Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Robert E. Sherwood (play)
Grover Jones (adaptation)

Release Date:

12 February 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

Covers the period from Lincoln's early years as a Kentucky woodsman until his election to the Presidency in 1860...

Plot Keywords:

Woodsman | 1860s | Illinois | Territory Name In Title | Political Campaign

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Raymond Massey	...	Abraham Lincoln
Gene Lockhart	...	Stephen Douglas
Ruth Gordon	...	Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Howard	...	Ann Rutledge
Minor Watson	...	Joshua Speed
Harvey Stephens	...	Ninian Edwards
Alan Baxter	...	Billy Herndon
Howard Da Silva	...	Jack Armstrong (as Howard da Silva)
Dorothy Tree	...	Elizabeth Edwards
Aldrich Bowker	...	Judge Bowling Green
Maurice Murphy	...	John McNeil
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Mentor Graham
Clem Bevans	...	Ben Mattingly
Harlan Briggs	...	Denton Offut
Herbert Rudley	...	Seth Gale

Also Known As:

Spirit of the People (UK)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Spain:7 | USA:Approved (PCA #5619) | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Company:

Max Gordon Plays & Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Herbert Rudley repeats his role from the original stage production.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The song "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is played and sung by a choral group in the last scene as he is going to Washington to become President, in 1861. The song was written by Julia Ward Howe in 1861, but after Lincoln had been inaugurated and the Civil War had started.

Quotes:

Mentor Graham: Well, Abe, there are always two occupations open to those who have failed at everything else: school teaching and politics.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis: Zelda, Get Off My Back (#2.17)" (1961)

Soundtrack:

Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness

Execellent beyond belief!!

I absolutely loved this movie! maybe it is because I am a history buff but I thought it was wonderful!. I am currently doing a project on Abraham Lincoln where my friends and I on working on a student directed film about Abraham Lincoln and you can not imagine how much this movie has helped me. This movie tells the tale of one of the greatest man in history and how he evolved along the way to become even greater. I can only hope that this movie will help someone see the wonders of his life as it helped me and as Honest Abe helped so many other people. I loved it when they showed his debate with Stephen Douglas. That was really the highlight of the movie because it showed him giving his real opinion and it caught my attention. His speech was amazing!! 10 thumbs up!!!! :D