The Presidents in Movies: Saving Lincoln
Our final film about Abraham Lincoln is an Indy film released on February 13 of this year entitled Saving Lincoln. It tells the story of Ward Hill Lamon, who was Abraham Lincoln's law partner in Danville, Illinois from 1852 until 1857. Lamon accompanied Lincoln to Washington and served as his main bodyguard during the Civil War. Lamon was able to prevent several assassination attempts while holding the post of US Marshal. Lincoln considered Lamon a close friend. He sent Lamon to Richmond, Virginia, on Reconstruction business a few days before April 14, 1865, the day that John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln.
The film is interesting technologically because it was shot on a green screen stage, with a technique known as "CineCollage" used to create interior and exterior locations. Actors, extras, furniture, and props were filmed and combined with period photographs using this process. The movie's narrative structure involves Lamon's personal recollections of his friend. This is reported to be the first time such a technique was used to create an entire feature film.
The cast is not a notable one. The movie stars Tom Amandes as Lincoln, Lea Coco as Ward Hill Lamon, Penelope Ann Miller as Mary Todd Lincoln, Bruce Davison as William H. Seward, Creed Bratton as Senator Charles Sumner, Josh Stamberg as Salmon P. Chase, Robert Craighead as Edwin Stanton, and Michael Maize as William Herndon, who was Lincoln's law partner before Lamon.
Saving Lincoln tells the story of the relationship between Lincoln and Lamon from their initial meeting to Lincoln's Presidency. According to the research behind the movie, Lincoln and Lamon shared a fondness for telling jokes and stories. The movie moves from their initial meeting to Lincoln's presidency and the repeated attempts that were made on his life. Many well-known incidents are recounted, including the plot to kill Lincoln in Maryland, while he was traveling to Washington, D.C. after his first election. Lamon worked with Allan Pinkerton, who founded the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency, to thwart that plan. Other events include the incident when a bullet went through Lincoln's hat while he was riding his horse late one evening. Lincoln blamed it on a hunter firing an errant shot, but Lamon saw it as a sign that Lincoln was in danger and needed even tighter security. Lamon was said to sometimes sleep by Lincoln's bedroom door, an image that appears in the film.
Themes in the story involve Lincoln's anguish over Civil War casualties, his conflicts with members of his cabinet, and the death of the Lincolns' son Willie, which led Mary Todd Lincoln to the depths of despair.
I haven't seen this film, but I certainly will when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, here is a trailer for the film:
The film is interesting technologically because it was shot on a green screen stage, with a technique known as "CineCollage" used to create interior and exterior locations. Actors, extras, furniture, and props were filmed and combined with period photographs using this process. The movie's narrative structure involves Lamon's personal recollections of his friend. This is reported to be the first time such a technique was used to create an entire feature film.
The cast is not a notable one. The movie stars Tom Amandes as Lincoln, Lea Coco as Ward Hill Lamon, Penelope Ann Miller as Mary Todd Lincoln, Bruce Davison as William H. Seward, Creed Bratton as Senator Charles Sumner, Josh Stamberg as Salmon P. Chase, Robert Craighead as Edwin Stanton, and Michael Maize as William Herndon, who was Lincoln's law partner before Lamon.
Saving Lincoln tells the story of the relationship between Lincoln and Lamon from their initial meeting to Lincoln's Presidency. According to the research behind the movie, Lincoln and Lamon shared a fondness for telling jokes and stories. The movie moves from their initial meeting to Lincoln's presidency and the repeated attempts that were made on his life. Many well-known incidents are recounted, including the plot to kill Lincoln in Maryland, while he was traveling to Washington, D.C. after his first election. Lamon worked with Allan Pinkerton, who founded the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency, to thwart that plan. Other events include the incident when a bullet went through Lincoln's hat while he was riding his horse late one evening. Lincoln blamed it on a hunter firing an errant shot, but Lamon saw it as a sign that Lincoln was in danger and needed even tighter security. Lamon was said to sometimes sleep by Lincoln's bedroom door, an image that appears in the film.
Themes in the story involve Lincoln's anguish over Civil War casualties, his conflicts with members of his cabinet, and the death of the Lincolns' son Willie, which led Mary Todd Lincoln to the depths of despair.
I haven't seen this film, but I certainly will when the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, here is a trailer for the film: