Ninian Edwards

Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1964)

Actors: Jack Bittner (actor), Burt Brinckerhoff (actor), James Broderick (actor), James Congdon (actor), Staats Cotsworth (actor), Harry Ellerbe (actor), Donald Gantry (actor), William Hansen (actor), Casey Peters (actor), Roy Poole (actor), Jason Robards (actor), Hiram Sherman (actor), Tom Slater (actor), Frederic Tozere (actor), Douglass Watson (actor),

Plot: Before becoming one of America's greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln had a long career as a businessman, lawyer, government official and elected representative for the state of Illinois. This film looks at the rise of this self-educated statesman, including his famous series of public debates over slavery with rival Stephen Douglas. A glimpse is also shown of some of the more personal aspects of his Lincoln's life, including the early romance and heartbreak he experienced with Ann Rutledge, and his later marriage to Mary Todd.

Keywords: character-name-in-title, historical-event, illinois, lawyer, presidential-candidate, remake
Genres: Drama,

Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940)

Actors: Trevor Bardette (actor), Alan Baxter (actor), Clem Bevans (actor), Ted Billings (actor), Henry Blair (actor), Aldrich Bowker (actor), Ed Brady (actor), Harlan Briggs (actor), Sonny Bupp (actor), George Chandler (actor), Tom Chatterton (actor), Dan Clark (actor), Wallis Clark (actor), Andy Clyde (actor), Erville Alderson (actor),

Plot: Biopic of Abe Lincoln, 16th President of he United States, from his early days in backwoods Kentucky to his election as President. After a time running livestock to New Orleans, he settles in New Salem where he meets and falls in love with Ann Rutledge who is already engaged to someone. Abe makes a home for himself in New Salem, eventually running a store and becoming the postmaster. He's popular with the locals and is eventually elected to the State legislature but afterward established himself in the practice of law. He eventually meets Mary Todd who would become his wife and and is sent to Washington as a Congressman before he is elected president.

Keywords: 1800s, 1830s, 1860s, abraham-lincoln, ambition, based-on-play, cameo, campaign, character-name-in-title, debate
Genres: Biography, Drama, History,

Quotes:

Mentor Graham: Abe carried New Salem by 205 votes to 3.::Jack Armstrong: My boys are out tryin' to find the 3 skunks who voted wrong.

Lincoln's Cook: President of the United States! If they get him back there into Washington, he won't ever come out alive. [a shocked Mary drops a pot]

Ninian Edwards: [after he withdraws from politics] What'll yuh do, Abe?::Abraham Lincoln: Judge Stuart's offered me a chance to work in his law office in Springfield. Course I don't know much about the law, but there's one thing I've learned here in politics... that ignorance is no obstacle to advancement. In fact, in some cases it's quite an advantage.

Mentor Graham: Well, Abe, there are always two occupations open to those who have failed at everything else: school teaching and politics.

Abraham Lincoln: [discussing why he can't face Mary Todd before his marriage to her] I'd have to tell her that I have hatred for her infernal ambition. That I don't want to be ridden and driven onward and upward through life with her whip bashing me and her spurs digging in me. If her poor little soul craves importance in life let her marry Stephen Douglas. He's ambitious too. I want only to be left alone.

Sarah Bush Lincoln: Wherever you go, whatever you do, you remember what the Good Book Says: "The world passeth, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."::Abraham Lincoln: I'll remember, maw.

Abraham Lincoln: [after a particularly hysterical outburst by Mary, he comes up to her; her back is to him] Why do you take every opportunity you can to make a public fool out of me and yourself? It's bad enough when you act like that in the privacy of our own home, but here in front of people! You're not to do that again, do you hear? You're never to do that again!::Mary Todd Lincoln: [she turns to face him amazed, then] You never spoke to me like that before. You lost your temper, Abe... you've never done that before.::Abraham Lincoln: I'm sorry. [He turns and walks away from her] I still think youn should go home rather than stay here and endure the strain of this Death Watch.::Mary Todd Lincoln: [slowly goes to the door, opens it, pauses, then turns back to him] This is the night I dreamed about when I was a child... when I was an excited young girl and all the gay young gentlemen of Springfield were courting me... and I fell in love with the least likely of them. This is the night I'm waiting to hear that my husband is become President of the United States... and even if he does, it's ruined for me. [He turns to stare at her] It's too late. [She slowly leaves]

Mary Todd Lincoln: [Contemptuously as she hears crowd noises from outside] Stephen Douglas has arrived. Listen to them cheering for him!::Abraham Lincoln: [Laconically] They ought to cheer. He paid 'em enough for it.

Abraham Lincoln: A house divided against itself cannot stand. The government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free.

Aide to Stephen Douglas: You don't mean to say you're afraid of Abe Lincoln. Why, the country doesn't know him!::Stephen Douglas: Maybe the country doesn't... but I do.

Young Mr. Lincoln (1939)

Actors: Sam Ash (actor), Arthur Aylesworth (actor), Ward Bond (actor), Paul E. Burns (actor), George Chandler (actor), Spencer Charters (actor), Cliff Clark (actor), Eddie Collins (actor), Richard Cromwell (actor), Frank Dae (actor), Henry Fonda (actor), Francis Ford (actor), Harold Goodwin (actor), Charles Halton (actor), Ernie Adams (actor),

Plot: Ten years in the life of Abraham Lincoln, before he became known to his nation and the world. He moves from a Kentucky cabin to Springfield, Illinois, to begin his law practice. He defends two men accused of murder in a political brawl, suffers the death of his girlfriend Ann, courts his future wife Mary Todd, and agrees to go into politics.

Keywords: 1830s, 19th-century, americana, blackstone's-law-book, brother-brother-relationship, character-name-in-title, contest, courtroom, dancing, false-accusation
Genres: Biography, Drama,
Taglines: The story of Abraham Lincoln that has NEVER been told!

Quotes:

[last lines]::Efe Turner: Ain't you goin' back, Abe?::Abe Lincoln: [as the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" begins playing softly in the background] No, I think I might go on a piece... maybe to the top of that hill.

[Lincoln and Felder are picking jurors for the trial of Matt and Adam Clay]::Prosecutor John Felder: Mr. Lincoln should know that the mere fact that a prospective juror knows counsel for the state does not disqualify him.::Abe Lincoln: I know that, John. What I'm afraid of is that some of the jurors might NOT know you... and that'd put me at a great disadvantage.

Abe Lincoln: [to John Felder] I may not know much of law Mr. Felder, but I know what's right and what's wrong. And I know what you're asking is wrong.

Abe Lincoln: [questioning Cass about Scrub's death] What were you and Scrub arguing about?::John Palmer Cass: I'd rather not say.::Abe Lincoln: Oh, you'd rather not say. Well, Jack, I'd rather you did say.::John Palmer Cass: All right. We was arguin' about politics.::Abe Lincoln: Well, that's something new to argue about.::John Palmer Cass: I've learned some since, but I told Scrub I thought you had at least as much political sense in you as Stephen Douglas. Scrub got as mad as a wet hen and said you didn't!

Abe Lincoln: [cross-examining Cass] J. Palmer Cass.::John Palmer Cass: Yes, sir.::Abe Lincoln: What's the "J" stand for?::John Palmer Cass: John.::Abe Lincoln: Anyone ever call you Jack?::John Palmer Cass: Yeah, but...::Abe Lincoln: Why "J. Palmer Cass?" Why not "John P. Cass?"::John Palmer Cass: Well, I...::Abe Lincoln: Does "J. Palmer Cass" have something to hide?::John Palmer Cass: No.::Abe Lincoln: Then what do you part your name in the middle for?::John Palmer Cass: I got a right to call myself anything I want as long as it's my own name!::Abe Lincoln: Well then if it's all the same to you, I'll call you Jack-ass. [Roar of laughter from spectators]

Abe Lincoln: By jing, that's all there is to it; Right and Wrong.

Judge Herbert A. Bell: Jack-ass. Haha. I do got it! [audience roars in laughter]

Judge Herbert A. Bell: Come, come, gentlemen. You've got to give the boys a fair trial - a jury trial - before ou hang 'em.