The Perfect Tribute (1935)

After delivering an address at the dedication ceremony of the cemetary at Gettysburg, on 19 November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln is disappointed in the crowd's seeming lack of ... See full summary »

Director:

Edward Sloman

Writers:

Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews (story "The Perfect Tribute"), Ruth Cummings

Stars:

Charles 'Chic' Sale, Oscar Apfel, Walter Brennan

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles 'Chic' Sale	...	Abraham Lincoln

Storyline

After delivering an address at the dedication ceremony of the cemetary at Gettysburg, on 19 November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln is disappointed in the crowd's seeming lack of enthusiasm. The following day, while taking a reflective walk around the Capital, he encounters a young boy in urgent need of an attorney. Accompanying him to a nearby hospital, the boy explains that his brother, a Southern soldier wounded in battle, is dying and wants to dictate his will. The young man, eyes bandaged and unconscious of the stranger's identity, regales him with the newspaper's accounting of the eloquent speech and recites as much of it as he is able. He reassures the address's author that the crowd's lack of ovation was because they were too much in awe to move or speak. The President is humbled.

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Plot Keywords:

mgm miniature | bandage over eyes | based on article | 

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Genres:

Short | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 August 1935 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of The Perfect Tribute (1991)

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Soundtracks

America
(uncredited
Music by Samuel Francis Smith
Performed by studio orchestra

User Reviews

The World Will Little Note

In truth, the world didn't pay much attention to Abraham Lincoln's speech at Gettysburg. It was Edward Everett, the man played in this short by Claude King, who made the better noted speech. Everett was an orator in the old sense, fire, brimstone, orotund words. Lincoln's language was simpler, presaging the best of American writing, like Mark Twain or Hemingway. It was only with Lincoln's death and the .... well, calling it a cult would not be far off the mark.... that his genius for simplicity was remembered.

I guess Frank McGlynn, who had been playing Lincoln in the movies for twenty years at this point was busy. Chic Sale, specialist in old rustic types, gives a fine performance, but the makeup looks a bit artificial. Which, of course, it was.