SAVING LINCOLN HONORS PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORABILIA AND A BODYGUARD
Reproduced photos from the Library of Congress of the Lincoln era provide the background sets for scenes in Saving Lincoln, directed by Salvador Litvak, whose “cine-collage” is largely in a very comfortable black and white. The story is a biopic not only of Lincoln (played by Tom Amandes) but also of his bodyguard Ward Hill Lamon (played by Lea Coco), who provides occasional voiceovers. Informed in part by Lamon’s 1872 biography of Lincoln, the film traces Lincoln’s first meeting with Lamon and their long friendship. Lamon, Lincoln’s law partner in Illinois, later performs both a “secret service” role and calms Lincoln in stressful moments with humor and music, and the film explains why he was not present at Ford’s Theatre. Although the obvious aim of the film is to humanize Lincoln as a president who was much less self-possessed than other cinematic portrayals, the effect is to display how he interacts with bombastic if eloquent political leaders who comprise the intellectual environment in Washington. Lincoln’s personnel management capabilities show him allowing any citizen an audience while responding to silly opinions by self-serving politicians with laconic, logical points of view. The narrative errs by pretending that the Emancipation Proclamation was written without pressure from the abolitionists; Harriet Beecher Stowe’s visit with Lincoln is not featured in the film. Nevertheless, the focus on Lamon prompts the Political Film Society to nominate Saving Lincoln as best political exposé of 2013. MH