However, the poster shown here on IMBD obviously does not belong with this movie. The movie is about Abraham Lincoln and his son and does not feature headless guitar dudes. It's a pity that IMDb, despite repeated comments to this effect is unwilling to admit to their mistake. It makes me wonder how reliable the rest of their website is. Bad form.
3 Reviews
6 Years Later Still Not That Bad!
citizenservo111 July 2002
So Okay I May Have Been Only 8 Or So When I First Saw It In '95 But When I Saw It Again Just Last Year It Still Was A Very Good Made For T.V Movie.I Think The Best Performance Was By Kris Kristofferson As Abe Lincoln Even Though Jane Curtin As The First Lady Was Above Averege.Well Getting To The Movie it Tells The Story Of The Lincoln Years Through The Eyes of His Young Son Tad Played By Bug Hall.Like I Said Before It Is A Very Good Made For T.V Movie. Key Word Made For T.V.
The son honors the father.
mark.waltz17 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A very enjoyable retelling of the life of the Lincoln family during the White House years, and thus a view of the civil war through the eyes of a child. Bug Hall is an absolute delight as Tad Lincoln, youngest of the three children. Kris Kristofferson plays the loving father, as much of a child at heart as his sons, causing wife Mary Todd (Jane Curtin) to be wife and mother to Abe, showing frustration by Abe's playful nature, but secretly gleeful over this innocent side of the 16th president.
This covers the tragic death of mid son Willie, and with oldest son Robert off at college, the family is nearly torn apart by the tragedy. Then there's the presence of the calm and wise Elizabeth Keckley, a young black woman who bought her freedom and became seamstress to the wife of Jefferson Davis. Through the performance of Margo Moorer, she gains respect from everyone she meets, politely correcting Tad on the use of a racial epithet and smiling gently with him as he expresses his dislike of slavery. When Tad meets General Tom Thumb, he shows even more humanity.
Great performances all around and fine production values, although I found Curtin to be a bit too pretty as Mary Todd Lincoln, even if she was channeling a Shirley MacLaine character with her grouchy and stern demeanor yet secret big heart. This rushes a bit too quickly through the war years, but everything important is documented.
The assassination is not shown, just dealt with as it coming through Tad's memories. I might debate Kristofferson being the equal of Huston, Fonda, Massey and Lewis, but he is strong, if not the dominant character. Young Hall is the heart of the film, although Josh Keaton as the voice of the slightly older Tad is very good, providing the narration. The final reveals a sad ending for this amazing boy which surely added to his mother's mental issues.
This covers the tragic death of mid son Willie, and with oldest son Robert off at college, the family is nearly torn apart by the tragedy. Then there's the presence of the calm and wise Elizabeth Keckley, a young black woman who bought her freedom and became seamstress to the wife of Jefferson Davis. Through the performance of Margo Moorer, she gains respect from everyone she meets, politely correcting Tad on the use of a racial epithet and smiling gently with him as he expresses his dislike of slavery. When Tad meets General Tom Thumb, he shows even more humanity.
Great performances all around and fine production values, although I found Curtin to be a bit too pretty as Mary Todd Lincoln, even if she was channeling a Shirley MacLaine character with her grouchy and stern demeanor yet secret big heart. This rushes a bit too quickly through the war years, but everything important is documented.
The assassination is not shown, just dealt with as it coming through Tad's memories. I might debate Kristofferson being the equal of Huston, Fonda, Massey and Lewis, but he is strong, if not the dominant character. Young Hall is the heart of the film, although Josh Keaton as the voice of the slightly older Tad is very good, providing the narration. The final reveals a sad ending for this amazing boy which surely added to his mother's mental issues.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
