Abraham Lincoln
"The Great American Story of Our Greatest American"
Plot
D.W. Griffith's biographical epic chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln through a series of carefully crafted vignettes that span his entire adult life. The film begins with Lincoln's humble origins as a country lawyer and his tragic romance with Ann Rutledge, whose early death profoundly affects him. The narrative progresses through his courtship and marriage to Mary Todd, his famous debates with Stephen A. Douglas that elevate him to national prominence, and his eventual election as President in 1860. The latter half of the film focuses on his leadership during the Civil War, including the emancipation of slaves and his efforts to reunite the nation, culminating in his tragic assassination at Ford's Theater in 1865.
About the Production
This was D.W. Griffith's first sound film, marking his transition from silent to talking pictures. The production faced significant challenges as Griffith, accustomed to the silent era, had to adapt his directing style for sound technology. Walter Huston spent months researching Lincoln's mannerisms and speech patterns, even studying photographs and historical documents to perfect his portrayal. The film's battle sequences were groundbreaking for their time, using hundreds of extras and innovative camera techniques to create realistic Civil War scenes.
Historical Background
Released in 1930 during the early years of the Great Depression, 'Abraham Lincoln' arrived at a time when Americans were seeking inspiration from their nation's history. The film's emphasis on Lincoln's perseverance through national crisis resonated deeply with audiences facing economic hardship. This period also marked the transition from silent to sound cinema, with many established directors struggling to adapt their techniques. Griffith, once the most influential director in Hollywood, found himself competing with a new generation of filmmakers more comfortable with sound technology. The film reflected the growing trend of historical biopics in early sound cinema, as studios sought to demonstrate the educational and cultural potential of the new medium.
Why This Film Matters
'Abraham Lincoln' represents a pivotal moment in American cinema as one of the first major sound biopics of a historical figure. The film helped establish the template for presidential biopics that would follow, emphasizing both the public achievements and private struggles of its subject. Walter Huston's portrayal created an enduring image of Lincoln that influenced subsequent films and television depictions. The movie also marked D.W. Griffith's attempt to reclaim his position as a serious filmmaker after his controversial earlier works. Its success demonstrated that historical dramas could be both artistically ambitious and commercially viable in the sound era, encouraging studios to invest in more sophisticated historical productions.
Making Of
The production of 'Abraham Lincoln' represented a critical moment in cinema history as one of the last great silent film directors transitioned to sound. D.W. Griffith, initially skeptical of talkies, was persuaded by United Artists to make his first sound film. The director's perfectionism clashed with the technical limitations of early sound recording, leading to numerous retakes and frustrations. Walter Huston immersed himself completely in the role, spending hours in libraries studying Lincoln's life and mannerisms. The famous Ford's Theater assassination scene required meticulous planning, with the crew recreating the theater's exact dimensions and the presidential box where Lincoln was shot. The film's battle sequences were filmed on a massive scale, with hundreds of extras and horses creating what were then considered the most realistic Civil War battle scenes ever put on film.
Visual Style
The film's cinematography, handled by Karl Freund and Hendrik Sartov, blended Griffith's silent-era visual style with the new requirements of sound filming. The camera work was more restrained than Griffith's earlier epics, partly due to the bulky sound equipment that limited mobility. The battle sequences employed innovative techniques including camera cranes and multiple angles to create dynamic action scenes. The Ford's Theater assassination scene was particularly notable for its use of deep focus and carefully composed shots that built tension while maintaining historical accuracy. The film's lighting techniques, especially in interior scenes, demonstrated the more sophisticated possibilities of sound-era cinematography.
Innovations
As Griffith's first sound film, 'Abraham Lincoln' showcased several technical innovations in early sound cinema. The production team developed new microphone placement techniques to capture dialogue while maintaining visual composition. The battle sequences featured pioneering sound mixing, combining multiple audio tracks to create realistic combat sounds. The film also experimented with location sound recording, though most scenes were shot on soundstages due to technical limitations. The recreation of Ford's Theater required innovative set design that accommodated both visual authenticity and sound recording needs. These technical achievements, while rudimentary by modern standards, represented significant advances in early sound filmmaking.
Music
The musical score was composed by Louis Silvers, one of the pioneers of film music composition. The soundtrack featured period-appropriate songs including 'Dixie' and 'Battle Hymn of the Republic,' strategically placed to enhance historical authenticity. Silvers incorporated folk melodies of the 1860s alongside original compositions that captured the emotional tone of Lincoln's life journey. The sound design was innovative for its time, particularly in the battle sequences where the team created realistic cannon fire and rifle sounds using early recording techniques. The film's use of music to underscore emotional moments established conventions that would influence historical dramas for decades.
Did You Know?
- This was D.W. Griffith's first sound film after directing silent classics like 'The Birth of a Nation' and 'Intolerance'
- Walter Huston's portrayal of Lincoln was so convincing that he was typecast in historical roles for years afterward
- The film was originally intended to be even longer, with additional scenes about Lincoln's early childhood that were cut during editing
- Griffith reportedly struggled with the new sound technology, often forgetting that microphones could pick up background noises
- The Ford's Theater set was an exact replica, built to scale based on historical photographs and architectural drawings
- Una Merkel, who played Ann Rutledge, was only 22 years old during filming despite playing a character meant to be in her late teens
- The film's premiere was attended by President Herbert Hoover and other Washington dignitaries
- Many of the extras in the Civil War battle scenes were actual Civil War veterans, though they would have been in their 80s and 90s
- The film's success led to Griffith being offered a contract for more sound films, though this would be his last major success
- Historical accuracy consultants were hired to ensure costumes, props, and dialogue were authentic to the 1860s period
What Critics Said
Contemporary critics praised Walter Huston's performance as the definitive screen portrayal of Lincoln, with many considering it his finest role. The New York Times hailed the film as 'a worthy tribute to America's greatest president' and particularly praised Griffith's handling of the battle sequences. However, some critics felt Griffith's direction was somewhat dated compared to newer sound films, noting his tendency toward theatrical rather than cinematic storytelling. Modern critics have reassessed the film as an important transitional work, acknowledging its historical significance while noting its limitations compared to Griffith's silent masterpieces. The film is now recognized as an ambitious attempt to bring historical drama to the new medium of sound cinema.
What Audiences Thought
The film was a moderate commercial success, particularly in the American heartland where Lincoln remained a revered figure. Audiences responded positively to Huston's performance and the film's patriotic themes during a period of national crisis. Many viewers appreciated the film's educational value, with schools organizing field trips to see the historical epic. However, the film didn't achieve the blockbuster status of some other 1930 releases, partly due to competition from more contemporary stories that appealed to Depression-era audiences seeking escapism rather than historical reflection.
Awards & Recognition
- Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for Walter Huston
- Academy Award for Best Writing nomination for Stephen Vincent Benet
- Photoplay Magazine Medal of Honor for D.W. Griffith
Film Connections
Influenced By
- The Birth of a Nation
- Griffith's earlier epic style),
- Intolerance
- multi-narrative structure), Stage plays about Lincoln, Historical paintings and photographs of the period],
- influencedFilms
- Young Mr. Lincoln,1939,Abe Lincoln in Illinois,1940,Lincoln,2012,Various television miniseries about Lincoln],,similarFilms,Young Mr. Lincoln,Abe Lincoln in Illinois,Wilson,John Paul Jones,The Story of Louis Pasteur,The Life of Emile Zola,famousQuotes,Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.,A house divided against itself cannot stand.,I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.,With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.,And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.,memorableScenes,The Ford's Theater assassination sequence, meticulously recreated with historical accuracy and dramatic tension,The Lincoln-Douglas debates, showcasing Huston's powerful performance and the verbal sparring between political rivals,The Civil War battle scenes, groundbreaking for their scale and realism in 1930,The tender romance between Lincoln and Ann Rutledge, providing emotional depth to the historical narrative,Lincoln's farewell speech at the train station, capturing the weight of his presidential responsibilities,preservationStatus,The film is preserved in the Library of Congress and has been restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive. A restored version was released on DVD by Kino International as part of their collection of D.W. Griffith films. The restoration work included cleaning the original nitrate elements and improving the sound quality. While some footage remains lost, particularly from cut scenes, the existing print is in good condition for a film of its age.,whereToWatch,Available on DVD from Kino Classics,Streaming on The Criterion Channel,Available for digital rental on Amazon Prime Video,Occasionally shown on Turner Classic Movies,Available in some public library collections