(12-06-2012 10:14 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  Dr. McPherson was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about Lincoln.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-1128-lincoln-history-20121128,0,5620831.story

(11-20-2012 09:58 AM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  SPOILER ALERT

I was disappointed that Spielberg did not show the assassination scene because it is part of the story. I don't think it matters that it's been done before; it's what happened. When they showed the theater at the end, I thought, wait a minute, they have swords, that's not Our American Cousin. Then they panned to the box and I thought, wait a minute, that's on the wrong side of the theater. It felt like we were being deliberately mislead.

We watched Lincoln the man throughout the movie. We saw horrible battlefield scenes and it would have been moving and appropriate to see Lincoln killed just as the soldiers were. Maybe seeing Lincoln and Mary from behind, hearing her say as she rests her hand on his arm, "What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?" and hearing his reply that "She won't think anything about it." Then a hand with the gun, the shot, Mary's scream.

My husband thought that the last scene should have been Lincoln walking away down the long hall.

Did anyone mention that Seward had been targeted that night as well? I may have missed it.

As I said on the other thread, the movie was wonderful. Did anyone else feel disappointed in the ending?

(11-27-2012 08:18 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  On Point #2 regarding the movie showing the white and black soldiers meeting with Lincoln. I too felt it was contrived and probably not realistic. I've been thinking about Spielberg's intention for this scene. I would love to hear what everyone else thinks. The scene happens at the beginning of the film but not the very beginning. First there is that horrific battle scene. Perhaps, Spielberg wants the viewer to know that Lincoln-who is literally seated between the two groups-was the reason that such a meeting could take place-whites and blacks both wearing the same uniform-fighting on the same side.and to go further-the president was such that he would meet with the "common" soldier no matter who it was. He valued everyone's opinions. Also, there is the matter of the soldiers reciting the Gettysburg Address-perhaps to convey to the viewer that the notions expressed in it were a unifying point for the soldiers-black or white-whether it was to declare again that "all men were created €qual" or to understand that the war was worth fighting for because it was a test to see if democracy would survive. Your thoughts?

(12-06-2012 11:24 PM)Donna McCreary Wrote:  Since some of you have mentioned mistakes and goofs in the film LINCOLN, I have a topic for discussion - the wardrobe of Sally Field as Mary Lincoln.
I have read interviews and watched video interviews with the costume designer, Joanna Johnston. She explained how she based one of the dresses on two of ML's dresses - used ML's actual gowns as inspiration - and actually made the gowns to fit ML's body thus Sally Field had to gain weight to fit the dresses. The result was a collection of beautiful gowns. There are a few historical mistakes, but none that the average audience member would notice.
There is one huge historical mistake with all of the gowns. During the time frame for the film, Mary Lincoln was in mourning. Mary's brother Levi died in October 1864, and her uncle John Todd died in January 1865. Both of these relationships would have placed Mary in a state of half-mourning. Her attire would have consisted solely of black and white with perhaps a touch of dark purple toward the end of March.

So, Ms. Johnston had to make a choice -- either depict Mary in mourning and be historically accurate . . . or, create gowns that would showcase Mary's grand sense of fashion.

Do you agree, or disagree, with the choice?

(12-06-2012 11:25 PM)Jennie Wrote:  Personally, I think she made the right decision. Most people won't know she was supposed to be in mourning (or would have gotten it had she been...if anything they would have figured it was for Willie), so I think going for the fashion statement, which was a major part of Mary L was more important.

The way Mary's moods flunctated so much, I thought was a great decision as it really showed how on the edge she was.

-Jennie