Lincoln onscreen

[emma1231]

As Mark Reinhart shows in his book, "Abraham Lincoln on Screen," Lincoln was portrayed on film long before Henabery did it in 1915, begininng in 1908. The name of the first actor to portray him, in the 1908 "The Blue & the Grey," is lost to history. I think the next one was Ralph Ince. Mark's book is essential. Some of his opinions may be at odds with those of the reader, but his attention to historical details, innacuracies, and the depth of his research is mind boggling. (He and I once did a joint presentation about Lincoln on TV and in films at Ford's Theatre. Seated in the audience were both Jim Getty (who is a fine somewhat polished yet somehow still folksy Lincoln in his own right!) and the son of Joseph Henabery.
Holbrook took great pains to make his Lincoln's voice and rustic accent historically accurate. I think Sam Waterston did, too. I find McGlynn a little blustery, and I sometimes detect his brogue, but he is so enjoyable to watch. I personally like Walter Huston's sometimes whining drawl the best (for a talkie. I like George Billings' Lincoln the best for a silent film.) . It's too bad the script in Griffith's "Abraham Lincoln" is so awful, so stilted, so episodic and that Una Merkel is so awful as Ann Rutledge. It may have been the fault of the script for all I know. It's one of the worst films, but it does have its moments. My favt. Lincoln film is still "Young Mr. Lincoln." Daniel Day-Lewis didn't do it for me, I am sorry to say. He's a great actor, but I don't think he was a great Lincoln. I can't pin my finger on why, tho. It's a personal thing. We all "see" Lincoln differently!