As the other reviewer notes, the story is static and the dialog is wooden. But I wonder who deserves the blame because I believe the original story was influenced by a bit of "folklore" wisdom within the book business. Supposedly, it was impossible for a publisher or a bookseller to lose money on a book about Abraham Lincoln, doctors, or dogs. And thus if anyone ever wrote a book called Lincoln's Doctor's Dog, it was bound to be a best-seller.
Christopher Morley the author of the story that formed the basis for the film, was quite the sophisticated writer, very much "in the know" within literary circles. I believe his original story was intended to be both a wink at the book business joke (which Morley would have known), and a genuinely heartfelt tribute to Lincoln. Unfortunately none of that double-level awareness went into this overly earnest, overly talky effort.
Too bad they never made "The Editor of Lincoln's Doctor's Memoir."
Christopher Morley the author of the story that formed the basis for the film, was quite the sophisticated writer, very much "in the know" within literary circles. I believe his original story was intended to be both a wink at the book business joke (which Morley would have known), and a genuinely heartfelt tribute to Lincoln. Unfortunately none of that double-level awareness went into this overly earnest, overly talky effort.
Too bad they never made "The Editor of Lincoln's Doctor's Memoir."
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