Two things especially appealed to me. First was the fact (as shown in the special reels) that they had a brief biography of ever Alamo defender, and every actor and extra - even the ones with no speaking parts - knew exactly who they were playing. The other was that they took it to its conclusion at San Jacinto.
This is the anniversary of the real battle, not the movie, but no matter how much history I read I always find that a good movie such as this one makes it more real for me.
[edit] Which reminds me, I guess I'd better set aside the time tonight to watch it again.
[edit 2] I just found this fascinating little footnote to history. What's even more fascinating is that several of these events found their way into the newer movie.
http://latinamericanhistory.about.co...-The-Alamo.htm