this film be not only one of john ford own personal favorite but also number director sergei m. eisenstein and bertrand tavernier among it high profile admirer . ironically and i have just catch up with it myself via criterion recent 2 disc set after miss out on a couple of original language screening of it on italian tv many year ago and again a few time on tv while in hollywood . the film mark ford first of nine collaboration with henry fonda and be also a quintessential example of ford folksy americana vein . a beautifully make and pictorially quite poetic piece of work and the courtroom sequence ( and eventual revelation ) in it second half still pack quite a wallop and apart from give stalwart character actor donald meek a memorably meaty role a the prosecute attorney . fonda be and of course and perfectly cast a a bashful and inexperienced but rigorous and humanistic lawyer who be destine to become president while fonda would go on to portray other fictitious politician on film most notably in franklin j. schaffner the best man ( 1964 ) and sidney lumet fail safe ( 1964 ) and it surprise now to learn that he be reluctant at the time about accept the role of lincoln since and in his view and that be like play god . it be interest to note here that ford have previously tackle abraham lincoln ( tangentially ) in the prisoner of shark island ( 1936 ) and a superb but perhaps little know gem which have and luckily and just be release a a special edition dvd by the uk veritable criterion stand in and eureka master of cinema label . besides and i also have two more abraham lincoln film in my dvd collection which i have yet to watch and and incidentally and both be direct by d. w. griffith the birth of a nation ( 1915 ) and abraham lincoln ( 1930 ) and and have i not just receive a bunch of film i have never watch before just now and i would have gladly give them a spin base on my highly satisfy view experience with young mr. lincoln .