Abe Lincoln in Illinois

source: Abe Lincoln in Illinois

This film portrays Abe Lincoln's political rise as a man of the people, from his wrestling brawl with town bully Howard da Silva to his failure as a general store owner and his humble beginning in politics as a town postmaster. The film portrays the women in Lincoln's life and the influence they had on him. Perhaps the most influential woman is the one not shown, his mother, but he shares a moving scene with his step mother as he's leaving home, and then with Ann Rutledge, and finally with Mary Todd played in an unusually interesting way by Ruth Gordon. It's perhaps the influence of these women and their uncertain fates that more than balanced Lincoln's well developed humor with a dark and secret melancholy. That aspect is captured through some of the scenes of Massey's Lincoln shot by legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe. Between him, Massey, and Ruth Gordon, this film seems to carry some serious cinematically induced psychological influences.

Raymond Massey earned his only Oscar nomination for "Abe Lincoln in Illinois." Where was the academy fifteen years later when "East of Eden" debuted? Massey was robbed of a supporting nomination but that's another story. Massey was Abe Lincoln. There is no doubt about that. His voice, his actions, his torment, his successes, tragedies et al-they were all so memorably delivered in a positively brilliant performance. We see Abe as a young man. Sadness pursues him with the early loss of his mother and later his wife-to-be Ann Rutledge. As a young lawyer, he meets the politically ambitious and cunning Mary Todd Lincoln. Ruth Gordon portrayed her in an absolutely brilliant performance. Look at your encyclopedia pictures of Mary Todd Lincoln. Her resemblance to Ruth Gordon is phenomenal. Todd, who at one time courted Lincoln's rival, Stephen Douglas, was a scheming, difficult woman. Gordon was sensational as she showed those traits. Who can forget the tantrum she threw when it appeared that Lincoln was losing the 1860 election when the first returns came in? "Go home and tell your mother that I have been elected," the memorable words spoken by Lincoln to his son when he became president-elect. A wonderful early biography of our nation's 16th president. Heartwarming and poignant, a tale for all the ages.

Besides Raymond Massey, a whole flock of actors have been known for playing America's sixteenth president, Henry Fonda, Walter Huston, Sam Waterston, Hal Holbrook, Dennis Weaver, Gregory Peck, John Carradine. Character actor Frank McGlyn practically made a career of playing The Great Emancipator whenever Honest Abe was a character in a film. But the standard has been set by Raymond Massey who did Lincoln in Robert Sherwood's play for 472 performances on Broadway during the 1938-1939 season and he repeats the title role in Abe Lincoln in Illinois for this film version. I've no doubt that Sherwood used as source material for his play a lot of information based on Carl Sandburg's biography, Lincoln the Prarie Years. At that time Sandburg was considered the unofficial custodian of the Lincoln legend and mythology. Of course he based a lot of his work on the biography of Lincoln written by his law partner William Herndon played here by Alan Baxter. Herndon's well known antipathy for Mary Todd Lincoln as the shrewish wife of his good friend comes through her in Ruth Gordon's portrayal. It should be said that Mary Lincoln regarded Herndon as an opportunist drunk and he certainly did have a substance abuse problem. Gene Lockhart as Lincoln's rival Stephen A. Douglas is well done also, though Lockhart was a bit tall for the part. Had Douglas ever been elected president he would have been our shortest president, he was barely over five feet tall. The rivalry between these two was kind of like the Yankees and Red Sox with the Yankees always coming out on top until recent years. Lincoln is still our tallest president at 6'4" so the contrast on the speaking platform at the Lincoln-Douglas debates was really something to see. The only other actor to recreate his stage role besides Massey was Howard DaSilva who played Jack Armstrong. Not the All American hero, but the leader of the local gang of roughnecks who Lincoln beat in a wrestling match and who becomes his lifelong friend. All part of the Lincoln legend carefully preserved by Sandburg and Sherwood. It was one of DaSilva's earliest screen roles. Raymond Massey got an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1940 and he was up against a strong field that included Henry Fonda for The Grapes of Wrath, Charles Chaplin for The Great Dictator, and Laurence Olivier in Rebecca. The winner however was a long-shot, James Stewart for The Philadelphia Story. There was a lot of sentiment that year that Stewart should have received the Oscar the year before for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. So the good Academy voters made up for it this year. It goes that way with Oscar every so often. Abe Lincoln in Illinois still holds up very well although today's historical Lincoln specialists might have different interpretations placed on some of the events you see.

If only we could've cloned Mr. Massey back in 1940, and then waited for a scriptwriter who could take a more controlled hand with historical accuracy than was fashionable in those days, and released the movie today...this remains my favorite treatment of one of my favorite historical figures; Massey seems born to have played Lincoln, from the obvious physical resemblance to the supposed mannerisms, and in doing so far outshines other Lincoln performances (Fonda's and Peck's come to mind). My peeve with the film is with historical detail, and I realize that Hollywood willingly sacrifices accuracy for dramatic artifice without so much as a blush...

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.

Episodic recounting of Lincoln's life up to the Presidency. Written by Robert Sherwood, one of FDR's speechwriters. Good performances by Ruth Gordon, Alan Baxter, Howard DaSilva, Clem Bevans. Massey is the definitive movie Lincoln. Excellent work, emotional range and depth. Much better than Henry Fonda, whose Lincoln was apparently in some kind of trance. May seem a little dated to modern audiences; occasionally strives for emotional poignancy that now comes across as somewhat corny. Lots of little details, good depictions of frontier life, political campaigns in the 1800's. Includes two of Lincoln's best speeches from that period, with Massey's performance very close to Lincoln's 19th century oratorical style. Highly recommended to students of American history and fans of old movies.

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!

Take it from a person who knows the Lincoln story; has lived his whole life the area portrayed in the film. Lincoln practiced law in my home town, and so the folklore and legend of Lincoln the man, was ever impressed upon me. I have relatives in the Ann Rutledge family; and have always thought the film painted an accurate picture of the relationship between Ann and Lincoln, as told to me by family elders. Lincoln, and his humor, are excellently shown; mostly his years near the banks of the Sangamon River. The villages, and people, with their way of speaking are equally accurate. Furthermore, I do not believe any other actor, before or since, has been able to pull off a more striking Lincoln than Massey. He seems to have his mannerisms and dialect just perfect. The only negative thing I can say about the film is that it was shot without color, but what of it; it is as if the old photos of the true Lincoln came alive. It is a must see for all families, and anyone who wants to know how a common man, and often failure, can become swept away by his unknown destiny to become a legend.

1940 was a hard year. The great depression was at it's Zenith. 25% unemployed. This is a story of a truly good man. In fact, A.L. is always rated in the top 5 presidents. I believe he was one of the top 5 greatest men of all time despite the lives lost in the Civil war (The War between the States). Of course there is artistic license here, but this is story telling. Story telling at it's finest.Film making, Acting and production, Magnificent. With no car chases, special effects, Digital renderings, Blood, Sex or Aliens! This film, when it was released gave people hope for the future. I'm 49 and I still get emotional when I watch it. It was a momentous time in Human history when it was happening. Then as now America, remains the last greatest hope for freedom in the world. Is there another? I don't think so. He was elected by the people. He did not Murder his way to power. He upheld the constitution not overthrow it. How could Abe Lincoln know the Nation he would go to war to save and free a people in the process be the lone super power in the world some day. A Nation of laws not men. Think of that when you see this film. It may move you as well. LWA