Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington. Director:John Cromwell |
|
| 0Share... |
Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington. Director:John Cromwell |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Raymond Massey | ... | ||
| Gene Lockhart | ... | ||
| Ruth Gordon | ... | ||
|
|
Mary Howard | ... | |
|
|
Minor Watson | ... | |
|
|
Alan Baxter | ... | |
|
|
Harvey Stephens | ... | |
|
|
Howard Da Silva | ... |
Jack Armstrong
(as Howard da Silva)
|
|
|
Dorothy Tree | ... | |
| Aldrich Bowker | ... | ||
|
|
Maurice Murphy | ... | |
|
|
Louis Jean Heydt | ... | |
|
|
Clem Bevans | ... |
Ben Mattling
|
|
|
Harlan Briggs | ... | |
|
|
Herbert Rudley | ... | |
Biopic of Abe Lincoln, 16th President of he United States, from his early days in backwoods Kentucky to his election as President. After a time running livestock to New Orleans, he settles in New Salem where he meets and falls in love with Ann Rutledge who is already engaged to someone. Abe makes a home for himself in New Salem, eventually running a store and becoming the postmaster. He's popular with the locals and is eventually elected to the State legislature but afterward established himself in the practice of law. He eventually meets Mary Todd who would become his wife and and is sent to Washington as a Congressman before he is elected president. Written by garykmcd
Episodic recounting of Lincoln's life up to the Presidency. Written by Robert Sherwood, one of FDR's speechwriters. Good performances by Ruth Gordon, Alan Baxter, Howard DaSilva, Clem Bevans.
Massey is the definitive movie Lincoln. Excellent work, emotional range and depth. Much better than Henry Fonda, whose Lincoln was apparently in some kind of trance.
May seem a little dated to modern audiences; occasionally strives for emotional poignancy that now comes across as somewhat corny.
Lots of little details, good depictions of frontier life, political campaigns in the 1800's. Includes two of Lincoln's best speeches from that period, with Massey's performance very close to Lincoln's 19th century oratorical style.
Highly recommended to students of American history and fans of old movies.