The year’s not even half-way over yet, and already our lovely 1939 retrospective is hitting its second (and I promise, final) film by John Ford. But given that man’s prominence in the history of American filmmaking, and given how very special this second feature is, I’m sure you’ll all be willing to forgive me the indulgence.
The movie in question: Young Mr. Lincoln. The estimable Henry Fonda gives one of his very best performances ever as the young Illinois lawyer, in the days before his ascension to national politics; meanwhile, Ford gets to wallow in his tendency towards mythologising American history with a story that’s more a legend than a biopic, and quite better for it.
The review goes up June 28.