The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998) (TV)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

John Gray

Writers (WGA):

Jim Bishop (book)
Tim Metcalfe (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

12 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

The Murder. The Manhunt. The Events That Stunned A Nation.

Plot Keywords:

John Wilkes Booth | Tragedy | Lincoln Assassination | Ulysses Simpson Grant | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Rob Morrow	...	John Wilkes Booth
Lance Henriksen	...	President Abraham Lincoln
Donna Murphy	...	Mary Todd Lincoln
Jean Louisa Kelly	...	Lucy Hale
Wil Wheaton	...	Robert Todd Lincoln
Titus Welliver	...	Lewis Thornton Paine
Jaimz Woolvett	...	David E. Herold
Jeremy Sisto	...	Frederick Seward
Kirk B.R. Woller	...	George A. Atzerodt (as Kirk B. R. Woller)
John Pleshette	...	Secretary of State William Henry Seward
Gregory Itzin	...	Mr. Crook
Adam Lamberg	...	Thomas 'Tad' Lincoln
John Ashton	...	Gen. Ulysses Simpson Grant
Eddie Jones	...	Secretary of War Edwin McMasters Stanton
Nancy Robinette	...	Mary E. Surratt

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Robert Greenwald Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one scene there is a wallpaper wich features a pattern of cyphers consisting of the letters VRI and a royal crown. The letters stand for "Victoria Regina Imperatrix" wich is Latin for "Victoria Queen Empress". It seems strange that such a royal motif would have been used in the USA. However even if someone would have wanted to decorate their walls with cypher of the british monarch in 1865, it would have been "VR". It was not until 1877 that Queen Victoria was given the title "Empress of India" when India was formally incorporated into the British Empire.

Quotes:

John Wilkes Booth: What we are talking about is property, slaves are property, valuable, well taken care of. Uhh, gentlemen treats his slaves the way he would his finest tools, with care and concern. It's in his own best interest to do so. Now this... dictator, declares they are free. What happens now? What *happens* to these free men? Free to what? Free to go where? What what what are they trained for? It's insanity. I mean does this man truly believe that he can obliterate a way of life that is centuries old?
John Surratt: Preaching to the converted John.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Remake of "Ford Star Jubilee: The Day Lincoln Was Shot (#1.6)" (1956)

Interesting Effort

I like this movie a lot. Proof that Ted Turner's people are better off sticking with "made for TV" movies as opposed to trying to go "big screen" (see: "Gods and Generals" for one such disaster).

I did not particularly care for some of the "MTV-like" camera angles and going from color to black and white (hopefully this "fad" will die a quick death).

Lance Henrickson is a fine actor and did a great job as Lincoln. Unlike Henrickson, Lincoln was a "western" country hick with a higher pitched voice and did not have the graceful mannerisms Henrickson protrayed in this film (I blame the casting, not Henrickson, for this), but it's no big deal, unless you are a nit-picker who liked to show off your deft knowledge of history.

Rob Morrow kicked ass as Booth. Another very underrated actor.

Here again, as in the TNT effort "Andersonville" which in my view is the most unique and my absolute favorite Civil War movie to date, I believe that the using of mostly "role actors" pays off.

Bizarre as it may sound, I really believe that background, incidental music can make or break a movie, especially a period piece such as this. And with this movie, it's excellent!

I doubt Hollywierd will ever treat Lincoln on the "big screen" again (as has been done before many many years ago). So I guess we will have to settle for TV efforts like this. And if they are all this good, that could be a good thing!