Young Mr. Lincoln

"The story of Abraham Lincoln that has NEVER been told!"

1939 1h 40m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 195

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In this dramatized account of his early law career in Illinois, Abraham Lincoln is born into a modest log cabin, where he is encouraged by his first love, Ann Rutledge, to pursue law. Following her tragic death, Lincoln establishes a law practice in Springfield, where he meets a young Mary Todd. Lincoln's law skills are put to the test when he takes on the difficult task of defending two brothers who have been accused of murder.

“The story of Abraham Lincoln that has NEVER been told!”

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Cast

Henry Fonda
Abraham Lincoln
Alice Brady
Abigail Clay
Marjorie Weaver
Mary Todd
Arleen Whelan
Sarah Clay
Eddie Collins
Efe Turner
Pauline Moore
Ann Rutledge
Richard Cromwell
Matt Clay
Donald Meek
Prosecutor John Felder

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Ford
Writers: Lamar Trotti, Lamar Trotti
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

87 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Ford, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Walter Thompson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Henry Fonda and Alice Brady and Marjorie Weaver carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The story of Abraham Lincoln that has NEVER been told!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0032155 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Ford directs. Bert Glennon behind the camera. Alfred Newman scores. Walter Thompson cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by John Ford, shot by Bert Glennon. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Alfred Newman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Walter Thompson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Henry Fonda and Alice Brady and Marjorie Weaver carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "The story of Abraham Lincoln that has NEVER been told!".
7IMDB entry: tt0032155 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Classified under 23 themes, including "self-defense", "witness", "illinois", "trial".

The technical file

Cinematography: Bert Glennon
Original score: Alfred Newman
Editing: Walter Thompson
Costume design: Royer
Runtime: 100 min · 1h 40m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Awards

National Board of Review: Top Ten Films

Individual records documented via Wikidata; the summary above may count more.

Also by

John Ford

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-22
★ 7/10
A gentle biopic of the early life and career that established Abraham Lincoln on the road to his place in US history. Henry Fonda plays the naive and deeply principled country lawyer in an engaging, if at times slightly ponderous, fashion - aided well by Marjorie Weaver ("Mary Todd"). His eloquence prevents a lynching and he embarks on his first big legal case in Illinois. John Ford starts this retrospective with a gripping, frequently amusing, court case and what follows emphasises the wit, style and incisive honesty of Lincoln. Spencer Charters ("Judge Bell"); Ward Bond and a typically charismatic performance from Donald Meek as the prosecuting counsel keep this drama interesting. The production is simple, but not basic - and well worth a watch as a drama (not an historical documentary).

Production companies