Abe Lincoln in Illinois (film)

Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Cromwell
Written by	Grover Jones (adaptation)
Screenplay by	Robert E. Sherwood
Produced by	Max Gordon
Starring	Raymond Massey Gene Lockhart Ruth Gordon Mary Howard Minor Watson Alan Baxter
Cinematography	James Wong Howe
Edited by	George Hively
Music by	Roy Webb
Distributed by	RKO Radio Pictures
Release date	April 19, 1940 (1940-04-19)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,004,000
Box office	$666,000

Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a 1940 biographical film which tells the story of the life of Abraham Lincoln from his departure from Kentucky until his election as President of the United States.

The film stars Raymond Massey and Howard Da Silva, who revived their roles from the original Broadway production of Abe Lincoln in Illinois playing Abe Lincoln and Jack Armstrong respectively. Herbert Rudley, who had portrayed Seth Gale in the play, also repeated his role in the film version. This film was the screen acting debut of Ruth Gordon as Mary Todd Lincoln.

The movie was adapted by Grover Jones and Robert E. Sherwood from Sherwood's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. It was directed by John Cromwell.

The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Raymond Massey) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (James Wong Howe).

Plot

Abe Lincoln (Raymond Massey) leaves home for the first time, having been hired along with two of his friends by Denton Offut (Harlan Briggs) to take a load of pigs by water to New Orleans. When the boat gets stuck at a dam at the settlement of New Salem, Abe first sees and loses his heart to Ann Rutledge (Mary Howard), the beautiful daughter of the local tavern keeper. Thus, when Denton later offers him a job at the store he has decided to set up in New Salem, Abe readily accepts.

Abe discovers however that Ann already has a beau. Nonetheless, he settles in, making himself the most popular man around with his ready, good-natured humor, and taking lessons from schoolteacher Mentor Graham (Louis Jean Heydt). When his rival for Ann's affections leaves to better himself, Ann waits for him two years before receiving a letter from him in which he states he does not know when he will return. Abe seizes the opportunity to express his love for her; she is unsure of her feelings for him and asks for a little time. Alas, she dies soon after of "brain fever", telling Abe on her deathbed that she could have loved him.

Abe is asked to run for the State Assembly. He reluctantly accepts and wins, but after his first term in Springfield, Illinois, he decides to study the law instead. When Mary Todd (Ruth Gordon) visits her sister Elizabeth Edwards (Dorothy Tree) and her wealthy, influential husband Ninian (Harvey Stephens), a party is held in her honor. All the eligible bachelors show up, including Abe's fiercest political rival, Stephen Douglas (Gene Lockhart). However, it is the homely, unpolished Abe who catches Mary's fancy, much to her sister's chagrin. Ambitious, Mary senses greatness in him and is determined to drive him to his rightful destiny, despite his lack of ambition. Abe does ask her to marry him, but changes his mind at the last minute, discomfited by her drive, and leaves town. After thinking things over, however, he asks for her hand again. She accepts. Years pass, and they have several children.

With a presidential election looming, Abe's party is so split that none of the favorites is acceptable to all. The party leaders compromise on "dark horse" Abe Lincoln. He engages in a series of debates with Stephen Douglas, the opposing candidate. One of the main issues is slavery. In a stirring speech, Abe contends that "a house divided against itself cannot stand". He wins the election. As the film ends, Abe bids his friends goodbye and boards the train to go to Washington, DC.

Cast

• Raymond Massey as Abraham Lincoln
• Gene Lockhart as Stephen Douglas
• Ruth Gordon as Mary Todd Lincoln
• Mary Howard as Ann Rutledge
• Minor Watson as Joshua Speed
• Alan Baxter as Billy Herndon
• Harvey Stephens as Ninian Edwards
• Howard Da Silva as Jack Armstrong (as Howard da Silva)
• Dorothy Tree as Elizabeth Edwards
• Aldrich Bowker as Judge Bowling Green
• Maurice Murphy as John McNeil
• Louis Jean Heydt as Mentor Graham
• Clem Bevans as Ben Mattling
• Harlan Briggs as Denton Offut
• Herbert Rudley as Seth Gale
• Andy Clyde as Stage Driver
• Roger Imhof as Mr. Crimmin
• Edmund Elton as Mr. Rutledge
• Leona Roberts as Mrs. Rutledge
• Florence Roberts as Mrs. Bowling Green
• George Rosener as Dr. Chandler
• Trevor Bardette as John Hanks
• Syd Saylor as John Johnston
• Elisabeth Risdon as Sarah Lincoln
• Charles Middleton as Tom Lincoln
• Alec Craig as Trum Cogdall
• John Cromwell as John Brown (uncredited)

Reception

The film recorded a loss of $740,000, making it one of the biggest financial disasters in RKO's history.

Adaptations to other media

Abe Lincoln in Illinois was dramatized as an hour-long radio play on the April 22, 1940 broadcast of Lux Radio Theater, again starring Raymond Massey as Lincoln. It was also adapted to the February 8, 1948 broadcast of the Ford Theatre.

External links

• Abe Lincoln in Illinois at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
• Abe Lincoln in Illinois at IMDb
• Abe Lincoln in Illinois at AllMovie
• Abe Lincoln in Illinois at the TCM Movie Database
• Abe Lincoln in Illinois at Rotten Tomatoes