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Sally · 11-27-2015, 10:36 PM

I found this on YouTube. It's a series of T.V. movies based on Sandburg's work. They were broadcast in the run-up to the bicentennial in 1976 and starred Hal Holbrook and Sada Thompson as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. Although I was around at the time, I have absolutely no memory of these being aired. My only excuse is that I was in high school at the time and, no doubt, had other, more "fascinating" things to concentrate on.

The videos posted on YouTube in are in random order. But, apparently, the various parts of the series were not run in chronological order either--kind of strange.

This series may already have been discussed on the forum, so forgive me if I'm late to the table on this. But does anyone have an opinion on the production? I found much of the "history" presented pretty dubious. But for those (like me) who have sympathetic feelings toward Mary, the portrayal of the marriage is nicely done. And those (also like me) who are not fans of the beauteous Kate Chase and her dear old dad may enjoy the way they are portrayed!

RJNorton · 11-28-2015, 04:58 AM

Hi Sally. Thank you for posting this. There was some discussion of the mini-series in this thread.

On this page it says "NBC aired the six hour mini-series on a staggered basis. The first three segments aired during the 1974-75 television season. The final three segments aired during the 1975-76 television season."

Angela · 12-05-2015, 12:53 PM

(11-27-2015 10:36 PM)Sally Wrote: I found this on YouTube. It's a series of T.V. movies based on Sandburg's work. They were broadcast in the run-up to the bicentennial in 1976 and starred Hal Holbrook and Sada Thompson as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. Although I was around at the time, I have absolutely no memory of these being aired. My only excuse is that I was in high school at the time and, no doubt, had other, more "fascinating" things to concentrate on.

The videos posted on YouTube in are in random order. But, apparently, the various parts of the series were not run in chronological order either--kind of strange.

This series may already have been discussed on the forum, so forgive me if I'm late to the table on this. But does anyone have an opinion on the production? I found much of the "history" presented pretty dubious. But for those (like me) who have sympathetic feelings toward Mary, the portrayal of the marriage is nicely done. And those (also like me) who are not fans of the beauteous Kate Chase and her dear old dad may enjoy the way they are portrayed!

I, too, found it strange the way the videos on yt were arranged and hearing that that weren't broadcast in the right order either IS a quite a surprise.

At first watch I thought that it was quite a daring move to hop around in time like that...it took me a few parts until I realized that this was not intentional...

While my feelings toward Lincoln's wife aren't quite as sympathetic, I thought the series was great. I never expected Hal Holbrook to come across just right as Lincoln. Can't believe what I missed out on all this time!

Rob Wick · 12-19-2015, 11:00 AM

Got $2,100 to $3,000 a week to spend? Want to commune with Carl Sandburg? Here you go (are you and Donna ready to go, Bill?).

(Thanks to Anita for the heads up).

Best
Rob

LincolnMan · 12-19-2015, 11:32 AM

Wow! You have to admit that would really be thrilling!

RJNorton · 12-19-2015, 02:04 PM

(12-19-2015 11:32 AM)LincolnMan Wrote: Wow! You have to admit that would really be thrilling!

Agreed! Vicki and I used to own a cabin about 15 miles north of there - very nice area of Michigan.

Eva Elisabeth · 12-19-2015, 03:26 PM

Looks awesome, need to win the lottery anyway...is it warm there in summer and possible to swim in the lake?

RJNorton · 12-19-2015, 03:32 PM

Eva, our cabin was right on Lake Michigan (a few miles south of St. Joe), and we were in the water a lot. This was many years ago but, as I recall, the lake temperature was usually in the 60's in the mid-summer but reached the 70's on occasion. We sold the cabin when we moved south. I am sure the Sandburgs enjoyed the area. Mayor Daley of Chicago also owned a home in that part of Michigan.

Eva Elisabeth · 12-19-2015, 03:45 PM

Thanks for the info, Roger - well, then I'll have to greatly skip the swimming - 80 is minimum...but it looks also nice for canoeing etc.

01-07-2016, 09:59 AM

BTW, I've seen the DVD of Sandburg's Lincoln selling at B&N for $5-6

Amy L. · 04-07-2021, 08:30 AM

I finally watched this series and whah! What an actor Hal Holbrook was!
It helped that the series was well-written... And there were other very able actors. I thought especially good was the actress who played Sarah Bush Lincoln...

I am surprised there is no mention on the Symposium of Mr. Holbrook's passing in January of this year.

There are good interview-clips online with Holbrook reflecting on his preparation in playing Lincoln. One here, he discusses the importance of an actor's physical movements (Lincoln lifted things, wasn't afraid to), and concludes the segment saying "[Acting] is as serious as going to war!" chuckle chuckle

LincolnMan · 04-07-2021, 03:15 PM

Thank you for mentioning Mr. Holbrook. He was brilliant. Pleased you found it worthy!

Mylye2222 · (This post was last modified: 04-17-2021 01:14 AM by Mylye2222.)

(11-27-2015 10:36 PM)Sally Wrote: I found this on YouTube. It's a series of T.V. movies based on Sandburg's work. They were broadcast in the run-up to the bicentennial in 1976 and starred Hal Holbrook and Sada Thompson as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. Although I was around at the time, I have absolutely no memory of these being aired. My only excuse is that I was in high school at the time and, no doubt, had other, more "fascinating" things to concentrate on.

The videos posted on YouTube in are in random order. But, apparently, the various parts of the series were not run in chronological order either--kind of strange.

This series may already have been discussed on the forum, so forgive me if I'm late to the table on this. But does anyone have an opinion on the production? I found much of the "history" presented pretty dubious. But for those (like me) who have sympathetic feelings toward Mary, the portrayal of the marriage is nicely done. And those (also like me) who are not fans of the beauteous Kate Chase and her dear old dad may enjoy the way they are portrayed!

I have watched this. It's nicely done. It depicts Lincoln as we love him, a kind and considerate man through testing times. Kate Chase and her dad are very accurately depicted. One regret, they don't include John Hay.
Loved also the scenes showing the WH full of petitioners and Lincoln, having finished breakfast, crossing the halls and saying hello to everyone, behaving like your neighbor.

(12-05-2015 12:53 PM)Angela Wrote:
(11-27-2015 10:36 PM)Sally Wrote: I found this on YouTube. It's a series of T.V. movies based on Sandburg's work. They were broadcast in the run-up to the bicentennial in 1976 and starred Hal Holbrook and Sada Thompson as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. Although I was around at the time, I have absolutely no memory of these being aired. My only excuse is that I was in high school at the time and, no doubt, had other, more "fascinating" things to concentrate on.

The videos posted on YouTube in are in random order. But, apparently, the various parts of the series were not run in chronological order either--kind of strange.

This series may already have been discussed on the forum, so forgive me if I'm late to the table on this. But does anyone have an opinion on the production? I found much of the "history" presented pretty dubious. But for those (like me) who have sympathetic feelings toward Mary, the portrayal of the marriage is nicely done. And those (also like me) who are not fans of the beauteous Kate Chase and her dear old dad may enjoy the way they are portrayed!

I, too, found it strange the way the videos on yt were arranged and hearing that that weren't broadcast in the right order either IS a quite a surprise.

At first watch I thought that it was quite a daring move to hop around in time like that...it took me a few parts until I realized that this was not intentional...

While my feelings toward Lincoln's wife aren't quite as sympathetic, I thought the series was great. I never expected Hal Holbrook to come across just right as Lincoln. Can't believe what I missed out on all this time!

By many accounts, Hal Holbrook was one of the best Lincolns on screen that ever performed.