Alamo team defeated by Xmas opening plan

Although trailers and advertising posters have been promoting a Christmas Day release, the Walt Disney Co has taken the unusual step of postponing the opening of The Alamo, saying the much-anticipated film needs more work.

Executives say the delay is unrelated to early mixed reviews by test audiences, who complained that the film, which stars Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett and Dennis Quaid as General Sam Houston, is too long and the characters are not developed.