Lincoln as the first of his films to get the luxe treatment it typically provides. Lincoln apr 15, 20 what ford and spielberg have discovered is that you can take any slice of lincoln s life and put together a very entertaining film. Lincoln s selfconscious historical discourse by first examining the lincoln tradition in classical hollywood cinema best exemplified in 1939 by lincoln in the white house and abe lincoln in illinois, and. Starring henry fonda as the titular character, fords film is less biography than hagiography, structured around a story loosely based on. The film follows lincolns career as a shopkeeper and aspiring politician, his decision to study law, and his move to springfield, illinois to go into law practice. Lincoln 1939, a fine slice of americana that is best served with some of moms apple pie. I recall years ago fonda telling that as a young actor he was understandably nervous about playing abraham lincoln and scared he wouldnt live up to the challenge. Lincoln is a heavily fictionalized account of lincolns life this would be a huge deal in 2015, nobody cared in 1939.
Rather than a bloated, boring biopic, this one shows the future american president only as a young man, trying to find his way in life, and henry fonda portrays lincoln as a. A fictionalized account of the early life of abraham lincoln. Lincoln practically kisses the ground where abe walked. John ford directed and henry fonda stars in the movie. In this dramatized account of his early law career in illinois, abraham lincoln is born into a modest log cabin, where he is encouraged by his first love, ann rutledge, to pursue law. Lincoln apr 15, 20 what ford and spielberg have discovered is that you can take any slice of lincolns life and put together a very entertaining film. Henry fondas great stamp on the lincoln character, directed by john ford and featuring ten years in the presidents life. Lincoln is a 1939 american biographical drama film about the early life of president abraham lincoln, directed by john ford and starring henry fonda. The movie deals with lincolns early years in illinois as a lawyer.
Lincoln is a 1939 american biographical drama film about the early life of president abraham lincoln, directed by john ford and starring henry. The story of abraham lincoln that has never been told a fictionalized account of the early life of the american president as a young lawyer facing his greatest court case. Although lincoln did once use an almanac to win a case, he never participated in a murder trial like the one depicted in the film. Lincoln with exclusive news, pictures, videos and more at. Henry fonda as a young man had much sharper dimension in facial feature, as also recognized in the. This film shows abraham lincoln henry fonda as he rises from a young boy born in a log cabin to a lawyer in springfield, il. Zanuck, received an academy award nomination for best original screenplay. Lincoln 1939, the grapes of wrath 1940, my darling clementine 1946, and she wore a yellow ribbon 1949. Lincoln achieved something unique in historical filmmaking. Lincoln is a 1939 film directed by john ford and starring henry fonda it dramatizes the early adulthood of, you guessed it, abraham lincoln, a period extending from roughly 1832 to 1837. Nevertheless, the performance of henry fonda and the assured, fully engaged direction of john ford placed young mr. Lincoln 1939 took such outrageous liberties with historical fact that its value as a portrait of the nations sixteenth president remains questionable. Im willing to bet that most moviegoers even cinefiles havent seen the film, and id wager that few have ever even heard. Henry fondas great stamp on the lincoln character, directed by john ford and featuring ten years.
Lincoln, 1939, directed by john ford, with henry fonda, alice brady, marjorie weaver, at turner classic movies. Lincoln is transformed from a slackjawed looselimbed young everyman into well, into abe lincoln. He defends two men accused of murder in a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend ann, courts his future wife mary todd, and agrees to go into politics. Henry fonda western movies full length free jesse james 1939 part. Lincoln 1939 starring henry fonda and alice brady on dvd and bluray. Henry fonda as a young man had much sharper dimension in facial feature, as also recognized in the grapes of wrath. The movie won the academy award for best writingoriginal story.
Lincoln goes to hollywood and looks like henry fonda. This was one of the early movies that turned henry fonda in to a major movie star. Lincolns law skills are put to the test when he takes on the difficult task of defending two. A fictionalized account of the early life of the american president as a young lawyer facing his greatest court case. Ford, the great soviet movie maker sergei eisenstein whose 1925 silent film battleship potemkin remains embedded in most critics short lists of the best movies ever made speculated on the one american movie he wished he had made he chose john fords young mr. In this biography of abraham lincoln, the president is wonderfully portrayed by henry fonda. Lincoln, released in 1939 and now on bluray in a new 4k digital restoration from criterion, is a prime example of american mythmaking. Lincolnthe first cardinal masterpiece of director john fords career, and the finest film of that epochal hollywood year 1939been neglected because people fear its a stodgy history lesson. Now available on dvd from the criterion collection is fords intimate valentine to the great emancipator, young mr. Indeed, subsequent readings have denied or dismissed the films historical nature. Lincoln ford had made films that were richer and more effective, eisenstein wrote. This film, their first together, was fords equally poetic and significant followup to the groundbreaking western stagecoach, and in it fonda gives one of the finest.
Lincoln 1939 unrated 1h 40m historical dramas illinois lawyer abraham lincoln henry fonda becomes known for his honesty and solves a murder with a courtroom trick. With henry fonda, alice brady, marjorie weaver, arleen whelan. Because the images of this film combine the iconic with the looseness of the everyday, as young mr. Lincoln marks the first film of the directorstar collaboration of john ford and henry fonda. He moves from a kentucky cabin to springfield, illinois, to begin his law practice. Meet the cast and learn more about the stars of young mr. Howard hawks, a master of genres and the architect of a tough, functional american style of narrative exemplified in. Lincoln, directed by john ford and starring henry fonda. National catholic register henry fondas bestknown performance as a legendary historical character in a john ford film is, of course, as wyatt earp in my darling clementine.
Zanuck fought for control of the film, to the point where ford destroyed unwanted takes for fear the studio would use them in the film. After seeing lincoln i remembered this movie which id seen ages ago and was thrilled that i could download it. He moves from a kentucky cabin to springfield, illinois, to begin his. Lincoln 1939 tt0032155 in this dramatized account of his early law career in illinois, abraham lincoln is born into a modest log cabin, where he is encouraged by his first love, ann rutledge, to pursue law. Ten years in the life of abraham lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. Lincoln new york film fest screening turns oscar race. This film, their first together, was fords equally poetic and significant. Even henry fonda, drafted to play the title role, was reluctant till ford testily explained, this isnt the great emancipator, for god. David, scott and trevor sift right from wrong, by jing, as they discuss this classic slice of americana from 1939. Yet fonda was more aptly cast, and gives a more vivid performance, five years earlier in their lesserknown first collaboration, young mr. Lincoln 1939 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Following her tragic death, lincoln establishes a law practice in springfield, where he meets a young mary todd. Lincoln full movie in hd visit in this dramatized account of his early law career in illinois, ab. John fords fine direction distinguishes this highly fictionalized account of the early life of abraham lincoln. The film follows lincoln during his early years in. Gallery of 16 movie poster and cover images for young mr. This film, their first together, was fords equally poetic and significant followup to the groundbreaking western stagecoach, and in it fonda gives one of the finest performances of his career, as. The year 1939 in film is widely considered the most outstanding one ever, when it comes to the high quality and high attendance at the large set of the best films that premiered in the year considered as a percentage of the population in the united states, canada, and the united kingdom at that time. Lincoln a 1939 classic directed by john ford has some violence, centered around a murder, as well as some talk of hanging, some arguing and threats, and images of an angry mob. Daniel daylewis portrayal of americas 16th president will be compared to that of henry fonda in the 1939 classic young mr. Few american historical figures are as revered as abraham lincoln. Considering the legacy of films left by the great john ford the man who shot liberty valance, the searchers, the grapes of wrath, its a little strange that criterion chose young mr. Lincoln 1939 david csontos, on september 16th, 20 at 6.
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