Henry Fonda as Abraham Lincoln

Lynch mob scene from Young Mr. Lincoln (1939), starring Henry Fonda and directed by John Ford.

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• Henry
• Fonda
• Abraham
• Lincoln
• John
• Ford
• Springfield
• Illinois

[jpowell180]

Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a much better film than this one...this one seems dumbed down by comparison, and Raymond Massey made a much better Lincoln (even one of Lincoln's sons said he sounded just like the man)..

[maxpowers518]

@jpowell180 You sure about that? Robert T. Lincoln died many years before the play and both movies.

[grabit1]

I suggest that you watch more John Ford. He might not even disgree.

But he'll always know that he made a masterpiece. You can go on now.

[agatematt]

Henry Fonda twice tried to back out of taking on the role of playing Lincoln because he did not consider himself good enough to play the 16th president. Finally, he was sent to Director John Ford who soon set the young actor straight. "Who do you think you are going to play up there on the screen --- the Great Emancipator? You're going to be playing a young rough and tumble jackleg lawyer," Fonda gave in and played to role just that way.

[MStrat1106]

One of John Ford's most memorable films, and not at all the tedious bummer that the title suggests. Fonda is funny and poignant as the drawling, awkward young lawyer, and this scene is one of the best in the film. I rather think Harper Lee borrowed the idea for Atticus Finch's jailhouse standoff in To Kill a Mockingbird from this scene. Marvelous throughout!

[grabit1]

Abe Lincoln in Illinois was a fine film, but I think you haven't watched this enough. I once thought as you, but I now think this is an American Masterpiece.

John Ford only made about 25 or 30 of them, after all. Masterpieces, that is.

[grabit1]

@88Willhur If he did, then I suspect Abe didn't like it.

Just like I suspect that Jeff Davis didn't really like shooting at bluebellies, either.

I haven't read what else you may have posted. but 150 years is a long grudge.

[grabit1]

@88Willhur

Kind of a harsh thing to say 150 years later. Did Lincoln fire on Fort Sumter himself?

[grabit1]

@jpowell180

Abe Lincoln in Illinois may have been (and probably was) more historically accurate.

Assuming that you vote for closer historically accuracy over poetry, and spirit.

Or think that the facts and the truth must be and are exactly the same thing.

[neldonlavino]

Fonda made a great Lincoln. A wonderful almost sad movie.

[jpowell180]

@maxpowers518

I obtained this info from Turner Classic Movies' website.