‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ from 1939: A Classic Movie About Our 16th President

Promotional still of American actor Henry Fonda as Abraham Lincoln in the 1939 film "Young Mr. Lincoln." Public Domain

Commentary

Who is the most famous or beloved president of all time? Judging by Hollywood’s Golden Era, I would wager that Abraham Lincoln was the most revered former president in the 1930s–50s. Countless movies refer to Honest Abe as a role model and inspiration of determination. Depictions of the sixteenth president were also very common in films, often as little more than “cameo” appearances. Lincoln’s film depictions far surpass those of George Washington, probably because there were far more Civil War movies than Revolutionary War movies.

Two movies centered on Abraham Lincoln’s life were made within a year of each other. I included the second one, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” (1940), in an article I wrote a couple of years ago about three movies focused on U.S. presidents. This movie starred Raymond Massey in the title role and covered Lincoln’s life from the early 1830s until his presidential election. Massey would immerse himself into the role so deeply that he identified strongly with Lincoln for the rest of his life, becoming synonymous with the sixteenth president.

Theatrical release poster for the 1939 film "Young Mr. Lincoln," about the early life of the American president. Public Domain

The other film about Abraham Lincoln is “Young Mr. Lincoln” from 1939, a 20th Century Fox film directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda in the title role. This movie was inspired by the success of Robert E. Sherwood’s 1938 play “Abe Lincoln in Illinois.” The story was unrelated to the play, which was the basis for the film of the same name the next year. However, the play’s success encouraged screenwriter Lamar Trotti to revive an earlier idea another writer had of making a film about Abraham Lincoln starring Henry Fonda.

An American Story

This movie focuses on a small portion of Abraham Lincoln’s life, when he was a young man in the 1830s. It starts with the simple but honest young man giving a speech about running for the state legislature at the encouragement of his friends, although he has had little education. The Clay family, who is traveling through Illinois in their covered wagon, wants to buy supplies from Lincoln’s store, but all they have is some old books. Lincoln trades them merchandise for books, since he loves to read. Among them is a lawbook, which he studies fastidiously.

Lincoln is in love with a young woman named Ann Rutledge (Pauline Moore), who encourages him to pursue a legal career despite all obstacles. She soon dies of fever, and Abe decides to observe her wishes for his life. He goes to Springfield, Illinois, and sets up a legal practice in 1837 with his friend John Stuart (Edwin Maxwell). He meets Mary Todd (Marjorie Weaver), a charming young lady who is visiting her sister in town. Although she has many admirers, she greatly admires the unique young lawyer. In his own shy way, he admires her, too.

At an Independence Day celebration, a fight breaks out between the Clay brothers, Matt (Richard Cromwell) and Adam (Eddie Quillan), and Skrub White. Skrub ends up getting stabbed to death, and the brothers are accused of murdering him. Each man claims he is guilty to protect his brother, although they both say it was self-defense. Their mother, Abigail (Alice Clay), saw the stabbing, but she refuses to reveal which of her boys held the knife. Abe talks an angry mob out of lynching them that night and decides to take the case to prove their innocence.

Based on History

An original poster for this film described it as “The Story of Abraham Lincoln That Has Never Been Told!” This is a bold assertion but not surprising, since it was largely invented for the movie. The Clays are fictional characters, and it’s a fanciful notion that they traded him the lawbook which would inspire his legal study. The trial, however, which is the focal point of the story, was based on a true event. It was inspired by the William “Duff” Armstrong trial, but it took place much later than in the film. It was in 1858, when Lincoln was already a successful railroad attorney and would soon be nominated for the Senate. The main similarity is that Lincoln used an almanac to prove the position of the moon on the night of murder, revealing the key witness’s perjury, just as he does in the film. It was the use of the almanac which inspired Lamar Trotti to include this trial in the movie.

A 2004 painting of Abraham Lincoln by Ned Bittinger inspired by photographs from Lincoln’s time in Congress (1847–1849), from the collection of the U.S. House of Representatives. Public Domain

Lincoln’s opening speech in the film, which he gives in rustic clothes on a front porch, was almost an exact quote of Lincoln’s real speech on this occasion: “I presume you all know who I am—I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by many friends to become a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like the old woman’s dance. I am in favor of a national bank. I am in favor of the internal improvement system and a high protective tariff. These are my sentiments and political principles. If elected I shall be thankful; if not, it will be all the same.” His sincerity, plain way of speaking, and honest sense of humor characterize his personality throughout the film.

Henry Fonda initially turned down the role of Lincoln when Lamar Trotti offered it to him, since he thought the late president was “too great a man” for him to play. However, after John Ford persuaded him to do a screen test in full makeup and costume, he agreed to embody the American hero. The young actor’s transformation is very impressive. With heavy makeup, a wig, a prosthetic nose, and specially made boots, he looks remarkably like the earliest photographs of Abraham Lincoln which were available in the 1930s. He also captured the lumbering gait which historical sources attribute to the gentle giant. I particularly enjoyed the sense of humor which Lincoln shows throughout this movie. He’s not a fancy talker, and he enjoys sitting in a rocking chair or reclining with his feet on a desk. However, his simple logic reveals great wisdom.

Theatrical release poster for the 1939 film "Young Mr. Lincoln" about the early life of the American president. Public Domain

Remembering a Great Man

It’s a shame that Lincoln’s birthday has been downgraded from its place of honor, replaced with the generic Presidents’ Day. Yes, there have been dozens of admirable presidents in our nation’s history. However, there is a reason Abraham Lincoln was held in such high regard for decades after his tragic death.

As our nation stood on the brink of disaster during the Civil War, President Lincoln kept the United States together, and for that he was treasured as a national hero. He also ended the un-democratic practice of slavery in this country with the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s appropriate that his birthday falls during February, the month which has been labeled “Black History Month.” Instead of focusing on the horrors of enslavement, why not celebrate the beauty of emancipation, freedom, and equality which Lincoln’s legacy has long represented?

The film opens with the first and last stanza of Rosemary and Stephen Vincent Benet’s 1933 poem “Nancy Hanks,” illustrating the connection between the honorable young man and his mother, whom he lost at age nine. I’ll leave you now with the full poem, a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man, just like this movie:

If Nancy Hanks Came back as a ghost, Seeking news Of what she loved most, She’d ask first “Where’s my son? What’s happened to Abe? What’s he done?”

“Poor little Abe, Left all alone Except for Tom, Who’s a rolling stone; He was only nine The year I died. I remember still How hard he cried.”

“Scraping along In a little shack, With hardly a shirt To cover his back, And a prairie wind To blow him down, Or pinching times If he went to town.”

“You wouldn’t know About my son? Did he grow tall? Did he have fun? Did he learn to read? Did he get to town? Do you know his name? Did he get on?”