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Abe Lincoln in Illinois (film)
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{{short description|1940 film by John Cromwell}} {{about|the 1940 film|the play |Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play) |the 1939 movie | Young Mr. Lincoln | the statue | Young Abe Lincoln}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Abe Lincoln in Illinois | image = Abe_Lincoln_in_Illinois_(film).jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[John Cromwell (director)|John Cromwell]] | producer = [[Max Gordon (producer)|Max Gordon]] | based_on = {{based on|''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|Abe Lincoln in Illinois]]''<br>1938 play|[[Robert E. Sherwood]]}} | writer = [[Grover Jones]] | screenplay = Robert E. Sherwood | narrator = | starring = [[Raymond Massey]]<br/>[[Gene Lockhart]]<br />[[Ruth Gordon]]<br />[[Mary Howard de Liagre|Mary Howard]]<br />[[Minor Watson]]<br />[[Alan Baxter (actor)|Alan Baxter]] | music = [[Roy Webb]] | cinematography = [[James Wong Howe]] | editing = [[George Hively]] | studio = RKO Radio Pictures | distributor = [[RKO Radio Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|1940|04|19}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=5054 | title=Abe Lincoln in Illinois: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date=April 12, 2014}}</ref> | runtime = 110 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $1,004,000<ref name="rko">Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television'', Vol 14 No 1, 1994, p. 58</ref> | gross = $666,000<ref name="rko"/> }} '''''Abe Lincoln in Illinois''''' is a 1940 biographical-drama film that depicts the life of [[Abraham Lincoln]] from his departure from Kentucky until his election as president of the United States. In the UK, the film is known by the alternate title '''''Spirit of the People'''''.<ref>'Radio Times Guide to Film 2017'</ref> The film was adapted by [[Grover Jones]] and [[Robert E. Sherwood]] from Sherwood's 1938 [[Pulitzer Prize for Drama|Pulitzer Prize]]-winning [[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|play of the same name]]. It was directed by [[John Cromwell (director)|John Cromwell]]. The film stars [[Raymond Massey]] and [[Howard da Silva]], who reprised their roles from the original Broadway production of ''[[Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play)|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. The film also marks the screen debut of [[Ruth Gordon]] in the role of [[Mary Todd Lincoln]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Higham | first =Charles | last2=Greenberg | first2=Joel | year = 1968 | title=Hollywood in the Forties | page=108 | publisher=A. Zwemmer Limited | location=London | isbn=978-0-498-06928-4}}</ref> The film received [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nominations for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor in a Leading Role]] (Raymond Massey) and [[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography, Black-and-White]] ([[James Wong Howe]]). ==Plot== Abraham Lincoln leaves home for the first time, having been hired along with two of his friends by [[Denton Offutt]] to take a load of pigs by water to New Orleans. When the boat becomes stuck at a dam at the settlement of New Salem, Abe sees and loses his heart to Ann Rutledge, the daughter of the local tavern keeper. When Denton later offers him a job at his store in New Salem, Abe readily accepts. Abe discovers that Ann already has a beau. However, he makes himself the most popular man in town with his ready, good-natured humor. He takes lessons from schoolteacher [[Mentor Graham]]. When Abe's rival for Ann's affections leaves to improve himself, Ann waits for the man for two years before receiving a letter stating that the man does not know when he will return. Abe seizes the opportunity to express his love for Ann, but she is unsure of her feelings for him and asks for some time. She soon dies from "[[brain fever]]", telling Abe on her deathbed that she could have loved him. Abe is asked to run for the [[Illinois General Assembly]]. He reluctantly accepts and wins, but after his first term in [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], he decides to study the law. When [[Mary Todd Lincoln|Mary Todd]] visits her sister Elizabeth Edwards and her wealthy, influential husband [[Ninian Edwards|Ninian]], a party is held in her honor. All of the eligible bachelors come, including [[Stephen Douglas]], Abe's fiercest political rival. However, it is the homely, unpolished Abe who catches Mary's fancy, much to her sister's chagrin. The ambitious Mary senses greatness in him, and she is determined to drive him to his rightful destiny despite his lack of ambition. Abe proposes marriage but changes his mind at the last minute, discomfited by her drive, and he leaves town. After reflection, he proposes again, and Mary accepts. Years pass, and they have several children. Lincoln runs for a seat in the [[United States Senate|U.S, Senate]] and engages in a [[Lincoln–Douglas debates|series of debates with Stephen Douglas]], the opposing candidate, during which the main issue is [[slavery]]. In a stirring speech, Abe contends that "[[Lincoln's House Divided Speech|a house divided against itself cannot stand]]." With a [[1860 United States presidential election|presidential election looming]], Abe's party is so split that the favorites are unacceptable to all. The party leaders compromise on [[Dark horse|dark-horse]] candidate Lincoln. He is opposed by three other candidates, including Douglas. Abe wins the election, bids his friends goodbye and boards the train for Washington, D.C. ==Cast== {{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * [[Raymond Massey]] as [[Abraham Lincoln]] * [[Gene Lockhart]] as [[Stephen Douglas]] * [[Ruth Gordon]] as [[Mary Todd Lincoln]] * [[Mary Howard de Liagre|Mary Howard]] as [[Ann Rutledge]] * [[Minor Watson]] as [[Joshua Speed]] * [[Alan Baxter (actor)|Alan Baxter]] as [[William Herndon (lawyer)|Billy Herndon]] * [[Harvey Stephens]] as [[Ninian Wirt Edwards|Ninian Edwards]] * [[Howard da Silva]] as Jack Armstrong * [[Dorothy Tree]] as Elizabeth Edwards * [[Aldrich Bowker]] as Judge Bowling Green * [[Maurice Murphy (actor)|Maurice Murphy]] as [[John McNeil]] * [[Louis Jean Heydt]] as [[Mentor Graham]] * [[Clem Bevans]] as Ben Mattling * [[Harlan Briggs]] as [[Denton Offutt|Denton Offut]] * [[Herbert Rudley]] as Seth Gale * [[Andy Clyde]] as Stage Driver * [[Roger Imhof]] as Mr. Crimmin * [[Edmund Elton (actor)|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 Bush Lincoln|Sarah Lincoln]] * [[Charles B. Middleton|Charles Middleton]] as [[Thomas Lincoln|Tom Lincoln]] * [[Alec Craig]] as Trum Cogdall * [[Erville Alderson]] as [[Stonewall Jackson]] (uncredited) * [[Henry Blair (child actor)|Henry Blair]] as [[Tad Lincoln]] (uncredited) * [[Sonny Bupp]] as [[William Wallace Lincoln|Willie Lincoln]] (uncredited) * [[John Cromwell (director)|John Cromwell]] as [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]] (uncredited) * Harry Humphries as [[Daniel Webster]] (uncredited) * [[George Irving (American actor)|George Irving]] as [[Robert E. Lee]] (uncredited) * Edwin Mills as [[Robert Todd Lincoln]] (uncredited) * [[Ian Wolfe]] as [[Horace Greeley]] (uncredited) * [[Esther Dale]] as Lincoln's Cook (uncredited) }} ==Production== RKO paid "upwards of $175,000" for the play's film rights.<ref>"Film Rights $ Up and Up; Hollywood Gets Taken But Presitige Pix Pay." Billboard 55:49 (4 December 1943), 4.</ref> Filming took place in Eugene, Oregon.<ref name="ORfilm">{{cite web | url=http://library.state.or.us/repository/2015/201505210910074/2015.pdf | title=Filmed in Oregon 1908-2015 | work=Oregon Film Council | publisher=Oregon State Library | access-date=December 27, 2015 }}</ref> ==Reception== In a contemporary review for ''[[The New York Times]]'', critic [[Frank Nugent|Frank S. Nugent]] called the film "a grand picture and a memorable biography of the greatest American of them all" and praised Massey's performance: "His Lincoln has acquired, with constant usage of the role, a mellowness, an evenness, an assurance that make the character seem less put on than foreordained by nature and by art. He looks the part, he is the man, he speaks the lines as Lincoln must have spoken them, or should have spoken them. We recognize that it is unfair to take performance for granted, but that will be Mr. Massey's fate: you will simply think of him as Lincoln."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nugent|first=Frank S.|date=1940-02-23|title=The Screen in Review: The Music Hall Celebrates Washington's Birthday With a Brilliant Edition of Sherwood's 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois,' With Raymond Massey and Ruth Gordon|work=[[The New York Times]] |page=19}}</ref> The film recorded a loss of $740,000, making it one of the greatest financial disasters in RKO's history. However, in the states of Illinois and Indiana, where the film was heavily promoted, it became the highest-grossing film in most theaters. Nationwide, it lost attendance to a number of successful films such as ''[[Rebecca (1940 film)|Rebecca]]'', ''[[Foreign Correspondent (film)|Foreign Correspondent]]'', ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', ''[[The Grapes of Wrath (film)|The Grapes of Wrath]]'', ''[[Fantasia (1940 film)|Fantasia]]'', ''[[The Sea Hawk (1940 film)|The Sea Hawk]]'', ''[[Our Town (1940 film)|Our Town]]'', ''[[Santa Fe Trail (film)|Santa Fe Trail]]'', ''[[The Letter (1940 film)|The Letter]]'', ''[[Northwest Passage (film)|Northwest Passage]]'' and ''[[Pride and Prejudice (1940 film)|Pride and Prejudice]]''.<ref name="rko" /> ==Adaptations to other media== ''Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' was dramatized as an hour-long radio play on a broadcast of ''[[Lux Radio Theater]]'' on April 22, 1940, again starring Raymond Massey as Lincoln. It also was adapted in a broadcast from the [[Ford Theatre]] on February 8, 1948. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{wikiquote}} * {{AFI film|5054|Abe Lincoln in Illinois}} * {{IMDb title|0032181|Abe Lincoln in Illinois}} * [https://www.allmovie.com/movie/abe-lincoln-in-illinois-am446 ''Abe Lincoln in Illinois'' at AllMovie] * {{TCMDb title|id=1309|title=Abe Lincoln in Illinois}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|id=abe_lincoln_in_illinois|title=Abe Lincoln in Illinois}} {{John Cromwell}} {{Robert E. Sherwood}} {{Abraham Lincoln}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Abe Lincoln In Illinois (Film)}} [[Category:1940 films]] [[Category:1940s biographical drama films]] [[Category:1940s historical drama films]] [[Category:American biographical drama films]] [[Category:American historical drama films]] [[Category:Films about Abraham Lincoln]] [[Category:American black-and-white films]] [[Category:1940s English-language films]] [[Category:Films scored by Roy Webb]] [[Category:American films based on plays]] [[Category:Films directed by John Cromwell]] [[Category:Films set in Illinois]] [[Category:Films set in the 1850s]] [[Category:Films set in the 1860s]] [[Category:Films shot in Eugene, Oregon]] [[Category:RKO Pictures films]] [[Category:1940s American films]] [[Category:English-language historical drama films]] [[Category:English-language biographical drama films]]
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