Abraham Lincoln (1930)
Directed by D.W. Griffith, Abraham Lincoln (1930) marked the legendary filmmaker’s first foray into sound cinema. Released by United Artists, the film is a sweeping biographical drama that traces Lincoln’s life from his humble frontier beginnings to his presidency and tragic assassination. Though ambitious in scope, it reflects the transitional awkwardness of early talkies and the fading style of silent-era storytelling.
Plot Summary
The film follows Lincoln (Walter Huston) through key moments of his life: his romance with Ann Rutledge, his marriage to Mary Todd, his debates with Stephen A. Douglas, and his leadership during the Civil War. It culminates in his assassination by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre. The narrative is episodic, with Griffith attempting to encapsulate Lincoln’s entire life in under 100 minutes.
Cast Highlights
- Walter Huston as Abraham Lincoln
- Una Merkel as Ann Rutledge
- Kay Hammond as Mary Todd Lincoln
- E. Alyn Warren as both Stephen A. Douglas and Ulysses S. Grant (credited under different names)
- Ian Keith as John Wilkes Booth
- James Bradbury Sr., Frank Campeau, and Robert Brower—all born before the Civil War—appear in supporting roles
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- This was Griffith’s first sound film, and also the first Civil War–related sound film that actual veterans could watch
- Because Walter Huston was much shorter than Lincoln, he wore six-inch elevator shoes, especially noticeable in long shots
- The line Lincoln speaks about treating the Southern states “as if they had never been away” was recycled from Griffith’s The Birth of a Nation (1915)
- The film’s opening scene aboard a slave ship was often cut during exhibition due to its stark depiction of slavery
- Though criticized for its melodramatic tone and dated direction, Huston’s performance was praised for its sincerity and resemblance to Lincoln in later scenes
