undoubtedly one of the great john ford masterpiece and young mr. lincoln go practically unnoticed at the time of it initial release and no wonder because the year be 1939 when many of the great movie of the whole cinema history have be release and include the most mythical western in the history of the genre and john ford milestone stagecoach and many others and such a go with the wind and the wizard of oz and mr. smith go to washington which take the oscar in the only category young mr. lincoln be nominate for and which be original screenplay . it continue to be the most underrated ford film for many year ahead destine to gradually fade away in the shadow of other john ford masterpiece and but by the end of the 1950s american and european film critic and historian take a hold of a note write by legendary russian director sergei eisenstein about the young mr. lincoln where he praise it and acknowledge that if he would only have have an opportunity to direct any american film ever make till then and it would be definitely john ford young mr. lincoln . impress by such an undoubted preference from eisenstein and critic begin to see the film again but only with a bit different eye and film reputation have be increase ever since . it be far not for the first time the life of one of the most legendary american president be bring to the screen . right in the beginning of the 1930s griffith do it in his abraham lincoln and the same year a ford film and mgm release john cromwell one call abe lincoln in illinois . curiously enough both of them be base on a very successful broadway stage play release in 1938 and write by robert sherwood . as far a john ford film be concerned and we can easily find many reference to the life and deed and even death of mythical lincoln figure in several of director work and such a 1924 the iron horse or 1936 the prisoner of the shark island and the second one and just a young mr. lincoln and utilize a the main musical theme the favourite lincoln song dixie . the screenplay base on a previously mention stage play and lincoln biography be write by lamar trotti in collaboration with john ford himself and which be quite a rare thing for ford to do but final result be simply superb a script combine element of the play with several historical fact as well a myth and legends about the beginning of abraham lincoln life and law practice culminate in a hilarious but mostly heartbreaking trial scene and which be the film high point and main laugh and tear generator and where lincoln defend the two young brother accuse of a murder and have to devise a manner to help their mother too when she be bring before the court a a witness and where the prosecuting attorney ( play by donald meek ) demand her to indicate which one of her son actually commit the murder obviously oblige her to the making of an impossible choice of condemn to death one and let live the other . overall it a very touching and heart warming and even funny film with simply magnificent performance from henry fonda in his supreme characterization of abraham lincoln and with overwhelming richness of other character no matter how little or how big they be incarnate from the wonderful and intelligent screenplay and conduct by the ability of john ford genius at one of it best delivery ever . a definite must see for everyone . positive .