Email here for additions & corrections.

Ishtar
(May, 1987)
The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (OOP)
(Ross, 1976)
The Devils
(Russell, 1974)
The Pirates of Penzance
(Papp/Leach, 1983)
The Fortune
(Nichols, 1975)
-30-
(Webb, 1959)
Betrayal
(Jones, 1983)
Play It As It Lays
(Perry, 1972)
The Outfit
(Flynn, 1973)
Alex in Wonderland
(Mazursky, 1969)
The Legend of Lylah Clare
(Aldrich, 1968)
In The Cool of the Day
(Stevens, 1963)
That Cold Day in the Park
(Altman, 1969)
Thumb Trippin'
(Masters, 1972)
Midas Run
(Kjellin, 1969)
At Long Last Love
(Bogdanovich, 1973)
Brewster McCloud
(Altman, 1972)
Outcast of the Islands
(Reed, 1951)

Reader Submissions
1930's-1950's
The Moon's Our Home
(Seiter, 1936)
Sh! The Octopus
(McGann, 1937)
The Mating Season
(Leisen, 1951)
Bad for Each Other
(Rapper, 1953)
The Phenix City Story
(Karlson, 1955)
Run of the Arrow
(Fuller, 1956)
House of Secrets
(Green, 1956)
Saint Joan
(Preminger, 1957)
Macabre
(Castle, 1958)
The Fiend Who Walked the West
(G. Douglas, 1958
Five Gates to Hell
(Clavell, 1959)
1960's
Key Witness
(Karlson, 1960)
Summer and Smoke
(Glenville, 1961)
The Chapman Report
(Cukor,1962)
Bachelor Flat
(Tashlin, 1962) [on Hulu]
The L Shaped Room
(Forbes, 1963)
The Chalk Garden
(Neame, 1964)
A Thousand Clowns
(Coe, 1965)
You're a Big Boy Now
(Coppola, 1966)
The Whisperers
(Forbes, 1967)
Dark of the Sun
(Cardiff, 1968)
Skidoo
(Preminger, 1968)
Last Summer
(Perry, 1969)
The Comic
(C. Reiner, 1969)
1970-1974
The Revolutionary
(Williams, 1970)
The Landlord
(Ashby, 1970)
Diary of a Mad Housewife
(Perry, 1970)
Tropic of Cancer
(Strick, 1970)
I Never Sang for My Father
(Cates, 1970)
Sometimes a Great Notion
(Newman, 1971)
Marriage of a Young Stockbroker
(Turman, 1971)
The Music Lovers
(Russell, 1971)
Drive, He Said
(Nicholson, 1971)
The Steagle
(Sylbert, 1971)
The Last Movie
(Hopper, 1971)
Made For Each Other
(Bean, 1971)
The Day the Clown Cried
(Lewis, 1972)
Hickey & Boggs (OOP)
(Culp, 1972)
The Carey Treatment
(Edwards, 1972)
Pete 'n' Tillie
(Ritt, 1972)
Slither
(Zieff, 1973)
Man on a Swing
(Perry, 1974)
Open Season
(Collinson, 1974)
The Tamarind Seed
(Edwards, 1974)
Law and Disorder
(Passer, 1974)
Homebodies
(Yust, 1974)
Stardust
(Apted, 1974)
Celine and Julie Go Boating
(Rivette, 1974)
1975-1979
Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins
(Richards, 1975
At Long Last Love
(Bogdanovich, 1975)
Hearts of the West
(Zieff, 1975)
Welcome to L.A.
(Rudolph, 1976)
W.C. Fields and Me
(Hiller, 1976)
Citizens Band
(Demme, 1977)
Twilight's Last Gleaming
(Aldrich, 1977)
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
(Brooks, 1977)
Girlfriends
(Weill, 1978)
Movie Movie
(Donen, 1978)
The Medusa Touch
(Gold, 1978)
American Hot Wax
(Mutrux, 1978)
Hot Stuff
(DeLuise, 1979)
Scavenger Hunt
(Schultz , 1979)
Players
(Harvey, 1979)
Rich Kids
(Young, 1979)
Nightwing
(Hiller, 1979)
Screams of a Winter's Night
(Wilson, 1979
When You Comin' Back Red Ryder?
(Katselas, 1979
1980's
Resurrection
(Petrie, 1980)
The Awakening
(Newell, 1980)
Simon
(Brickman, 1980)
God's Angry Man
(Herzog, 1980)
Fast-Walking
(Harris, 1982)
Twice Upon a Time
(Korty & Swenson, 1983)
Trouble in Mind
(Rudolph, 1985)
When the Wind Blows
(Murikami, 1986)
Housekeeping
(Forsyth, 1987)
The Glass Menagerie
(Newman, 1987)
Patty Hearst
(Schrader, 1988)
Drowning by Numbers
(Greenaway, 1988)
Haunted Summer
(Passer, 1988)
The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years
(Spheeris, 1988)
1990's
Old Times
(Curtis, 1991)
Prospero's Books
(Greenaway, 1991)
City of Hope
(Sayles, 1991)
The Baby of Macon
(Greenaway, 1993)
King of the Hill
(Soderbergh, 1993)
Dadetown
(Hexter, 1995)
SubUrbia
(Linklater, 1997)

Upcoming

January 8

Bitch Slap

Waiting for Armageddon

Wonderful World

Youth in Revolt

January 15

January 22

Drool

Extraordinary Measures

The Girl on the Train

Spielberg's Lincoln in December?

email this story
read comments (51)
post a comment

Playwright Tony Kushner, who's been laboring on a script for Steven Spielberg's Lincoln movie for a very long time, is right now taking part in a discussion at a Harvard University Institute of Politics forum panel discussion called "Looking For Lincoln: In His Time and Ours -- A Conversation on the Meaning of Abraham Lincoln." It began at 6 pm at the John F. Kennedy Forum.

In any event, a longtime HE reader in attendance informs by cell-phone e-mail that Kushner has said "the decision will be made on Lincoln next week" and that if the green light is given the film will be "out by Christmas." That's pretty fast work for a expensive period film that'll use a lot of CG, no? Even if Spielberg passes on Civil War battle scenes.

Kushner also said that Lincoln "only covers two months of his life," my guy says, and that "the first draft covered four months and [was] 500 pages."

Kushner also said that the 13th amendment -- the abolition of slavery and involuntary servitude -- "is a big thing in the movie."

One presumes that Kushner meant that the film will cover the last two months of Lincoln's life, or roughly February 15th to April 15th, 1865 -- the day of his death. The 13th amendment was enacted on December 6, 1865, so there'll apparently be a little skipping around, event- and chronology-wise.

If any attention is to be paid to the Civil War during the last 60 days of Lincoln's term, possible inclusions would be (a) the Union victory at the Battle of Five Forks on April 1st, which forced Gen. Robert E. Lee to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond, the Confederate capital, (b) a subsequent rebel loss at Sayler's Creek, and (c) Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865, in the village of Appomattox Court House.

When I spoke to Liam Neeson (who will most likely play Lincoln) in the summer of '05, he said he understood that the film would span the full arc of Lincoln's time in the White House, beginning in March 1861.

Stacked Deck << previous | next >>Lips Sealed

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 9, 2009 at 4:11 PM

comment #1

Mr Bohemian says ...

I like Abe God rest his soul. I hope Steven Spielberg dosen't
screw him over like he did Henry Jones Jr.

Posted by Mr Bohemian at February 9, 2009 5:10 PM

comment #2

storymark says ...

The Incredible Shrinkin' Lincoln.

Posted by storymark at February 9, 2009 5:10 PM

comment #3

DeafBrownTrashPunk says ...

Nice. I would be very excited to see John Wilkes Booth be portrayed in the film if that's the case.

Is anybody else particularly fascinated with John Wilkes Booth? He came from a prominent acting/theatrical family but he was a failed actor, while his brother, Edwin Booth, was a very popular actor.

I remember reading that Edwin Booth was the only "well respected" American actor taken seriously in Europe during the time when Europeans looked down at Americans (especially American actors who acted in Shakespeare, which was considered laughable).

This should be an interesting film.

Posted by DeafBrownTrashPunk at February 9, 2009 5:16 PM

comment #4

EdHavens says ...

If I recall correctly, Munich didn't get announced until March 2005, then it began shooting at the end of June and was being screened for critics and guild voters in early December.

Plus, there is no guarantee Lincoln will be including any scenes of Civil War action. I am not as familiar with the Civil War as I would like to be, but I don't remember hearing much about Lincoln spending a whole lot of time on the battlefield.

Posted by EdHavens at February 9, 2009 5:17 PM

comment #5

Jason says ...

"That's pretty fast work for a expensive period film that'll use a lot of CG, no?"

Like EdHavens said, Spielberg has shot and released ambitious prestige pictures in much less time than between now and December.

He's also ramping up production on Tintin, which seems to be a curiously underreported story.

Posted by Jason at February 9, 2009 5:19 PM

comment #6

Mr Bohemian says ...

You want Abe
go here and watch Abe.
www.mondominishows.com/index.php?IdEpisode=432
and no waiting for Steven Spielberg.

Posted by Mr Bohemian at February 9, 2009 5:21 PM

comment #7

Josh Massey says ...

As absurd as it may be, I bet the box office of Taken might play a part.

Just saw it today, by the way, and probably liked it a lot more than I should have.

Posted by Josh Massey at February 9, 2009 5:28 PM

comment #8

The Winchester says ...

Eff this movie. I want to see the one where Indiana Jones hunts down Booth instead.

Posted by The Winchester at February 9, 2009 5:28 PM

comment #9

BurmaShave says ...

Massey just said everything that was in my brain.

Posted by BurmaShave at February 9, 2009 5:41 PM

comment #10

Aladdin Sane says ...

In Spielberg's version, does Lincoln survive assassination to kick alien ass?

Posted by Aladdin Sane at February 9, 2009 5:44 PM

comment #11

erniesouchak says ...

I thought Todd Field was working on a movie about Booth at one time. I'd rather see that movie.

Posted by erniesouchak at February 9, 2009 5:50 PM

comment #12

Chicago48 says ...

Oh no not another biopic.

Posted by Chicago48 at February 9, 2009 6:40 PM

comment #13

Chase Kahn says ...

While I certainly agree that TAKEN'S box-office tally had an effect -- that film is an absolute atrocity.

Posted by Chase Kahn at February 9, 2009 6:44 PM

comment #14

scooterzz says ...

fwiw--- on 2/18, pbs is running 'stealing lincoln's body', a pretty entertaining and enlightening two hour special featuring some interesting special effects... if you're a lincoln fan/history buff, it's worth catching.....
and, on that same night...hbo is running the doc, 'the witness: from the balcony of room 306'...it will definately lend a little depth to that recent visit to the lorraine motel......

Posted by scooterzz at February 9, 2009 6:46 PM

comment #15

btwnproductions says ...

PBS' "American Experience" just telecast an excellent edition on the Lincoln assassination and its aftermath.

Posted by btwnproductions at February 9, 2009 7:36 PM

comment #16

Geoff says ...

2 months isn't enough. Lots of good stuff during his whole time in the white house to cover.

Posted by Geoff at February 10, 2009 4:22 PM

comment #17

D.Z. says ...

I hope it makes up for Amistad.

Posted by D.Z. at February 10, 2009 9:02 PM

comment #18

HeritageHouse says ...

Thanks for the kind comments on both "Stealing Lincoln's Body" on the History Channel and "The Assassination of Lincoln" on PBS. We worked on both of these shows (and Nat. Geo's "The Hunt for Lincoln's Assassin, " which is still aring, and several others) We get to do a lot of Lincoln-related shows as we're based in a historic house (Cleydael) that is on the Booth escape route (typing this from the dining room where he ate dinner!)

If you enjoyed the PBS American Experience program and Stealing Lincoln's Body, you might also like to check out the History Channel's online Lincoln videos - click on "Lincoln Videos" - there are four short films on Lincoln's life in photographs where we got to re-create four iconic photos of Lincoln where they morphed from the original photo into real people in full color. These star Fritz Klein, the leading Lincoln interpreter today (he's even based in Springfield, Illinois). He's so Lincoln-like that it's downright eerie. Wish they'd show these on TV too - the director, Terri Randall did a phenomenal job and the accuracy is A+

-- Kathryn Coombs
Heritage House Productions
Production services for historical film & TV
www.HeritageHouseProductions.com

Posted by HeritageHouse at February 18, 2009 4:52 AM

comment #19

Crystal P. Mcglynn says ...

very nice post thanks!!! i really like it

Buy propecia

Posted by Crystal P. Mcglynn at May 28, 2009 12:21 PM

comment #20

Crystal P. Mcglynn says ...

intereting post... thanks!!! Be Creative

Posted by Crystal P. Mcglynn at June 4, 2009 9:34 PM

comment #21

milan says ...

it's downright eerie. Wish they'd show these on TV too - the director, Terri Randall did a phenomenal job and the accuracy is A+ Psychology School - get diploma

Posted by milan at September 23, 2009 11:08 PM

comment #22

milan says ...

very nice post thanks!!! i really like it Criminal Justice degree - computer degree | social work school

Posted by milan at September 23, 2009 11:13 PM

comment #23

mark09 says ...

I don't feel like writing anything now, but I'm now officially thumbs-up on Milk and Frost/Nixon. On a 1 to 10 scale, I'm giving them both an 8.5 -- and that ain't hay. Others are going to bestow 9 or 9.5 ratings, and that's fine also. biology degree AND chemistry degree

Posted by mark09 at October 9, 2009 11:52 PM

comment #24

Generic Viagra says ...

Hello!!!
I would be visiting this blog regularly. Thanks for sharing good information about Steven Spielberg's.

Posted by Generic Viagra at October 19, 2009 10:26 AM

comment #25

Viagra Online says ...

Hello
Great post thanks for sharing a informative article keep it up.
this information about Spielberg's is good!!!

Posted by Viagra Online at October 19, 2009 11:24 AM

comment #26

free games says ...

I thought Todd Field was working on a movie about Booth at one time

Posted by free games at October 26, 2009 12:44 PM

comment #27

viagra says ...

When i learned politics, one of the interesting things i recall about Lincoln, and the reason why he was such a hit, was due to his humility and his traditional upbringing in Illinois, in comparison to many of the other candidates who ran for presidency, even in the early days, who came for powerful, politically involved well off families.
I think it would be a shame if they dint include some of his upbringing, who he really was and where he came from in the movie. Understanding those factors about a person will often make you value them even more.

Posted by viagra at October 29, 2009 3:35 AM

comment #28

Erect Penis says ...

Hello
As EdHavens said, Spielberg has filmed and published pictures in ambitious prestige far less time than between now and December.

Posted by Erect Penis at October 29, 2009 8:41 AM

comment #29

Duffy9 says ...

I love spielbergs classics. Debt Help Financial Help Loans Personal loan with bad credit

Posted by Duffy9 at November 4, 2009 2:16 AM

comment #30

Doktormoms says ...

I am very interested in it, could you please tell me some more imformation? Thank you!

Posted by Doktormoms at November 16, 2009 3:19 PM

comment #31

bella says ...

I am very interested in this information, so I'd like to send me information, I also believe that some of this can serve me for my university project called Generic Viagra, thank you very much in advance = D

Posted by bella at November 18, 2009 7:38 AM

comment #32

TOM SMITH says ...

I want to see the one where Indiana Jones hunts down Booth instead.

Posted by TOM SMITH at December 1, 2009 10:55 PM

comment #33

online pharmacy drugs says ...

Posted by online pharmacy drugs at December 3, 2009 12:07 PM

comment #34

cialis canadian pharmacy says ...

I found so many interesting in this post

Posted by cialis canadian pharmacy at December 22, 2009 2:07 AM

comment #35

freeads says ...

THANKS! You guys do a great blog, and have some great contents. Keep up the good work. (free online advertising)

Posted by freeads at December 22, 2009 11:00 PM

comment #36

usdrugstore says ...

This is some very valueable information. I think it would be a shame if they dint include some of his upbringing, who he really was and where he came from in the movie.

Posted by usdrugstore at December 28, 2009 1:04 AM

comment #37