Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Abe Lincoln in Illinois, motion picture about the early years of United States President Abraham Lincoln’s career, based on Robert Sherwood’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Released in 1940, it stars Raymond Massey as Abraham Lincoln, Ruth Gordon as Mary Todd Lincoln, and Gene Lockhart as Stephen Douglas. Lincoln grows up, falls in love, works as a lawyer, debates Douglas, and runs for president.

Director

• John Cromwell

Cast

• Raymond Massey (Abraham Lincoln)
• Gene Lockhart (Stephen Douglas)
• Ruth Gordon (Mary Todd Lincoln)
• Mary Howard (Ann Rutledge)
• Dorothy Tree (Elizabeth Edwards)
• Harvey Stephens (Ninian Edwards)
• Minor Watson (Joshua Speed)
• Alan Baxter (Billy Herndon)
• Howard da Silva (Jack Armstrong)
• Maurice Murphy (John McNeil)
• Clem Bevfans (Ben Mattling)
• Herbert Rudley (Seth Gale)
• Roger Imhof (Mr. Crimmin)
• Edmund Elton (Mr. Rutledge)
• George Rosener (Dr. Chandler)
• Trevor Bardette (John Hanks)
• Elisabeth Risdon (Sarah Lincoln)
• Napoleon Simpson (Gobey)
• Aldrich Bowker (Judge Bowling Green)
• Louis Jean Heydt (Mentor Graham)
• Harlan Briggs (Denton Offut)
• Andy Clyde (Stage driver)
• Leona Roberts (Mrs. Rutledge)
• Florence Roberts (Mrs. Bowling Green)
• Fay Helm (Mrs. Seth Gale)
• Syd Saylor (John Johnston)
• Charles Middleton (Tom Lincoln)
• Alec Craig (Trem Cogdall)

Trivia

• Ruth Gordon later played the sinister neighbor Minnie Castevet in Rosemary’s Baby (1968).