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Abe Lincoln in Illinois

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86% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In the early 1830s, a youthful Abraham Lincoln (Raymond Massey) departs his home in Kentucky to study law and make a name for himself. While traveling to New Orleans to deliver several pigs he raised with his father, Abe meets Ann Rutledge (Ruth Gordon) in the sleepy hamlet of New Salem, Illinois. Abe returns to the town, starts a business and marries Ann before slowly working his way toward politics and the fateful future that will see him become one of America's most iconic presidents.
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Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/07/2024
If you want attitudes, a five-gallon hat, famous incidents, and One Nation Indivisible, they're all here. As a picture and as a whole, it just doesn't stick. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/17/2022
3/4
If Young Mr. Lincoln, starring Henry Fonda, offers a smoother ride from first frame to last, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, released approximately 10 months later, offers a greater number of individual scenes that serve to energize and inspire. Go to Full Review
John Kinloch California Eagle 10/29/2019
The most distinguished motion picture of the year. Go to Full Review
Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 01/01/2008
4/5
Fine characterization of Lincoln by Raymond Massey with strong period look and feel. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 07/05/2006
B
A serviceable biopic. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 01/27/2006
B-
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. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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steve d 07/22/2020 It all hinges on Raymond Massey, and he is fantastic. See more Thomas M @TMProofreader 01/26/2019 The best inspiring movie ever made! See more 04/07/2018 Setting aside the obligatory acting and contrivance problems of the time, it's very good. It paints a compelling portrait of an interesting and admirable historical figure, and I like the choice to just look at the time in Illinois and end as he is heading to Washington. The unvarnished portrait of turbo-bitch Mary Todd is fascinating and adds to the credibility of the whole thing. 7.8 out of 10 See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 04/26/2017 Abe Lincoln in Illinois is an incredible film. It is about humble Abraham Lincoln who gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860. Raymond Massey and Gene Lockhart give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. John Cromwell did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and history. See more 01/24/2017 A simple tale of Honest Abe Lincoln, with a well cast Canadian as the lead. Massey's performance is excellent as he had already played the part in the Broadway play this biopic was based on. See more 09/21/2016 Abe Lincoln in Illinois 1940 I think that Abraham Lincoln looked too old at the start of the film. This film mostly covers Abraham Lincoln starting from his early love history but not told but in an idealized fashion. We see John Brown at Harpers Ferry captured and arrested by Robert E. Lee with Down Brown holding his dieing son in his arms but does not show what John Brown actually did to try to end slavery at It covers a little bit on Lincoln's political carrier. I find some of the details exaggerated and mythical rather than historically correct. This film also jumps to events and skips a lot of information. It hints at events and covers the Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln presidential debate. I think that some of the letters, newspapers, and text are not put on the screen long enough to read them all. We see Lincoln family about to get a family portrait but they keep finding a way to move and get out of taking the photo. Chicago Tribute made appointment for photographer to take family portrait for the campaign. Stephen Douglas has own cheering parade as he arrives into the town. I thought it was interesting how at the Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate a reporter was writing his words in Morris code on paper to send in the telegraph rather than written out in words. The actor playing Lincoln looked like Lincoln but I think that this film missed something because it is told in a boring way and not in a way that really adds anything to his background or those characters sounding Lincoln's life. I have seen better Abraham Lincoln films. See more Read all reviews
Abe Lincoln in Illinois

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the early 1830s, a youthful Abraham Lincoln (Raymond Massey) departs his home in Kentucky to study law and make a name for himself. While traveling to New Orleans to deliver several pigs he raised with his father, Abe meets Ann Rutledge (Ruth Gordon) in the sleepy hamlet of New Salem, Illinois. Abe returns to the town, starts a business and marries Ann before slowly working his way toward politics and the fateful future that will see him become one of America's most iconic presidents.
Director
John Cromwell
Producer
Max Gordon
Screenwriter
Grover Jones, Robert E. Sherwood
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Pictures
Genre
Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 12, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 22, 2009
Runtime
1h 50m
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