Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Directed by D.W. Griffith

Film Review

For his first sound film, the great American film director D.W. Griffith presented this account of the life of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most important (some would argue most important) figures in American history.  It is an ambitious piece, one that somehow manages to span the whole of Lincoln's eventful life, from his lowly birth, his modest upbringing, his early career, his entry into politics, his marriage, his term of office as United States President, and his tragic assassination by John Wilkes Booth. Like many filmmakers of this transitional period, Griffith had obvious difficulty using sound in an effective manner (the homespun dialogue merely aggravates matters). However, the film makes up for this with its powerful visuals, which convey strong emotions and shows the high esteem in which Lincoln is held by the American people.

It is apparent that the film, impressive as it is as a biographical portrait, does not have the greatness of the director's earlier silent masterpieces. Indeed, in comparison with The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916) and Orphans of the Storm (1921) it feels pretty underwhelming.  On a more positive note, Walter Huston offers a fine portrayal of Lincoln, capturing the great man's love of not only his country, but also those people who brought substance to his life. The film's strongest suit is its vivid depiction of the American Civil War. The images of the soldiers marching off to war are stirring stuff, and it is hard not to be impressed by the panoramic battle scenes. More moving are the film's gentler moments, where Lincoln and others reflect on the immense human cost of the conflict. The film shows Lincoln to be a fairly modest man, guided by a moral purpose that led him to become a great leader of men. More crucially, we gain a sense of his unfaltering humanity, a compassion that is sadly lacking in so many of our political masters today.

After an unsuccessful first release, the film was cut from two hours to 97 minutes.   It was to be Griffith's last money-spinner.  His final film, The Struggle, would prove to be a financial disaster and the director would be ruined. It was the most ignominious end to the career of possibly the greatest of American filmmakers.

Film Synopsis

In 1809, a child was born in a humble log cabin who would grow up to become one of the greatest political leaders in history.  His name was Abraham Lincoln.  Whilst working as a lawyer in Illinois, Lincoln entered politics and was chosen to lead the Republican Party.  Within months of his taking office as 16th President of the United States in 1861, he faced the challenge of his life: how to preserve the Union.  With the southern states bent on secession, military force appears to be the only way to hold the country together…