Introduction"Texas" is a historical American television film released in 1995, based upon the best-selling historic novel of the exact same name by James A. Michener. The film looks into Texas' early history, from its times as a Spanish nest until its self-reliance from Mexico. Directed by Richard Lang, the film stars Patrick Duffy, Stacy Keach and Benjamin Bratt.
Plot SynopsisThe movie traces Texas' rough history through the linking experiences of 3 households: the Wheelers, the McGarthins, and the Garzas. It starts with Mexico's victory over Spain and establishment as an independent country. This event leads the Mexican government to open the Tejas province (later on Texas) to American settlers in hopes of improving the economy. The film focuses on a trio of American settler households who embark on the journey towards Tejas and their encounters with Mexican households residing in the area.
Matt Damon plays a young man called Yancey Quimper who, in addition to his 2 brothers, joins a group of American settlers led by Zave Campbell (Patrick Duffy) into the Tejas region.
On their journey, they cross paths with constant difficulties, and encounters with Native American people, struggles over land disputes, religious differences, and violent battles. The Wheelers become cattle ranchers, the Garzas remain in the region as proud Tejanos, while the McGarthins prosper landowners. As these households engage, they form alliances and rivalries, which contributes to the eventual secession from Mexico.
Secret EventsAn embodiment sequence sees Texas won by the Americans at the Battle of San Jacinto, in a war initiated by Mexican dictator Santa Anna's (Lloyd Battista) overbearing rule. Samuel Houston (Stacy Keach) leads the success causing the independence of Texas from Mexico.
Another special scene is when the character Artemus (Anthony Zerbe), a fervent abolitionist, causes a department within the region's leaders on the concern of slavery, further agitating the tension in between Tejas families and the Mexican federal government.
Important ReceptionThough based upon a popular book, the movie version of "Texas" got mixed evaluations. The storytelling was hailed for its effort at compressing the vast epic of Texas' history into a 3-hour tv movie, however critics explained that the result was a somewhat watered-down motion picture, with watered down disputes and simplified characters when compared to the depth portrayed in Lunken's books.
Performances by the ensemble cast, including a young Matt Damon, were valued but the elaboration and depth of the characters were thought about doing not have. The movie's historical accuracy was praised although some critics cited the weakness of the screenplay in covering an expansive history.
ConclusionRegardless of its mixed critical reception, "Texas" is remembered for its efforts to illustrate a vital part of American history. The movie covers two broad themes-- the early history of Texas, and the settlers' relationship with Mexican households and the Native tribes. Though this attempt to encapsulate the rich narrative tapestry of James A. Michener's epic book into a single movie was met varied responses, it remains a good attempt at adapting considerable historical literature for the screen. It provides appealing insights into Texas during the time of its shift from a Spanish colony to an independent state.
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