Abraham Lincoln (1930)

41% of users liked it
(374 ratings)

To date, this D.W. Griffith epic is the only talking-picture effort to encapsulate the entire life of Abraham Lincoln, from cradle to grave. The script, credited to Stephen Vincent Benet, manages to include all the familiar high points, including Lincoln's tragic romance with Ann Rutledge (Una… More To date, this D.W. Griffith epic is the only talking-picture effort to encapsulate the entire life of Abraham Lincoln, from cradle to grave. The script, credited to Stephen Vincent Benet, manages to include all the familiar high points, including Lincoln's tragic romance with Ann Rutledge (Una Merkel, allegedly cast because of her resemblance to Griffith favorite Lillian Gish), his lawyer days in Illinois, his contentious marriage to Mary Todd (Kay Hammond), his heartbreaking decision to declare war upon the South, his pardoning of a condemned sentry during the Civil War, and his assassination at the hands of John Wilkes Booth (expansively portrayed by Ian Keith). This was D.W. Griffith's first talkie, and the master does his best with the somewhat pedantic dialogue sequences; but as always, Griffith's forte was spectacle and montage, as witness the cross-cut scenes of Yankees and Rebels marching off to war and the pulse-pounding ride of General Sheridan (Frank Campeau) through the Shenandoah Valley. Thanks to the wizardry of production designer William Cameron Menzies, many of the scenes appear far more elaborate than they really were; Menzies can also be credited with the unforgettable finale, as Honest Abe's Kentucky log cabin dissolves to the Lincoln Memorial. As Abraham Lincoln, Walter Huston is a tower of strength, making even the most florid of speeches sound human and credible; only during the protracted death scene of Ann Rutledge does Huston falter, and then the fault is as much Griffith's as his. Road-shown at nearly two hours (including a prologue showing slaves being brought to America), Abraham Lincoln was pared down to 97 minutes by United Artists, and in that length it proved a box-office success, boding well for D.W. Griffith's future in talkies (alas, it proved to be his next-to-last film; Griffith's final effort, The Struggle was a financial disaster). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 37 min.
Directed By: D.W. Griffith
Written By: Stephen Vincent Benét
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 8, 1930 Wide
On DVD: Nov 18, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
An archaic biopic.

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

An episodic, classroom-style retelling of the life of the most famous U.S. president. D.W.Griffith, an unabashed southern sympathizer, lends his sweeping style to a large task: how to fit the ups and downs of the Civil War, no less, into a little less than two hours, and the result… More
An episodic, classroom-style retelling of the life of the most famous U.S. president. D.W.Griffith, an unabashed southern sympathizer, lends his sweeping style to a large task: how to fit the ups and downs of the Civil War, no less, into a little less than two hours, and the result is stilted, static filmmaking, with actors standing in different rooms and reacting to news of the war. Huston does his best but is defeated by Griffith's heavy hand.
Cindy I

This early sound film from D.W. Griffith is almost episodic in its telling of the life of our 16th president. The editing gives the film no flow, but rather the scenes -- all cut down to the barest of information -- seem to each stand alone, as if the film was just a collection of… More
This early sound film from D.W. Griffith is almost episodic in its telling of the life of our 16th president. The editing gives the film no flow, but rather the scenes -- all cut down to the barest of information -- seem to each stand alone, as if the film was just a collection of film clips. There are some well-done miniature sets, and Walter Huston makes a good Honest Abe, but it's clear that Griffith's best work was behind him.
Dimitris S

Hey folks,a Lincoln biography predecessor to the Spielberg triumphant results in a couple of years!Seriously,a well-made film brings in a rather static picture of a legend in U.S. history,be it a worthwhile one or a fraud.This is one of Griffith's lesser moments,probably because… More
Hey folks,a Lincoln biography predecessor to the Spielberg triumphant results in a couple of years!Seriously,a well-made film brings in a rather static picture of a legend in U.S. history,be it a worthwhile one or a fraud.This is one of Griffith's lesser moments,probably because he sensed the tumultuous ending of silent cinema,so he did his best and the performance of Walter Huston stands amongst the flaws.

Cast

            Walter Huston as Abraham Lincoln

            Kay Hammond as Mary Todd Lincoln

            Una Merkel as Ann Rutledge

            Jason Robards Sr. as Herndon

            Ian Keith as John Wilkes Booth

            Hobart Bosworth as Gen. Robert E. Lee

            Frank Campeau as Gen. Sheridan

            Hank Bell
            
            James Bradbury Jr as Gen. Scott

            Robert Brower
            
            Charles Crockett as Sheriff

            Edgar Dearing as Armstrong

            James C. Eagles as Young Soldier

            Mary Forbes as Woman

            Helen Freeman as Nancy Hanks Lincoln

            Otto Hoffman as Offut

            Robert E. Homans as Man

            Henry Kolker as New Englander

            Lucille La Verne as Midwife

            Ralph Lewis
            
            George MacQuarrie
            
            Cameron Prud'Homme as John Hay

            Russell Simpson as Lincoln's Employer

            Carl Stockdale
            
            William L. Thorne as Tom Lincoln

            Gordon Thorpe as Tad Lincoln

            Henry B. Walthall as Col. Marshall

            Helen Ware as Mrs. Edwards

            E. Alyn Warren as Stephen Douglas

            Fred Warren as Gen. U.S. Grant

            Oscar Apfel as Stanton

            Francis Ford as Sheridan's Aide
See full cast