Young Mr. Lincoln Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of John Ford's "Young Mr. Lincoln," presented by Criterion, showcases an exceptional video restoration that both enthusiasts and casual viewers will find impressive. Encoded with MPEG-4 AVC at 1080p resolution, the film retains its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The comprehensive digital restoration, spearheaded by Twentieth Century Fox and Criterion, draws from a 4K scan of an original 35mm nitrate print provided by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, supplemented by a safety 35mm fine-grain for damaged or missing sections. This meticulous combination of sources ensures a seamlessly stitched final product, exuding a pristine and film-like quality.

From the technical perspective, the transfer exhibits excellent stability and clarity, maintaining solid black levels and a well-balanced grayscale. Shadow details are commendable, enhancing depth and providing a nuanced visual experience that leverages the high-quality 4K restoration process. While minor density issues are present in a few segments, they are hardly sufficient to disrupt the viewing experience. The absence of any noticeable digital artifacts or intrusive image manipulation underlines the authenticity of the restoration. The visual grading achieves a finely tuned contrast that complements both interior and exterior scenes succinctly.

Furthermore, the restoration effectively minimizes age-related imperfections, rendering the film virtually spotless. The result is a transfer that magnifies fine details—particularly in close-ups—while maintaining a rich and deep appearance across various lighting conditions. Criterion's adept handling of the material, reinforced by high-grade scanning technologies, demonstrates an unwavering commitment to preserving the historical integrity of "Young Mr. Lincoln." This release unequivocally signifies a high watermark for how classic cinema should be experienced at home.

The Blu-ray release of "Young Mr. Lincoln" features an English LPCM 1.0 audio track mastered from the original 35 mm magnetic tracks at 24-bit. The overall audio presentation is solid, particularly for a film of its vintage. The LPCM mono track showcases good fidelity, stability, and balance, with very few technical issues observed. Dynamic intensity remains impressive given the age of the source material, providing a listening experience that is both engaging and true to the period.

Alfred Newman's music score benefits markedly from this restoration, filling the room effortlessly thanks to fine fidelity and tonal depth. Dialogue is clear and prioritized, ensuring comprehensibility throughout. Atmospheric elements such as chirping crickets and crowd noise are well-rendered, enhancing the viewing experience. Noteworthy sound effects like the sharpness of an axe splitting logs and the distinctness of a gunshot are crisply captured, adding to the film's historical ambiance. While occasional hints of surface noise are noticeable during quieter scenes, there are no pops or crackles to detract from the audio quality. Ultimately, this LPCM mono track delivers a commendable audio experience for an 80-year-old film.

Criterion’s Blu-ray release of "Young Mr. Lincoln" features an outstanding array of extras that delve deeply into the film’s historical, technical, and artistic dimensions. The supplement highlights include an insightful audio commentary by Joseph McBride, who offers a profound analysis that weaves together historical context, cinematic technique, and personal anecdotes about John Ford and Henry Fonda. The archival material, particularly the episodes from the BBC’s "Omnibus: John Ford, Part One" and "Parkinson," enriches the viewer’s understanding with firsthand accounts and interviews from significant personalities. Dan Ford's audio interviews with both John Ford and Henry Fonda add an intimate layer, underscored by poignant reflections on their collaboration. Further, the 1946 radio adaptation featuring Henry Fonda encapsulates the essence of the film in a different medium, offering a nostalgic audio experience. An illustrated booklet with essays provides additional scholarly perspectives, making these extras an invaluable resource for film enthusiasts and historians alike.

Extras included in this disc:

Omnibus: John Ford, Part One: Focuses on John Ford's legacy and cinematic style with archival interviews. Parkinson: Meets Henry Fonda: Henry Fonda discusses his career and collaborations with John Ford. Dan Ford Interviews: Archival audio interviews with John Ford and Henry Fonda. Academy Award: The radio adaptation of "Young Mr. Lincoln" featuring Henry Fonda. Commentary: Joseph McBride's detailed analysis and historical context of the film. Booklet: Illustrated booklet including essays by Geoffrey O'Brien and Sergei Eisenstein.

John Ford's landmark 1939 film, Young Mr. Lincoln, is an evocative character study detailing the early years of Abraham Lincoln, skillfully portrayed by Henry Fonda. The narrative, focusing on Lincoln's rise from a modest lawyer to an emergent leader, is both poetic and insightful. Not intended to be a comprehensive biography, the film instead emphasizes the socio-cultural milieu that shaped Lincoln. The dramatic centerpiece—Lincoln's defense of two accused men—showcases his innate leadership and oratory skills, solidifying viewer engagement. Ford deftly incorporates elements like Lincoln’s stovepipe hat and humble speech to craft a deeply humanizing portrayal free from overt melodrama, while still imbuing the film with a necessary vintage charm.

Technical prowess in Young Mr. Lincoln is evident in Bert Glennon’s cinematography, promoting visual depth and lyricism that reflects Ford's reverence for Lincoln. The pastoral compositions and deliberate pacing, despite initial studio tensions, allow for an intimate exploration of Lincoln’s early ambitions and ethical convictions. Henry Fonda’s nuanced performance, enhanced by meticulous prosthetics and measured speech patterns, ensures that Lincoln's image remains ever-present without slipping into caricature. The supporting cast, including Alice Brady in her final role and Donald Meek, provide commendable performances that bolster the film's impact.

Ford’s artistic vision remains potent and relevant today, offering a resonant portrayal at a time when political civility is scarce. This Criterion Blu-ray edition enhances the viewing experience with a meticulously restored video codec (1080p/AVC MPEG-4) and LPCM mono audio. Supplementary features include insightful commentaries, archival interviews, and an extensive booklet with scholarly essays, ensuring a comprehensive appreciation of this near-perfect historical narrative.

Criterion's Blu-ray release of "Young Mr. Lincoln" stands as a testament to the film's enduring appeal and its historical significance. Directed by John Ford and featuring a masterful performance by Henry Fonda, this film delves into the formative years of Abraham Lincoln with warmth, acuity, and humor. Ford's direction and Fonda’s portrayal bring this understated slice of Americana to brilliant life, making it a standout in cinema history. Criterion's edition benefits from an impressive 4K restoration completed in cooperation with Twentieth Century Fox, resulting in an exceptional video transfer that captures the film’s original texture and fidelity with unparalleled clarity.

The audio presentation remains solid, faithfully reproducing the film's score and dialogue, thereby maintaining the integrity of Ford’s original sound design. Additionally, the Blu-ray offers an absorbing collection of rare supplements that provide insightful context and background, enriching the viewer’s understanding of both the movie and the historical figure it depicts. While there may be fictional elements embedded in the narrative, "Young Mr. Lincoln" arguably conveys more substantial truths about Lincoln’s character and legacy than many recent, overhyped films.

There is plenty of fiction in John Ford's "Young Mr. Lincoln", but there is probably a lot more truth in it than in some of the overhyped films that in recent years have explored the life and legacy of the great American president. As odd as it may sound, there are also some very good lessons—especially regarding how the provincial lawyer’s ability to understand and connect with ordinary people is either misjudged or intentionally dismissed by his competitors before he heads to the nation's capital—in it that can be quite useful to contemporary political pundits and ambitious figures. Criterion's recent release is sourced from an excellent new 4K restoration of the film that was completed with Twentieth Century Fox's involvement. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.