[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Abraham Lincoln

Original title: Abe Lincoln in Illinois
  • 1940
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Raymond Massey in Abraham Lincoln (1940)
Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.
Play trailer1:44
1 Video
9 Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.

  • Director
    • John Cromwell
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood
    • Grover Jones
  • Stars
    • Raymond Massey
    • Gene Lockhart
    • Ruth Gordon
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Cromwell
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Sherwood
      • Grover Jones
    • Stars
      • Raymond Massey
      • Gene Lockhart
      • Ruth Gordon
    • 42User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    DVD Trailer
    Trailer 1:44
    DVD Trailer

    Photos8

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast80

    Edit
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Abe Lincoln
    Gene Lockhart
    Gene Lockhart
    • Stephen A. Douglas
    Ruth Gordon
    Ruth Gordon
    • Mary Todd Lincoln
    Mary Howard
    Mary Howard
    • Ann Rutledge
    Minor Watson
    Minor Watson
    • Joshua Speed
    Alan Baxter
    Alan Baxter
    • Billy Herndon
    Harvey Stephens
    Harvey Stephens
    • Ninian Edwards
    Howard Da Silva
    Howard Da Silva
    • Jack Armstrong
    • (as Howard da Silva)
    Dorothy Tree
    Dorothy Tree
    • Elizabeth Edwards
    Aldrich Bowker
    Aldrich Bowker
    • Judge Bowling Green
    Maurice Murphy
    Maurice Murphy
    • John McNeil
    Louis Jean Heydt
    Louis Jean Heydt
    • Mentor Graham
    Clem Bevans
    Clem Bevans
    • Ben Mattling
    Harlan Briggs
    Harlan Briggs
    • Denton Offut
    Herbert Rudley
    Herbert Rudley
    • Seth Gale
    Andy Clyde
    Andy Clyde
    • Stage Driver
    Roger Imhof
    Roger Imhof
    • Mr. Crimmin
    Edmund Elton
    • Mr. Rutledge
    • Director
      • John Cromwell
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Sherwood
      • Grover Jones
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews42

    7.32.2K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    9jpowell180

    How Lincoln really sounded...

    If you've ever wanted to hear what Abe Lincoln sounded like, this is the film you'll want to see. Lincoln is portrayed by the late Canadian actor Raymond Massey - who, amongst many other roles, is also remembered from HG Welles' Things to Come, the screenplay of which was written by HG Welles himself. Early in Massey's career, Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, heard him perform and was struck by the similarity between Massey's speaking voice and that of his father. Since there are no recordings of Lincoln from that era shortly before Edison invented the Gramophone, we have to rely on descriptions of his voice. Some from that time state Lincoln's voice was high-pitched, and that Massey did not do the voice properly - however, I tend to give more credence to a living witness, Lincoln's own eldest son who, though he died 14 years prior to this film, still had the opportunity to see Massey on stage and hear his voice. Massey got it right, and this is one wonderful film - too bad I haven't found it on DVD - the next time it airs on TMC I'll have to record a DVD of it for myself.
    9RanchoTuVu

    a legitimate shot at presenting the real Abe

    This film portrays Abe Lincoln's political rise as a man of the people, from his wrestling brawl with town bully Howard da Silva to his failure as a general store owner and his humble beginning in politics as a town postmaster. The film portrays the women in Lincoln's life and the influence they had on him. Perhaps the most influential woman is the one not shown, his mother, but he shares a moving scene with his step mother as he's leaving home, and then with Ann Rutledge, and finally with Mary Todd played in an unusually interesting way by Ruth Gordon. It's perhaps the influence of these women and their uncertain fates that more than balanced Lincoln's well developed humor with a dark and secret melancholy. That aspect is captured through some of the scenes of Massey's Lincoln shot by legendary cinematographer James Wong Howe. Between him, Massey, and Ruth Gordon, this film seems to carry some serious cinematically induced psychological influences.
    nosoapradio

    Holds up pretty well

    Episodic recounting of Lincoln's life up to the Presidency. Written by Robert Sherwood, one of FDR's speechwriters. Good performances by Ruth Gordon, Alan Baxter, Howard DaSilva, Clem Bevans.

    Massey is the definitive movie Lincoln. Excellent work, emotional range and depth. Much better than Henry Fonda, whose Lincoln was apparently in some kind of trance.

    May seem a little dated to modern audiences; occasionally strives for emotional poignancy that now comes across as somewhat corny.

    Lots of little details, good depictions of frontier life, political campaigns in the 1800's. Includes two of Lincoln's best speeches from that period, with Massey's performance very close to Lincoln's 19th century oratorical style.

    Highly recommended to students of American history and fans of old movies.
    8planktonrules

    While not "gospel", it sure sticks much closer to the truth than other Lincoln films of the era

    Abe Lincoln is one of the most misunderstood figures in American history--perhaps THE most misunderstood. So much of what we assume are facts are actually myths and misrepresentations--some of which were promoted by writers and some by films of the 30s and 40s. While ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS is far from perfect, it is light-years ahead of the other contemporary works in giving a balanced account of Lincoln's life. While heroic in many ways, Lincoln is more of a man in this film and the facts are generally true--and that's a lot more than can be said of such sentimental hogwash as D.W. Griffith's 1930 fiasco ABRAHAM LINCOLN--which is basically one myth after another strung together!! I can say all this because I am well educated about the man and am an American history teacher--so my opinion should mean something.

    One of the common myths that has abounded was the Ann Rutledge romance. While it's uncertain exactly how much they were in love (was it just a passing romance or something deeper), it's obvious that they were NOT as they were portrayed in ABRAHAM LINCOLN with all of its syrupy sweetness. Read up on the controversy yourself--opinions vary and there's no concrete evidence to prove either extreme. Here in ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS, they seem to take the position that the love between them was just beginning to blossom when she died and that that was about it.

    Another myth is that Lincoln was 100% against slavery and that he personally freed the slaves (that was actually done by Congress and the 13th amendment). The real life Lincoln, though opposed to slavery, was more concerned with unity and preserving the nation. Fortunately, ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS gets this right--they show Lincoln as being torn by these two divergent interests. Most books and films portray him as "the Great Emancipator"--though Lincoln would have allowed slavery to keep the country from war and he did see class distinctions between the races.

    The other big myth is that Lincoln was sort of a "dumb hillbilly" and that he stumbled into greatness. While in this film he is a simple man, of sorts, he also is amazingly clever and has a great way with dealing with people. And, occasionally, he was a bit devious. While the film doesn't have a chance to show his political savvy and willingness to "forget" the Constitution during the war in order to keep the country together, he is relatively shrewd in this film.

    As for Mary Todd, in the film as in real life, she was a conniver and a very unstable woman. While her mental instability was only briefly shown in this film (as in reality--her mental condition greatly deteriorated after her husband was President as well as his death) but at least it was mentioned. Plus, her intense drive was a major focus of the film--as it was in Lincoln's own real life. She was a hard-driving and rather nasty woman if you read more about her (and rather mentally unstable in her later years).

    As a long-winded teacher, I could go on, but probably should wrap it up now. The film is reasonably accurate and tends to show Lincoln, warts and all--something films up until then neglected. Additionally, Raymond Massey's performance was superb and the film was both entertaining and inspiring. Interestingly enough, Massey was a Canadian and did a much better job than the Americans who have tackled this role.
    8bkoganbing

    The Lincoln Standard

    Besides Raymond Massey, a whole flock of actors have been known for playing America's sixteenth president, Henry Fonda, Walter Huston, Sam Waterston, Hal Holbrook, Dennis Weaver, Gregory Peck, John Carradine. Character actor Frank McGlyn practically made a career of playing The Great Emancipator whenever Honest Abe was a character in a film. But the standard has been set by Raymond Massey who did Lincoln in Robert Sherwood's play for 472 performances on Broadway during the 1938-1939 season and he repeats the title role in Abe Lincoln in Illinois for this film version.

    I've no doubt that Sherwood used as source material for his play a lot of information based on Carl Sandburg's biography, Lincoln the Prarie Years. At that time Sandburg was considered the unofficial custodian of the Lincoln legend and mythology. Of course he based a lot of his work on the biography of Lincoln written by his law partner William Herndon played here by Alan Baxter. Herndon's well known antipathy for Mary Todd Lincoln as the shrewish wife of his good friend comes through her in Ruth Gordon's portrayal. It should be said that Mary Lincoln regarded Herndon as an opportunist drunk and he certainly did have a substance abuse problem.

    Gene Lockhart as Lincoln's rival Stephen A. Douglas is well done also, though Lockhart was a bit tall for the part. Had Douglas ever been elected president he would have been our shortest president, he was barely over five feet tall. The rivalry between these two was kind of like the Yankees and Red Sox with the Yankees always coming out on top until recent years. Lincoln is still our tallest president at 6'4" so the contrast on the speaking platform at the Lincoln-Douglas debates was really something to see.

    The only other actor to recreate his stage role besides Massey was Howard DaSilva who played Jack Armstrong. Not the All American hero, but the leader of the local gang of roughnecks who Lincoln beat in a wrestling match and who becomes his lifelong friend. All part of the Lincoln legend carefully preserved by Sandburg and Sherwood. It was one of DaSilva's earliest screen roles.

    Raymond Massey got an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1940 and he was up against a strong field that included Henry Fonda for The Grapes of Wrath, Charles Chaplin for The Great Dictator, and Laurence Olivier in Rebecca. The winner however was a long-shot, James Stewart for The Philadelphia Story. There was a lot of sentiment that year that Stewart should have received the Oscar the year before for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. So the good Academy voters made up for it this year. It goes that way with Oscar every so often.

    Abe Lincoln in Illinois still holds up very well although today's historical Lincoln specialists might have different interpretations placed on some of the events you see.

    More like this

    Juarez
    6.9
    Juarez
    The Actress
    6.4
    The Actress
    Quand le jour viendra
    7.1
    Quand le jour viendra
    Beau Geste
    7.5
    Beau Geste
    Madame Curie
    7.2
    Madame Curie
    Le chevalier de Londres
    7.3
    Le chevalier de Londres
    Âmes libres
    6.6
    Âmes libres
    Pris au piège
    6.6
    Pris au piège
    Abe Lincoln in Illinois
    8.3
    Abe Lincoln in Illinois
    Affaire ultra-secrète
    6.2
    Affaire ultra-secrète
    Désirs secrets
    6.8
    Désirs secrets
    Marie Walewska
    6.5
    Marie Walewska

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After his success playing Lincoln in the film and on Broadway, Raymond Massey began to assume the character in real life. He often appeared at social gatherings dressed in Lincoln-esque attire, assuming a Lincoln-like manner and speech. His friend, the playwright George S. Kaufman, observed, "Massey won't be satisfied until someone assassinates him."
    • Goofs
      When results for the 1860 election are being received, West Virginia is listed on the the state-by-state tally board. West Virginia didn't become a state until 1863, when it broke off from Virginia after that state had seceded from the Union.
    • Quotes

      Mentor Graham: Well, Abe, there are always two occupations open to those who have failed at everything else: school teaching and politics.

    • Connections
      Featured in History Brought to Life (1950)
    • Soundtracks
      Old Abe Lincoln Came Out of the Wilderness
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Sung by chorus over opening credits

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ

    • How long is Abe Lincoln in Illinois?
      Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 19, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • El libertador
    • Filming locations
      • Eugene, Oregon, USA
    • Production companies
      • RKO Radio Pictures
      • Max Gordon Plays & Pictures Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,451,880
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Raymond Massey in Abraham Lincoln (1940)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Abraham Lincoln (1940) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.