Episodes in Lincoln's path to the Presidency
“Abe Lincoln in Illinois” is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Robert E. Sherwood with Raymond Massey reprising the title role. The film focuses on episodes in Lincoln’s life from when he was a poor backwoodsman in 1831 to his election in 1860 as the sixteenth President of the United States.<br /><br />The opening scene shows Abe agreeing to journey with a boatload of hogs to sell in New Orleans and his stepmom (Elisabeth Risdon) reminding him to read the Bible for wisdom. On a stop in New Salem, Illinois, he meets Ann Rutledge (Mary Howard) and falls in love. He soon settles in New Salem to work as a storekeeper’s clerk just to be near Ann.<br /><br />Abe wins the respect of the locals when he beats the loudmouthed town bully Jack Armstrong (Howard Da Silva). The townsfolk recruit Abe to be postmaster and politicians then talk him into running for the State Assembly. He wins, but Ann soon dies and leaves him heartbroken. Depressed and disinclined to public office, he leaves the legislature after only one term to study and practice law, and meets Mary Todd (Ruth Gordon). They eventually marry despite her family’s objections to her marrying a poor man well beneath their social status. An ambitious woman bent on becoming America’s first lady, Mary goads Abe to re-enter politics.<br /><br />A highlight of the film is Lincoln’s debate with Stephen Douglas (Gene Lockhart), an established politician. Abe makes the impassioned  “House Divided” speech and is elected to Congress. Later, running for President, he realizes that if he is elected, the South will secede.<br /><br />Director John Cromwell covers these events in Lincoln’s life to illustrate his rise from anonymity to the Presidency despite his disdain for politics. Too often, Sherwood’s screenplay is preachy and treats life as a Sunday school morality play. Lincoln is treated as an icon rather than a man with human failings. His romance with Ann, supposedly his great love, is treated perfunctorily. There is little chemistry between Massey and Howard and their characters’ love for each another is poorly conveyed.<br /><br />By the time Massey starred in the picture, he had played Lincoln on Broadway and on tour across the country. With a slow, thoughtful manner of speaking often peppered with aphorisms attributed to the President, Massey’s portrayal is very convincing. His facial structure is similar to Lincoln’s and a nose appliance helps him to look like a young version of the President. It’s a shame the script is content to hit events generally known without delving deeper.<br /><br />Ruth Gordon, an established stage actress making her screen debut, gives a spirited portrayal of Mary Todd as the power behind the man. Dressed in frills and finery, she has the appearance of a genteel, well-bred society woman. But the silk and ruffles are a veneer for a woman with driving ambition. She sees in Abe a quality he might not yet perceive in himself and urges him on to realize his full potential. Gordon portrays Mary as blunt, focused, and determined, qualities that were not regarded as befitting a proper lady. The script suggests that Abe’s marriage to Mary may have been more for her ambition and his convenience than love.<br /><br />The only bonus material on the unrated Blu-ray release from Warner Archive is an audio-only Lux Radio Theater broadcast (59:57). Aired on April 22, 1940, the program starred Raymond Massey as Abe Lincoln and Fay Bainter as Mary Todd. The program was introduced and narrated by Cecil B. DeMille.<br /><br />“Abe Lincoln in Illinois” opens up the stage play to include several outdoor scenes but fails to fully exploit cinematic techniques to create more action and excitement. The movie never establishes dramatic tension, as scene  after scene proceeds on the same neutral level, rehashing the bits of knowledge we learned in elementary school. Though the film is a worthy showcase for Raymond Massey’s Academy Award-nominated performance, “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” does little more than coast on a folklorish interpretation.
The movie title "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.7 from 263 reviewers. 
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 {"MPAA rating": "NR (Not Rated)", "Package Dimensions": "6.69 x 5.35 x 0.51 inches; 5.92 Ounces", "Release date": "September 13, 2022", "Actors": "Raymond Massey, Gene Lockhart, Ruth Gordon, Mary Howard, Dorothy Tree", "Studio": "Warner", "Country of Origin": "USA", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : This acclaimed film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play stars Raymond Massey as Abe Lincoln, and spans his early years in Kentucky through his election to the Presidency in 1860..