Lincoln (1988)

A look at the Abraham Lincoln (Sam Waterston) presidency from his inauguration in 1861 to his assassination in 1865. Based on the novel by Gore Vidal and directed by Lamont Johnson (CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES). Vidal's novel is historical fiction. While adhering to the facts of the Lincoln White House years, Vidal's novel looked at Lincoln from the eyes of other historical characters. Vidal didn't give us the usual "Honest Abe" freeing the slaves scenario but instead presents Lincoln as a calculating and savvy politician whose aim was to save the Union, not free the slaves. This three hour adaptation of Vidal's book stays close to that narrative. The novel was over 600 pages so some of the book's characters like John Wilkes Booth (Glenn Faigen) are barely in the telefilm. The film's battle scenes appear to be mostly stock footage from other Civil War movies which gives the movie a slightly cheesy look. Waterston is very good as Lincoln, even though we never quite get the strength and magnetism the man must have had. But it's Mary Tyler Moore who gives a tour de force performance as Mary Todd Lincoln. Struggling with mental illness yet intelligent enough to see through the pretense of Washington politics. With Richard Mulligan, John Houseman, Ruby Dee, Deborah Adair, John McMartin, Thomas Gibson, Jeffrey DeMunn and James Gammon.