Dorathen
Better Late Then Never
Ogosmith
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Payno
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
evening1
I enjoyed this depiction of Lincoln's early years much more than I'd thought, due largely to the compelling characterization provided by Raymond Massey, an actor I'd never noticed before.Abe is charming, endearing, and always fun to watch and listen to. I also enjoyed the depiction of early frontier life in the turbulent years before the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln tackling a runaway hog? It was easy to share the joy this episode brought to both he and the lovely Ann Rutledge.Yet it was sad to witness this homebody getting sucked in by the needs of others, from his status-hungry snob of a wife to plain old folks who wanted a great leader. Abe starts out in life a thoughtful, perhaps melancholy lad, and evolves into a duty-bound man who is clearly depressed, if not henpecked to boot.(I hadn't recognized Ruth Gordon until the final credits. It's ironic that her career spans this role, in which she's dour and unlikeable, and that of "Harold and Maude," where she epitomized a zest for living.) My only complaint about this film is its limited focus. I know it was based on a play that was similarly circumscribed, but I'd have loved to accompany Abe on that train ride and beyond, to observe the really historic part of his career.
allvnev
I have seen this film probably 15 times or more and have been a devotee of the Lincoln mythology (for lack of a better term) for nearly 20 years. I remember first seeing the film as a youngster on the same weekend as the death and funeral of President Kennedy in November of 1963. At that time, the two scenes that struck me as most memorable to my young mind was the one where the local woman tells Lincoln that he is the homeliest man in the county; and, the other scene where Lincoln is telling the slightly off-color joke to a crowd about the man fighting the bear. Also, another visual that sticks in my memory is the somewhat haunting scene where Lincoln revisits New Salem after the once thriving city has become a ghost-town. There are several marvelous aspects of this movie. To begin with, is the near perfect physical and emotional representation of Lincoln by Raymond Massey. Given the photographs of the pre-president Lincoln, making Massey into sixteenth president seems nearly ordained from the beginning. The height, facial structure, and body type is nearly a perfect fit. Regarding how Lincoln spoke, it is hard to determine if that is an accurate representation or not. Historical accounts of Lincoln says that he had a rather high and not necessarily soothing voice. Since, it would be another 30 plus years before there is any kind of recording device, Massey's voice should seem appropriate enough.Additionally, the cinematography is excellent. The on-location or natural shots are superior by black and white standards. Even though I am a devotee of black and white films, color films seem to have the upper hand when filming wide-open or rustic environments. The feel of the indoor scenes such as the ones within the Lincoln Springfield home is nearly perfect for the times. You can virtually smell the cigar smoke or the burning wood stove. Finally, the lighting during the campaign speech scenes are awesome. But, the best part of the movie is how even with some artistic license the characters surrounding Lincoln are historically strong and represent in a film microcosm a very accurate historical reality of Lincoln's early years. For example, starting with Ruth Gordon's portrayal of Mary Linoln Todd. With her character, you can easily feel how much she effected Lincoln. Her persistent pressure on Lincoln to achieve political importance and her hard-nose, sometimes loving, sometimes bitter prescience is from my historical reading just about perfect. Since the film takes place before Lincoln is actually president, Mary Todd Lincoln's shenanigans within the White House or her emotional unraveling in her later years is not an issue here. The romance demonstrated between Lincoln and Ann Rutledge, although later to be historically challenged, then even later to be considered historically (possibly) significant, is quite sadly moving. It is nicely juxtaposition-ed against the image of Mary Lincoln Todd. Howard De Silva as New Salem's local ruffian is although somewhat embellished, still represents Lincoln's ability to relate to people from all walks of life. The film just seems to find the vital essence of young Lincoln before he became president. The surreal, final scene of Lincoln leaving Springfield for Washington D.C. (again although actually happening during the day during a rainstorm)after giving one of his many great historical speeches ("this is where I have lived") catches the eerie but profound feel of how important his leadership is going to mean to the struggling republic. The playing of the "Battle Hymnn of the Republic" although premature, is still simple perfect.
edwagreen
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.
peter-czegledi
Raymond Massey's portrayal of Abraham Lincoln during his rebuttal of Stephen A Douglas towards the end of the movie is the most fantastic combination of great content and great acting I have ever seen. His farewell speech at the very end of the movie is wonderful too. The rest of the movie is also top quality.On www.answers.com I read: Early in Massey's career, Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln (1843-1926), heard Massey perform and was struck by the close similarity of Massey's speaking voice to that of his father.In the end it's hard to separate Mr. Massey from Abraham Lincoln. Isn't that what great acting is all about? Moreover, even if you appreciated our 16th president before, this movie will make you feel that your appreciation was severely lacking. My hope is that these fine gentlemen are now in a place where they can both be proud to be associated with the other.Some irony, though. Both Raymond Massey (who played Abraham Lincoln) and Gene Lockhart (who played Stephen A Douglas and was the father of June Lockhart) were born in Canada. A small price to pay in the name of American patriotism.