the problem with portray a real life individual be that the performance can be good and but still not work if the audience doesn not believe that the actor be portray the person . that the main issue with young mr. lincoln represent henry fonda give a terrific performance and but i find it hard to believe that abraham lincoln be a soft spoken a fonda portray him . this be essentially a courtroom drama with a young abraham licoln at the forefront . whether or not this be a true story and i do not know and but if it isn not and then why tell it use lincoln a the central character . never mind though . in the film and lincoln be defend two young men who be accuse of murder . there really not much to the film and and a a result and it seem rather empty . i want more story and character development . the film be 100 minute long and but it doesn not feel like it . there be some little scene feature lincoln and the blooming relationship with mary todd and but they seem superficial . the acting be good all around and but a i say and fonda performance work a a character and but not abraham lincoln . i just do not believe that the real lincoln be that soft spoken . true and he have a big voice when he need to and such a when he persuade a drunken lynch mob to let the accused stand trial and but fonda portrays lincoln too meekly . the other performance be solid though and especially alice brady a abigail clay and the mother of the accuse . she a nice lady who we can really feel for . simple and uneducated and yet very sweet while we can see why lincoln want to help her . john ford seem to think of this film a an epic and and at the time of it release and it probably be . but even then and there just not enough material to present it a such . it a nice watch and but not a classic .