In 1836, the Mexican army, led by General Santa Anna, is invading Texas. Hoping to create a diversion for Santa Anna's forces, General Sam Houston (Richard Boone) orders Colonel William B. Travis (Laurence Harvey), joined by Colonels Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark) and Davy Crockett (John Wayne), to lead a small, heroic band of American and Texican fighters in a resistance battle at the Alamo mission. The carnage at the Alamo further spurs the Republic of Texas toward freedom.