Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Although John Ford won a record four Oscars for Best Directing, it was not until 1955 that he was named a "Champion Director" (in 4th place behind Michael Curtiz, David Butler and Mervyn Le-Roy) by Fame annual which judged not artistic merit but box-office success. Ford was again cited in 1958 (5th place), 1959 (4th) and 1961 (4th).Named as a leading ticket-selling star in 1936, Henry Fonda never managed (or even aspired) to break into the top ten money-makers.Lamar Trotti was nominated for an Academy Award in the Original Story category (of all departments), losing to Lewis R. Foster's Mr Smith Goes to Washington.COMMENT: We all know Citadel's fine series of Films Of... books. Almost all of these are written by perceptive critics and historians who are alive to both the contemporary and present-day entertainment qualities of the films discussed. But there are a few odd exceptions. Two of these are the books on John Ford by J.A. Place. Dr Place is a mythologist who looks at movies primarily as to their story content of myth and legend. She is particularly interested in the myths that movies create, re-iterate and debunk. A film like Young Mr Lincoln offers golden opportunities for her thesis.I don't think anybody going along to the movies of a Friday night would have been the slightest scrap interested in the myths surrounding the historical fidelity (or otherwise) of Young Mr Lincoln. A small number would be attracted by Henry Fonda, but the majority would simply be seeking a gripping story, with fascinating and interesting characters, smoothly if not lavishly produced. Here they would not be disappointed.John Ford's restrained, moving account of Lincoln's early career as an attorney and his memorable defense of the Clay Brothers, is enlivened by Fonda's superb interpretation. He looks the man, and he acts the way we think Lincoln ought to act. The supporting cast is likewise excellent. I thought Alice Brady gave a finer account of herself than in her Academy Award-winning In Old Chicago. And just as importantly, the producers have seemingly spared no expense in recreating the times, the settings, the decor and the costumes. In short, a triumph.

I am not a huge fan of this kind of setting in a film so I didn't expect to enjoy this movie. The only parts of this film that I found entertaining where the courtroom scenes but I was hoping to enjoy the whole movie. That being said the character of Lincoln is played really well and I believed that that could be Abraham Lincoln's during that time so that was a positive thing to come out of it. The camera work results are really good for the genre in the time it came out in but all in all I would not watch this movie again unless I absolutely had to

Henry Fonda does a remarkable job at portraying the likable Abraham Lincoln. Though I found the beginning slow I continued watching because of the characters. While it is a slower film it is a great plot that was executed perfectly by the director, John Ford. Many of the scenes were beautifully shot. The courtroom scenes, and the ending were both great aspects. While it is not generally a style of movie I enjoy watching I think it was worthwhile.

In order to truly get a viewer hooked on a movie, the movie needs a strong start with a decent premise. Some very good examples range from something as simple as falling in love or as outlandish as an alien invasion. Young Mr. Lincoln begins focusing on an unfocused young Abraham Lincoln, currently without purpose in life. This decent enough start is compounded by a loss motivating him to be someone, do something. This premise is very strong. However, The premise alone cannot carry a movie. The plot quickly hits a slump where nothing interesting happens, and scenes that don't even belong in the movie go on way too long. I made it 25 minutes into the movie before giving up. There is no reason that a prolonged rail splitting contest and tug of war should go on as long as they do in a movie about Abe Lincoln maturing into a proper adult. After watching 3 movies consecutively that I did not like, I just quit. I couldn't make it through Young Mr. Lincoln.