Interview: General Cos in The Alamo Movie

By TheAlamoFilm.com

Just over a month ago, The Alamo wrapped up filming in Texas where the country’s largest movie set was assembled on a private ranch. Of the 5,000 total Mexican army extras that populated the set from December to May 2003, one was lucky enough to land a spot as General Cos, a hard-nosed General who fought alongside the feared dictator General Santa Anna in the Alamo battle of 1836. Read about the actor who plays General Cos and see what he had to say about working with actors such as Emilio Echevarria (Santa Anna) and director John Lee Hancock….but first, a short history....

Martín Perfecto de Cos, was born in Vera Cruz in 1800. According to the Handbook of Texas Online, he became a cadet in the Mexican army in 1820, and a lieutenant in 1821. However, other sources indicate that he originally joined the Spanish regiment Fijo de Vera Cruz, and then switched to the Mexican Independence forces under Iturbide. In any case, he was made a brigadier general in 1833.

In September 1835, Santa Anna became a virtual dictator, and overthrew the Constitution of 1824. Mexico was torn by civil war. At the time, Cos was a division general in command of the Internal Eastern Provinces. After Santa Anna put down an uprising in Zacatecas, he sent Cos to Texas. Cos dispersed the legislature of Coahuila and Texas, established headquarters in San Antonio, and announced his purpose of ending resistance to the new regime in Texas.

A combined force of Texans, Tejanos, and volunteers from the U.S. and other countries besieged Cos' troops in San Antonio, and in December 1835 Cos was forced to surrender. The Mexican troops were paroled (allowed to return to Mexico) with the agreement that they would not in any way oppose the re-establishment of the Constitution of 1824. They were also given enough arms, ammunition and supplies so that they could reach home safely.

Cos and his troops violated this parole when they returned to Texas with Santa Anna's Army of Operations in 1836. In the assault on the Alamo on March 6, Cos commanded one of the Mexican army columns. On April 21, 1836, he brought reinforcements to Santa Anna at San Jacinto shortly before the Texans' successful assault on the Mexican camp. Cos was taken prisoner and later released, after which he returned to Mexico.

In the Mexican War Cos commanded defenses south of Vera Cruz. Cos died in Minatitlán, Vera Cruz, on October 1, 1854, while serving as commandant general and political chief of the Tehuantepec territory.

---

Like so many other issues involving the Alamo, there are mysteries, controversies, and misconceptions involving Cos, at least one of which makes its way into this interview. According to the interview below, there is a very dramatic scene where Cos, on his retreat to Mexico, is confronted by Santa Anna, berated in front of the whole army, and then forced to turn around and head back to Texas. This view of Cos, being forced to violate his parole and publicly demeaned, has been portrayed before. But according to historian and artist Jack Jackson, who was allowed to do research in the Mexican army archives in 2000, Cos' letters show that he was not coerced or browbeaten, but volunteered to return to Texas. And Steve Hardin, who was one of the historians actually working on the movie, points out in "Texian Iliad" that Cos' men were allowed to rest and recuperate before starting back.

Another popular "fact" about Cos, and one that will probably appear in the movie, since it has appeared in almost every book about the Alamo, is that Cos was Santa Anna's brother in law. This was also called into question by Jackson's research. From what Jackson found, Santa Anna was not married to Cos' sister, and Cos was not married to Santa Anna's. There was apparently some family connection, but just what it was hasn't yet been determined. So the search for the truth about Cos, as with so many other Alamo questions, continues…but we must remember…IT'S A MOVIE, not a documentary. It is meant to entertain, albeit from a much more interesting and humane point of view than previous Alamo films. But because it is a movie, it will take the more interesting approach….

(The Alamo Site) How did you find out about the ALAMO movie and how did you end up playing the part of General Cos?

(Francisco Philibert) I have an agent in Dallas who submitted me for the part. The casting director in Austin, Jo Edna Boldin, already knew me because I auditioned for the role of Gen. Santa Anna in "Two for Texas", about 3 years ago. Though I did not get that part, she liked me and I think she kept me in the back of her mind. I originally auditioned for one of two of Santa Anna's assistants. Then on the call-backs I auditioned for Gral. Castrillón and Col. Batres. I really liked the role of Castrillón, but they chose me for Cos instead. I think the choice was wise because Cástulo Guerra, who played Castrillón, was a more experienced and stronger actor better suited for that role. I learned a lot just watching him work.

(TAS) Did you get to work with any other actors in the film? How was it working with Emilio Echevarria as Santa Anna?

(FP)Yes. The movie was very well cast. I was the "novice" given that this was my first film, and everyone was extremeley helpful and patient with me. I met and worked with many wonderful actors who were great teachers as well. Among my closest actor friends on the set were Mauricio Zatarain (Batres), Cástulo Guerra (Castrillón), Jordi Molla (Seguín), Jesus Frausto (the Mexican corporal whose life is one of the 3 points of view shown in the film) and of course Mr. Echevarría. Meeting Emilio and having the opportunity to work with him was an incredible blessing. He is a consummate actor, and a true gentleman off-camera. He is also a hysterical joke-teller and had us cracking up constantly. But when it came time to work, you could not find a more professional actor than Emilio. He was always ready to do his part well, and always gave each scene much thought as to how he wanted to carry it out. He approched his rendition of Santa Anna with as much diligence and care as any of the finest actors in Hollywood. I truly hope that this movie makes him a "star" here in the U.S. and opens the door to more films. As for the other actors, there are many wonderful things I'd like to tell you about them. But for now, it's enough to say that I will never forget them nor the contribution that they made to my life as an actor and as a person. It was a privilege and an honor to have been part of the Alamo "fraternity".

(TAS) Were there any surprising, funny, or exciting moments that you could share with us?

(FP) I could tell you two hours' worth, at least. Like, when we were getting ready to "execute" Crockett (Billy Bob), and while the camera was shooting Emilio's face only, Billy Bob improvised by throwing a well-intentioned "insult" to Emilio in Spanish, which almost made Emilio and the rest of us totally crack up. It broke what was a very somber moment long enough to give the director a different look on Emilio's face. It turned out that Billy Bob had spent a summer singing for a Mexican rock band along the U.S. border back in his early 20s, and he managed to learn passable Spanish, or at least most of the bad words.

As for a special moment, I'd definitely choose my very first scene in what was my very first movie. It was a VERY cold, dreary day back in February. I had asked to reherase the scene, but no luck. I had asked to ride the horse that would be assigned to me, but no luck either. Instead, I was taken to the set to do my most difficult scene cold, literally and figuratively. I had to crest a hill at the head of my ragtag army that left the Alamo with me (after I had surrendered it to the Texans), only to suddenly and unexpectedly face Santa Anna and the bulk of the Mexican Army, waiting for me completely , 200 yards out. I then had to ride alone the 200 yards, on a horse that I did not know and who was extremely fidgety, half-frozen (both horse and I), very nervous, in front of 400 people and with three Panavision cameras recording every move I made. Then I had to arrive at a precise point right in front of Santa Anna, and deliver a bumbling apology, only to be yelled at by him. In the scene He humiliates me in front of the entire army and forces me to turn my horse around. Managing all those emotions, my nervousness, the humiliation of being a defeated general and the even worse humiliation of breaking my word, which makes extremely angry at Santa Anna, all at the same time pushed me to the wall in my ability as an actor. And remember, this was my first scene. I felt that, as cold as the day was, it had been a trial by fire. On more than one moment during that ordeal I kept asking myself, "now whose idea was it to be an actor??" But the end result was very satisfying. I did my job well and when John Lee came over to personally shake my hand at the end of the movie, I knew that I had survived my initiation as a film actor. Later on he told me that the scene looked awesome and that I would be proud of it. I believe him.

(TAS) What do you hope people will gain after viewing ALAMO?

(FP) An awareness that there were really no winners. It was a sad affair and one that had many sides to it. Remember that the movie tells three of them. There really were no "good guys" or "bad guys", with the exception of Santa Anna who, even by Mexican accounts, was unusually cruel. All the other Alamo protagonists were doing their best to live their lives as best they could, and to stand up for what each believed was right. I hope the film creates an empathy towards both sides, the Texian and the Mexican, and builds a better understanding of a critical chapter in North American history. And the best thing that could happen would be to create a bridge between Texans and Mexicans that would allow us all to recognize the common past that we have, the present that we share, and the future that we can create together.

(TAS) Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on?

(FP) None at the moment, but I'm working hard to change this! I consider myself blessed even if this proves to be my first and last movie. But I have not stopped pursuing any and all opportunities to do a film. That was one of the finest experiences that I have had in my life. It was every bit what I hoped it would be, and then some. It was well worth waiting 8 years to get this chance. I thank God first, and a lot of other people next for helping me achieve that goal.

The discussion continues at The Alamo Site Forums...