Comments on: Benjamin Chapin Impersonates Abraham Lincoln

By: James Cornelius

James Cornelius — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:14:06 +0000

Mark Reinhart published a 2nd ed. of his book in 2009, also with McFarland. The earliest film (1 minute long) is a 1901 tableau ‘The Martyred Presidents’ (Edison Studios) which depicts merely a still image of Lincoln. Still, it was the first ‘motion picture’ to include him.

By: Richard Fox

Richard Fox — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:54:30 +0000

Mark S. Reinhart, *Abraham Lincoln on Screen: A Filmography of Dramas and Documentaries Including Television, 1903-1998* (Jefferson NC: McFarland & Co., 1999), lists 10 Lincoln films that appeared before Chapin’s did. The first of them, entitled “The Life of Abraham Lincoln,” came out in 1908.

As Reinhart points out, Chapin’s Cycle appeared under various titles. The first of his films to be released (“Old Abe” in 1915) featured Chapin depicting Lincoln’s grandfather Abraham as well as Lincoln himself. According to Reinhart, the four Chapin films playing in New York City in 1917 were entitled “My Mother,” “My Father,” “Myself,” and “The Call to Arms.” In 1918, Paramount reissued much of Chapin’s footage under the title “Son of Democracy.” One or more of those titles may be available on DVD or videocassette, and some public libraries may own them.

By: Brent Wielt

Brent Wielt — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:45:56 +0000

Do you know if his film still exists? Was his the first filmed portrayal of Lincoln?