Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)

Director:

John Cromwell

Writers:

Robert E. Sherwood (by)
Robert E. Sherwood (screen play)
(more)

Release Date:

19 April 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Kentucky | Election | Marriage | Illinois | 1860s

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Raymond Massey	...	Abe Lincoln
Gene Lockhart	...	Stephen Douglas
Ruth Gordon	...	Mary Todd Lincoln
Mary Howard	...	Ann Rutledge
Minor Watson	...	Joshua Speed
Alan Baxter	...	Billy Herndon
Harvey Stephens	...	Ninian Edwards
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 Mattling
Harlan Briggs	...	Denton Offut
Herbert Rudley	...	Seth Gale
Andy Clyde	...	Stage Driver
Roger Imhof	...	Mr. Crimmin
Edmund Elton	...	Mr. Rutledge
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Rutledge
Florence Roberts	...	Mrs. Bowling Green
George Rosener	...	Dr. Chandler
Trevor Bardette	...	John Hanks
Syd Saylor	...	John Johnston
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Sarah Lincoln
Charles Middleton	...	Tom Lincoln
Alec Craig	...	Trum Cogdall
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erville Alderson	...	Stonewall Jackson (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Onlooker at Debate (uncredited)
Henry Blair	...	Tad Lincoln (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Raft Steerer (uncredited)
Sonny Bupp	...	Willie Lincoln (uncredited)
George Chandler	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Tom Chatterton	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dan Clark	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Wallis Clark	...	Politician (uncredited)
Jane Corcoran	...	Woman on Street (uncredited)
John Cromwell	...	John Brown (uncredited)
Cecil Cunningham	...	Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)
Esther Dale	...	Lincoln's Cook (uncredited)
Dick Elliott	...	Politician (uncredited)
Robert Elliott	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Fern Emmett	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Paul Everton	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Edward Fielding	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Byron Foulger	...	Politician (uncredited)
Peggy Ann Garner	...	Little Girl (uncredited)
Gus Glassmire	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Adda Gleason	...	Maid (uncredited)
Jesse Graves	...	Onlooker at Debate (uncredited)
George Guhl	...	Greeley's Secretary (uncredited)
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
C. Hayes	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Fay Helm	...	Mrs. Seth Gale (uncredited)
Dell Henderson	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Harry Humphries	...	Daniel Webster (uncredited)
George Irving	...	Colonel Robert E. Lee (uncredited)
Selmer Jackson	...	Aide to Stephen Douglas (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Abe's Friend (uncredited)
Victor Kilian	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Middlemass	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Edwin Mills	...	Robert Lincoln (uncredited)
Emory Parnell	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Kathleen Proctor	...	Woman on Street (uncredited)
Lorin Raker	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
William Royle	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Florence Rutledge	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Kathryn Sheldon	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Napoleon Simpson	...	Gobey (uncredited)
John St. Polis	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Landers Stevens	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Guy Usher	...	Douglas's Crony (uncredited)
Edward Van Sloan	...	Dr. Barrett (uncredited)
Bryant Washburn	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Dorothea Wolbert	...	Woman in Store (uncredited)
Ian Wolfe	...	Horace Greeley (uncredited)
William Worthington	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
John Cromwell

Writing credits
Robert E. Sherwood		(by)
Robert E. Sherwood		(screen play)
Grover Jones		(adaptation)

Produced by
Max Gordon	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Hively		(edited by)

Casting by
Charles Richards		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Set Decoration by
Casey Roberts

Makeup Department
James R. Barker	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Don L. Cash	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Fred Frederick	....	wig designer (uncredited)
Doris Harris	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Norbert A. Myles	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Hazel Rogers	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Maurice Seiderman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Harold Lewis	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dewey Starkey	....	assistant director
William Dorfman	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Harry Mancke	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Grayson Rogers	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Carroll Clark	....	associate art director
William Hartman	....	props (uncredited)
Charles Matthews	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	recordist
Dan Kellerber	....	sound stage manager (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	special effects
Horace L. Hulburd	....	special effects (uncredited)
W. Kimpton	....	special effects (uncredited)
D. Kohler	....	special effects (uncredited)
Kenny Koontz	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Emmett Bergholz	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
H.J. Brandon	....	grip (uncredited)
Stan Chandler	....	grip (uncredited)
James Daly	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Eugene Fribourge	....	grip (uncredited)
Earl Gilpin	....	grip (uncredited)
Ledge Haddow	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
William Handy	....	grip (uncredited)
Emil Harris	....	grip (uncredited)
Alexander Kahle	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Jack McCrackin	....	grip (uncredited)
William Monroe	....	electrician (uncredited)
Eddie Pyle	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
William Record	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Walter Plunkett	....	wardrobe
Frank Carr	....	second wardrobe man (uncredited)
Tommy Clark	....	first wardrobe man (uncredited)
Bert Hall	....	wardrobe: Raymond Massey (uncredited)
Ann Landers	....	wardrobe: ladies (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Douglas Travers	....	montage

Other crew
David Robel	....	dance director
Stafford Campbell	....	stand-in: Raymond Massey (uncredited)
Adele Cannon	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Lillian K. Deighton	....	technical director (uncredited)
Corynn Kiehl	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Charles Leonard	....	publicist (uncredited)
Louis Shapiro	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Max Gordon Plays & Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Max Gordon Plays & Pictures Corp.)
• RKO Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1940) (USA) (theatrical) (as An RKO Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV) (syndication)
• Nostalgia Merchant, The (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Odeon Entertainment (2013) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R poster art version)
• Státní Pujcovna Filmu (194?) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• RKO Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• The Playwrights' Company  based on the pulitzer prize play produced by

Also Known As:

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:

After his success playing Lincoln in the film and on Broadway, Raymond Massey began to assume the character in real life. He often appeared at social gatherings dressed in Lincoln-esque attire, assuming a Lincoln-like manner and speech. His friend, the playwright George S. Kaufman, observed, "Massey won't be satisfied until someone assassinates him."

Goofs:

Factual errors: Robert E. Lee is shown wearing a uniform while leading the detachment of Marines that captured John Brown. Lee had been on leave when he was suddenly called back to duty. He actually led the detachment while wearing civilian clothes.

Quotes:

Mentor Graham:Abe carried New Salem by 205 votes to 3.
Jack Armstrong:My boys are out tryin' to find the 3 skunks who voted wrong.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in James Dean (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

John Brown's Body

A beautiful movie about a great American

This movie is breathtaking. It takes us back to a simpler time when America was still a "blank canvas" ready to be filled. Everyone must see this movie and remember the sacrifices that Abe Lincoln made for his beliefs. He gave his life for his country and this movie shows his humble beginnings and the humility of the man. This is what historical film-making is all about. Watch and enjoy!