On the Set of The Alamo (1960) Released by United Artists in 1960, The Alamo starred John Wayne as Davy Crockett, Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie, and Laurence Harvey as William B. Travis. To recreate 1830s San Antonio for filming, Wayne—who also served as director—partnered with rancher James T. "Happy" Shahan to construct Alamo Village, a replica of the Alamo mission and compound in Brackettville.