Engrossing and entertaining Lincoln biopic from Old Hollywood. The movie follows Abraham Lincoln (Raymond Massey) from his early days in Kentucky up until his election as President. Lincoln is portrayed here as a melancholy and complex man, reluctant to accept his destiny. Mary Todd (Ruth Gordon) is portrayed as a demanding, ambitious, somewhat unstable woman. Both representations have some basis in fact, although we can never truly paint a clear portrait of people who lived so long before our time. Biographical pictures are never 100% accurate but that doesn't stop them from being enjoyable and informative. This movie gets a lot more right than it gets wrong but that will never stop the nitpickers from trying to tear a good film down. It's a dramatization of a man's life, not a documentary. If you want to learn more details about Lincoln's life, I'm sure your local librarian would fall over his or herself to recommend some good books for you to read.
Surprisingly, the movie was a huge flop for RKO at the time. I'm not sure why but perhaps it's because the John Ford classic Young Mr. Lincoln had come out just the year before. The direction and overall production of the Ford film is probably superior to this one. But the script and more accurate casting (Massey was just born to play Abe) probably leans in favor of this film. Both are great films and I recommend you see each one.
Surprisingly, the movie was a huge flop for RKO at the time. I'm not sure why but perhaps it's because the John Ford classic Young Mr. Lincoln had come out just the year before. The direction and overall production of the Ford film is probably superior to this one. But the script and more accurate casting (Massey was just born to play Abe) probably leans in favor of this film. Both are great films and I recommend you see each one.