtitles are used during the narrative. The producers contracted a linguist consultant to accurately translate the 19th century language. .

With a cast of high caliber actors: Dennis Quaid, Sam Houston; Billy Bob Thorton, Davey Crockett; Emilio Echevarria, Santa Anna; Jordi Molia, Juan N. Seguin; Jason Patric, Jim Bowie and Patrick Wilson, William Travis; the producers did not skimp on talent.

Standing prominently among the structures of the movie set is the San Fernando church, a bold adobe structure capped by domes reminiscent of the Moor influence in Spanish architecture.

The church building served as makeup headquarters during some of the filming.

The position of the church and of the mission citadel is such that one standing at the rear of the citadel can see the church steeple framed through the rectangular window of the mission (the two are approximately 1/4 mile apart).

Tremendous attention to details prevails throughout the production of the film.

Daniel Orlandi, costume designer, spent two years researching and creating the 4,000 costumes down to the buttons on Santa Anna’s uniform buttons, buckskins worn by Texian defenders, wealthy Spaniards attire and Tejano defenders garb.

What sets this movie appart from the $12 million John Wayne flop is that it depicts the ominous battle from both, the Texian and Tejano perspectives.

Not only did the producers meticulously replicate the Alamo chapel (each stone in the original facade was photographed and later reproduced in the replica), the characters are being portrayed as accurately as possible.

Jim Bowie is presented as the wretched slave trader he was in real life and Sam Houston and his drunken demagoguery.

Of a particular scene Mallik said, “It took 17 nights to shoot 20 minutes of film.”

During the tour it was clear that Albert Seguin Gonzales was moved by the authenticity of the set.

“A once in a lifetime experience,” Albert said “... a movie that deals not only with our Texas history, but with our ancestors as well.”

After the tour the Seguin family members and guests stopped for lunch at an eatery on highway 71, and to reminisce about the fabulous experience of the movie set.

Albert thanked everyone for attending, “After all, everything the Seguin Historical society does is about family.”