Who payed the critics

An unexpected masterpiece

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

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.

Abe Lincoln is one of the most misunderstood figures in American history--perhaps THE most misunderstood. So much of what we assume are facts are actually myths and misrepresentations--some of which were promoted by writers and some by films of the 30s and 40s. While ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS is far from perfect, it is light-years ahead of the other contemporary works in giving a balanced account of Lincoln's life. While heroic in many ways, Lincoln is more of a man in this film and the facts are generally true--and that's a lot more than can be said of such sentimental hogwash as D.W. Griffith's 1930 fiasco ABRAHAM LINCOLN--which is basically one myth after another strung together!! I can say all this because I am well educated about the man and am an American history teacher--so my opinion should mean something.One of the common myths that has abounded was the Ann Rutledge romance. While it's uncertain exactly how much they were in love (was it just a passing romance or something deeper), it's obvious that they were NOT as they were portrayed in ABRAHAM LINCOLN with all of its syrupy sweetness. Read up on the controversy yourself--opinions vary and there's no concrete evidence to prove either extreme. Here in ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS, they seem to take the position that the love between them was just beginning to blossom when she died and that that was about it.Another myth is that Lincoln was 100% against slavery and that he personally freed the slaves (that was actually done by Congress and the 13th amendment). The real life Lincoln, though opposed to slavery, was more concerned with unity and preserving the nation. Fortunately, ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS gets this right--they show Lincoln as being torn by these two divergent interests. Most books and films portray him as "the Great Emancipator"--though Lincoln would have allowed slavery to keep the country from war and he did see class distinctions between the races.The other big myth is that Lincoln was sort of a "dumb hillbilly" and that he stumbled into greatness. While in this film he is a simple man, of sorts, he also is amazingly clever and has a great way with dealing with people. And, occasionally, he was a bit devious. While the film doesn't have a chance to show his political savvy and willingness to "forget" the Constitution during the war in order to keep the country together, he is relatively shrewd in this film.As for Mary Todd, in the film as in real life, she was a conniver and a very unstable woman. While her mental instability was only briefly shown in this film (as in reality--her mental condition greatly deteriorated after her husband was President as well as his death) but at least it was mentioned. Plus, her intense drive was a major focus of the film--as it was in Lincoln's own real life. She was a hard-driving and rather nasty woman if you read more about her (and rather mentally unstable in her later years).As a long-winded teacher, I could go on, but probably should wrap it up now. The film is reasonably accurate and tends to show Lincoln, warts and all--something films up until then neglected. Additionally, Raymond Massey's performance was superb and the film was both entertaining and inspiring. Interestingly enough, Massey was a Canadian and did a much better job than the Americans who have tackled this role.

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.

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