Young Mr Lincoln **** (1939, Henry Fonda, Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, Arleen Whelan) – Classic Movie Review 7495

Director John Ford’s 1939 black and white historical drama Young Mr Lincoln stars the young Henry Fonda, who gives a good account of himself in one of his most famous roles as baby Abe Lincoln. It is notable as the first of Fonda’s nine films with Ford, though he was reluctant to play Lincoln.

Ford’s biopic of the great American president during his early years as a struggling lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, is both satisfying and impressive. Lamar Trotti’s original screenplay provides a fictionalised, down-home account of Lincoln’s early life as he defends two men on a murder charge after a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend Ann Rutledge (Pauline Moore), courts his future wife Mary Todd (Marjorie Weaver) and decides to give politics a try. The rest, as they say, is history, actual history, that is.

Alice Brady in her final film makes a fine Abigail Clay and Marjorie Weaver scores as Mary Todd.

Young Mr Lincoln boasts a solidly constructed, beautifully crafted production, packed with period details, hefty support performances and a strong feel for folksy traditional American values.

Also in the cast are Arleen Whelan, Eddie Collins, Richard Cromwell, Ward Bond, Donald Meek, Eddie Quillan, Milburn Stone, Francis Ford, Spencer Charters, Robert Lowery, Fred Kohler Jr and Russell Simpson.

Alfred Newman’s title music was re-used for Belle Starr (1941).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7495

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