The melody to "The Ballad of Rock Ridge" from the western spoof Blazing Saddles (1974) is taken almost note for note from this film's "Jim Bowie", sung by Gordon MacRae. Coincidentally, Slim Pickens appears in both films.
This film was produced after an argument erupted between John Wayne and Republic's founder, Herbert J. Yates, over Wayne's desire to star in and direct his own version of the battle at the Alamo. Wayne and Yates, who used to talk regularly, never spoke to each other again. Ironically, when Wayne went five years later to Bracketvillle, TX (where this film was shot) to make The Alamo (1960), he used many of the still-standing sets that were used in this film.
Opened the same year Walt Disney's version of Davy Crockett was an overnight sensation on the small and big screen.
Max Steiner's theme song for The Last Command (1955), "Jim Bowie," is sung by musical star Gordon MacRae, who later that year appeared in the smash hit film Oklahoma! (1955), adapted from the famous Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical. Steiner's score also re-imagines "El Degüello", the Mexican song of no quarter as a bugle call.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
