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

Writers:

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

Stars:

Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

president | neighbor | wife | kentucky | election | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 April 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Abraham Lincoln

Filming Locations:

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Max Gordon Plays & Pictures Corporation,RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original Broadway production of "Abe Lincoln in Illinois " by Robert E. Sherwood opened on October 15, 1938 at the Plymouth Theater, ran for 472 performances and won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 1939.

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Goofs

During the parade bringing Stephen Douglas to town for a Lincoln/Douglas debate in 1858, the band plays bits of the song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", which was not written until 1863.

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Quotes

Mrs. Cairns: Abe, next to my old man, I think you're the homeliest critter I ever saw.
Abraham Lincoln: There's a reason, Mrs. Cairns. When I was two months old I was the handsomest child in Kentucky. My nurse swapped me off for another one that was kinda'... "plain looking."
[Mrs. Cairns breaks into giggly laughter]

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Connections

Referenced in The Oscars (2013)

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Soundtracks

Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by chorus over opening credits

User Reviews

How Lincoln really sounded...

If you've ever wanted to hear what Abe Lincoln sounded like, this is the film you'll want to see. Lincoln is portrayed by the late Canadian actor Raymond Massey - who, amongst many other roles, is also remembered from HG Welles' Things to Come, the screenplay of which was written by HG Welles himself. Early in Massey's career, Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, heard him perform and was struck by the similarity between Massey's speaking voice and that of his father. Since there are no recordings of Lincoln from that era shortly before Edison invented the Gramophone, we have to rely on descriptions of his voice. Some from that time state Lincoln's voice was high-pitched, and that Massey did not do the voice properly - however, I tend to give more credence to a living witness, Lincoln's own eldest son who, though he died 14 years prior to this film, still had the opportunity to see Massey on stage and hear his voice. Massey got it right, and this is one wonderful film - too bad I haven't found it on DVD - the next time it airs on TMC I'll have to record a DVD of it for myself.