PREMIERE: So, Mr. D., you’re playing General Sam Houston in The Alamo. Must make a born-and-bred Texas boy mighty proud.
The Alamo, to me, is just as big as The Right Stuff—I mean, I grew up in Houston, Space City, and as a kid, my favorite astronaut was Gordo Cooper, so when I got that part it
was like my childhood fantasy. And with The Alamo, well, growing up in Texas, [learning about] the Alamo was almost like being taught religion—so I don’t care what the movie
does opening weekend, just being a part of it was a big deal for me.

For God’s sake, don’t say that—it seems to me you’ve endured an unfair amount of truly terrific films failing already.
Well, I agree with you there. Like Great Balls of Fire—everybody thinks it was a big hit, but it was a bomb. And when The Right Stuff came out, it went right down the tubes, too.

But since 2002’s one-two punch of The Rookie and Far From Heaven, things are going great guns. But, hey, after nearly thirty years onscreen, why the hell won’t Hollywood give you an award?
They did—didn’t I win the Golden Globe for Far From Heaven?

No, Dennis, you did not.
I did get nominated for it, though, right? [laughs] Oh, well, fuck it. I mean . . . Movies: Are we in this for awards? [pregnant pause] Yes, we are! [laughs] Everybody wants to be acknowledged, even if they deny it.

Dennis Quaid as Gen. Sam Houston in The Alamo