Capitol building (which would include the House of Representatives) under construction just before the civil war began. The First Lady is aghast, fearing that he will be killed. On April 14, Lincoln is meeting members of his cabinet to discuss future measures to enfranchise blacks, when he is reminded that the First Lady is waiting to take them to their evening at Ford's Theatre. [54] Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures distributed the film in North America through the Touchstone Pictures banner, while 20th Century Fox distributed the film in the remaining international territories. passed the Senate but was rejected by the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, Lincoln's son, Robert, returns from law school and announces his intention to discontinue his studies and enlist in the Union Army, hoping to earn a measure of honor and respect outside of his father's shadow before the war's end. I had never thought that Daniel Day-Lewis was acting, because what he portrayed seemed so close to my own mental image of what Lincoln must have been like. The film was produced by Spielberg and frequent collaborator Kathleen Kennedy, through their respective production companies, Amblin Entertainment and the Kennedy/Marshall Company. [80] Lincoln biographer Ronald White also admired the film, though he noted a few mistakes and pointed out in an interview with NPR, "Is every word true? Spielberg's "Lincoln" focuses on a political battle rather than a military campaign, and on the last few months of Lincoln's life. [74] Harold Holzer, the co-chair of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation and author of more than 40 books, served as a consultant to the film and praised it, but also observed that there is "no shortage of small historical bloopers in the movie" in a piece for The Daily Beast. Fictional characters are in italics. Lincoln was filmed in Virginia in 2011. All music was composed by Williams, except "Battle Cry of Freedom," which was written in 1862 by American composer George Frederick Root (1820–1895) during the American Civil War. Lincoln. The score was recorded by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. [14] The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $275 million at the box office.[7]. Looking for local movie times and movie theaters in lincoln_ne? Plot Summary: During the last months of his second term from 1861 to 1865, the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, fought to end slavery by adhering a course of action arranged to end the Civil War, abolish slavery forever, and unite the North and the South. He is concerned that his 1863 Emancipation Proclamation may be discarded by the courts after the war and that the proposed Thirteenth Amendment will be defeated by the returning slave states. Gloria Reuben who plays Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Lincoln's confidante in the movie. Top 10 (ranked alphabetically) – Claudia Puig, Mitchell, Mary Niall. Meanwhile, Confederate envoys are ready to meet with Lincoln to discuss terms for peace, but he instructs they be kept out of Washington, as the amendment approaches a vote on the House floor. Unable to proceed without Blair's support, Lincoln reluctantly authorizes Blair's mission. [77] In a later interview with the World Socialist Web Site Guelzo claimed that "the film was 90 percent on the mark, which given the way Hollywood usually does history is saying something" and that it "got with reasonable accuracy a lot of Lincoln's character, the characters of the main protagonists, and the overall debate over the 13th Amendment. [30] DreamWorks finalized the deal in 2001,[31] and by the end of the year, John Logan signed on to write the script. Having great courage, acumen and moral fortitude, Lincoln pushes forward to compel the nation, and those in government who oppose him, to aim toward a greater good for all mankind. Its main theme is technically based on the last months of Abraham Lincoln the president of United States of America. Many of those he had to persuade were 'lame-duck' representatives from the opposition Democratic Party, men who had lost their seats in the November election but still sat until the new Congress would meet months later. [47], Filming took place in Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Petersburg, Virginia. "[75], Barry Bradford, a member of the Organization of American Historians, offers an analysis of some of the finer historical points of the film's representation of clothing, relationships and appearance. [31] In preparation for the role, Neeson studied Lincoln extensively. The amendment also requires the support of several Democratic congressmen to pass. [52], Lincoln held its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 8, 2012. Lincoln reluctantly secures an officer's commission for Robert. (He did not go to the Ford Theater but was with Lincoln when the President died the next day.) Spielberg's Lincoln movie was correct on Thaddeus Stevens in every aspect except one. [65], Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 4 out of 4 stars and said, "The hallmark of the man, performed so powerfully by Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln, is calm self-confidence, patience and a willingness to play politics in a realistic way. The film focuses on the final months of Lincoln's life, including the passage of the 13th Amendment ending slavery, the surrender of the Confederacy and … Lincoln lacked social polish but he had great intelligence and knowledge of human nature. The film had a limited opening in 11 theaters with $944,308 and an average of $85,846 per theater. Menu. Last Updated on May 8, 2015, by eNotes Editorial. The cast was lauded, especially Day-Lewis, Field, and Jones. Lincoln's hopes rely upon the support of Francis Preston Blair, a founder of the Republican Party whose influence could win over members of the border state conservative faction. At a critical moment in the debate in the House of Representatives, racial-equality advocate Thaddeus Stevens agrees to moderate his position and argue that the amendment represents only legal equality, not a declaration of actual equality. [57], Lincoln was released by Touchstone Home Entertainment on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download in North America on March 26, 2013. At the 85th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for twelve Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director; it won for Best Production Design and Best Actor for Day-Lewis. Scenes representing Grover's Theatre were filmed in Richmond, Virginia, at Virginia Repertory Theatre's November Theatre.[49]. Daniel Day-Lewis stars as the 16th president in the historical drama directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tony Kushner. What I remember learning about this amendment in history classes throughout my life is that after the Southern States succeeded the Union passed the … Learn more about theatre dining and special offers at your local Marcus Theatre. Find the movies showing at theaters near you and buy movie tickets at Fandango. With dozens of Democrats being lame ducks after losing their re-election campaigns in the fall of 1864, some of Lincoln's advisors believe he should wait for a new Republican-heavy Congress. [7] Due to the widespread success of Lincoln, Disney produced additional prints of the film to accommodate theater demand. Lincoln had two primary strategic goals: (1) ending slavery; and, (2) … Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. "[81], Historian Joshua M. Zeitz, writing in The Atlantic, noted some minor mistakes, but concluded that "Lincoln is not a perfect film, but it is an important film". He fought for complete racial equality all of his adult life. The main theme of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln is unity. The main cast of the drama is Daniel Day-Lewis who plays the … [53] The film was also screened at the 2012 AFI Film Festival on November 8, 2012. Even members of his own Cabinet were unhappy. He also noted, "The 13th Amendment originated not with Lincoln but with a petition campaign early in 1864 organized by the Women's National Loyal League, an organization of abolitionist women headed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In his lifetime, Lincoln was consistently criticized by radical Republicans and African-American leaders such as Frederick Douglass for his equivocation on slavery and lenient plans for Reconstruction. \After his re-election in November, Lincoln set about trying to construct coalition of  of Representatives to pass the amendment. This book cover indicates the poisonous atmosphere in politics at the time Lincoln was trying to get Congress to pass the 13th Amendment. [76] Allen Guelzo (Gettysburg College), also writing for The Daily Beast, had some plot criticism, but disagreed with Holzer, arguing that, "The pains that have been taken in the name of historical authenticity in this movie are worth hailing just on their own terms". 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