My 27 Movie A-Z Film-a-thon: Day 26.
A box office bomb. This was the second film John Ford released that year, after Stagecoach, yet it had almost three times the budget. I watched Stagecoach recently, and this one is certainly the more memorable film. It portrays Lincoln as a bastion of sensible earnestness—always trying his hardest to solve disputes, to mediate.
The easiest comparison is To Kill a Mockingbird, with Abraham Lincoln as Atticus Finch. It’s possible Harper Lee never saw this before writing her literary monument, but the similarities are striking. This feels like a prototype for most courtroom movies and TV shows in the 85 years since—for better or worse.
It’s very well made in terms of boosting a well-known political figure into the realm of cultural hero. For a movie that openly embraces mythologized biography, it’s surprisingly accurate. There were at least five details I didn’t realize were true about Mr. Lincoln. If this really was his early life, it deserves a full biography.
Directed by the masterful John Ford, this is in another league of quality compared to To Kill a Mockingbird. The story itself isn’t the strongest element—Lincoln really did teach himself to be a lawyer, and he once won a murder case by submitting a Farmer’s Almanac as evidence. The trial portrayed isn’t historically accurate, but the details are rooted in real events.
This is a story about a man who tries to do what’s right, only to find himself in situations where the right thing is murky or even impossible. Being virtuous and fair can be one of life’s hardest callings. When he defended murderers, he often wasn’t sure if they were innocent or honest.
A John Ford level of polish elevates this film from forgettable to a treasurable gem. The music is lush and nostalgic, the dialogue is sharp, and the characters are worth knowing.
Based on a poem, the film is a great tribute to a man who changed the world slowly, one step at a time. I know it’s largely myth, but I can’t help it—I’m now convinced this man was our nation’s greatest president, and likely always will be.
8/10
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