Producers Want To Preserve Alamo Set

Producers of Billy Bob Thornton's upcoming movie The Alamo are hoping to preserve the elaborate set constructed in Texas' Hill Country - even though it wasn't built to last.

A second set used to depict the BATTLE OF ALAMO, located 120 miles (193 kilometres) west of the original shrine of Texas independence, has endured since the 1950s when it was built for John Wayne's classic film of the same name.

Wayne starred as DAVY CROCKETT in the 1960 movie of the March 1836 battle for the Alamo mission. Thornton stars as Crockett in the new film - set for release in America on 9 April (04) - with Dennis Quaid as SAM HOUSTON and JASON PATRIC as JAMES BOWIE.

Some say the set constructed for the new film is more historically accurate, depicting colonial Mexican and Spanish architecture.

MICHAEL CORENBLITH, the movie's production designer, says, "I would like to see groups of schoolchildren around there. I would love to see the state contribute a little money and for this to become Texas' version of Colonial Williamsburg. It could become a living history exhibit."

The problem, says Alamo historian and college professor STEPHEN L HARDIN, is that the set materials - consisting of plywood, telephone poles and plaster - aren't durable.