Abe Lincoln in Illinois (film)

This article is about the 1940 film. For the play, see Abe Lincoln in Illinois (play). For the 1939 movie, see Young Mr. Lincoln. For the statue, see Young Abe Lincoln.
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Cromwell
Written byGrover Jones
Screenplay byRobert E. Sherwood
Based onAbe Lincoln in Illinois
1938 play
by Robert E. Sherwood
Produced byMax Gordon
StarringRaymond Massey
Gene Lockhart
Ruth Gordon
Mary Howard
Minor Watson
Alan Baxter
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Edited byGeorge Hively
Music byRoy Webb
Production
company
RKO Radio Pictures
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • April 19, 1940 (1940-04-19)
[1]
Running time
110 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,004,000[2]
Box office$666,000[2]

Abe Lincoln in Illinois is a 1940 biographical-drama film that depicts the life of Abraham Lincoln from his departure from Kentucky until his election as president of the United States. In the UK, the film is known by the alternate title Spirit of the People.[3] The film was adapted by Grover Jones and Robert E. Sherwood from Sherwood's 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. It was directed by John Cromwell.

The film stars Raymond Massey and Howard da Silva, who reprised their roles from the original Broadway production of Abe Lincoln in Illinois, playing Abe Lincoln and Jack Armstrong respectively. Herbert Rudley, who had portrayed Seth Gale in the play, also repeated his role in the film version. The film also marks the screen debut of Ruth Gordon in the role of Mary Todd Lincoln.[4]

The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Raymond Massey) and Best Cinematography, Black-and-White (James Wong Howe).

  1. ^ "Abe Lincoln in Illinois: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Richard Jewel, 'RKO Film Grosses: 1931–1951', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 14 No 1, 1994, p. 58
  3. ^ 'Radio Times Guide to Film 2017'
  4. ^ Higham, Charles; Greenberg, Joel (1968). Hollywood in the Forties. London: A. Zwemmer Limited. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-498-06928-4.