User Reviews

This movie reminded me of those films we used to watch at school. It's short, a little less than an hour (perfect for watching in class), and carries a message, though it doesn't knock you over the head with it. It's a nice, simple movie worth viewing, especially with elementary age children who are just the right age for the message it presents. It concerns a young Abe Lincoln who's currently employed building a hog pen for a local judge. References are made that Lincoln has been studying the law, but isn't quite a lawyer yet. A freed slave in the area finds Lincoln trapped under a tree he'd been chopping down and gets help for him. The slave then runs but is captured later by Luke, a local no-gooder who's at odds with Lincoln. The slave, Henry, claims he had papers proving his freedom, but lost them in the creek. Lincoln proposes to help him and takes Henry in. This angers Luke and sets in motion events that eventually lead to Lincoln representing his first client, Henry. The movie is full of character actors you'll swear you've seen somewhere before. Its well acted and entertaining. I recommend this for school age children and their parents. Its provides an opportunity to discuss the issues presented in the movie and entertains at the same time.

Interesting parallel with To Kill a Mockingbird:

"Brock Peters" plays Henry, the freed Negro slave who is falsely accused of robbery but, defended by Abe Lincoln, is found Not Guilty due to the fact he has a damaged hand and couldn't have committed the crime. Later, Peters would play Tom Robinson in _To Kill A Mockingbird_ , a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl, which Atticus Finch shows he could not have committed due to the fact his hand (and arm) were damaged. Peters didn't get off as easy in that film however, due to the prejudice of the townspeople who find him guilty anyway. Too bad he didn't have Abe Lincoln defending him again instead of that shyster Atticus Finch! I liked this movie very much. docweasel