Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)
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80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(401 ratings)
Raymond Massey plays Abe Lincoln in this moving adaptation of Robert Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Expanded a bit for cinematic purposes, the film traces Lincoln's progress from his days of scrambling for a living as a woodsman, to his courtship of the tragic Ann Rutledge (Mary… More Raymond Massey plays Abe Lincoln in this moving adaptation of Robert Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Expanded a bit for cinematic purposes, the film traces Lincoln's progress from his days of scrambling for a living as a woodsman, to his courtship of the tragic Ann Rutledge (Mary Howard) and then the mercurial Mary Todd (Ruth Gordon), to the formative years of his law practice, to his debates with Stephen Douglas (Gene Lockhart), and finally to his election as President of the soon-to-be-divided United States in 1860. Latter-day critics have complained about Massey's stolidity in his signature role, but even the most stone-hearted viewer will be moved by such scenes as Lincoln riding through the ruins of what once was the village of Salem; Abe's heated election-eve quarrel with his spiteful wife Mary; and his climactic speech from the observation car of the train that will carry him to Washington...and immortality. Abe Lincoln at Illinois turned out to be a succes d'estime for its producer Max Gordon and its studio (RKO), taking a bath to the tune of $750,000. Its failure moved one Hollywood wise-guy to collar Gordon at a party and say, "I can't understand it, Max. Lincoln was so kind to everybody but you." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Cromwell
- Written By
- Robert E. Sherwood, Grover Jones
- Genres
- Drama
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Feb 12, 1940 Wide
- Studio
- RKO Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Fine characterization of Lincoln by Raymond Massey with strong period look and feel.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A serviceable biopic.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
John Cromwell's historically inaccurate biopic, which is inferior to Ford's Young Mr. Lincoln, was nonetheless nominated for two Oscars: Raymond Massey and cinematography.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Raymond Massey
as Abraham Lincoln
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Ruth Gordon
as Mary Todd Lincoln
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Gene Lockhart
as Stephen Douglas
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Mary Howard
as Ann Rutledge
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Dorothy Tree
as Elizabeth Edwards
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Harvey Stephens
as Ninian Edwards
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Minor Watson
as Joshua Speed
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Alan Baxter
as Billy Herndon
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Howard Da Silva
as Jack Armstrong
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Aldrich Bowker
as Judge Bowling Green
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Maurice Murphy
as John McNeill
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Louis Jean Heydt
as Mentor Graham
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Clem Bevans
as Ben Battling
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Harlan Briggs
as Denton Offut
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Herbert Rudley
as Seth Gale
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Andy Clyde
as Stage Driver
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Roger Imhof
as Mr. Crimmin
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Leona Roberts
as Mrs. Rutledge
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Edmund Elton
as Mr. Rutledge
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Florence Roberts
as Mrs. Bowling Green
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George Rosener
as Dr. Chandler
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Fay Helm
as Mrs. Seth Gale
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Sid Saylor
as John Johnston
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Elizabeth Risdon
as Sarah Lincoln
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Trevor Bardette
as John Hanks
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Alec Craig
as Trem Cogdall
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Peggy Ann Garner
as Little Girl
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Charles B. Middleton
as Tom Lincoln
- Kate Reid
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John Cromwell
as John Brown
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Napoleon Simpson
as Gobey
