20th Century-Fox Dynamo (June 3, 1939)

“Young Mr. Lincoln Special” NEW DYNAMO 7A CRITICS JOIN EXHIBITORS, PUBLIC IN LAODING ZANUCK’S LATEST HIT Not Only Do They Rate Fonda’s Performance Best Of Year, But They Are Enthusiastically Impressed With Humor And Excitement Of Dramatization Of Youthful, Romantic Lawyer Of The West Three Widely-Read Critics and a Philadelphia Press Agent Charles Smith on “Young Mr. Lincoln”: Lloyd Lewis, Chicago News: “For humor it is the only picture or play about Abe Lincoln that was anywhere near ade- quate. First-rate enter- tainment.” Buck Iterzcg, Milwau- kee Sentinel: “Finest thing Fonda has done. One of the best of the historical films.” Elsie Finn, Philadelphia Record: “Fonda paints a very arresting and lovable Joan Younger portrait of young Abe Lincoln.” Doris Arden, Chicago Times: “I saw Abraham Lincoln the human being. It was a magnificent ex- perience.” Dorothy Day, Chicago Herald-Examiner: “John Ford’s direction was per- fection plus.” Prunella Hall, Boston Post: “A human interest drama simply but beauti- fully told about a great humanitarian.” W. E. J. Martin, Buf- f a 1 o Courier-Express: “Fonda never played a role| so splendidly before. His best performance by far.” John K. Hutchins, Bos- ton Transcript: “An ex- traordinary performance by Henry Fonda, which captures the strength, the wisdom and compassion of a great man.” Dorothy Deere, Chicago American: “Henry Fonda contributes an immortal performance.” Marjorie Adams, Boston Globe: “A brilliant cine- ma achievement in the hu- man history of the na- tion.” Frank Farrell, New Everett Callow York World-Telegram: “A fine picture. I enjoyed every minute of it. Fonda gives a great perform- ance.” Norman Clark, Balti- more News-Post: “Money in the bank. It has got everything. It holds your The nation's most fastidious critics for newspapers, magazines and trade papers were unanimous in their superlative praise of “Young Mr. Lincoln.” This was clearly indicated by excerpts from reviews they wired their publications following the world premiere at Springfield. Most significant feature of these reviews was the writers’ observation that this production is “unquestionably a story that has been pro- duced and acted in a manner that will appeal to every type of theatregoer—and particularly the women,” as “Buck” Herzog of the Milwaukee Sen- tinel put it. Most enthusiastic were the feminine critics. Prunella Hall of the Boston Post, for example, informed the writer that “there’s something fundamentally wrong with the individual who does not get extreme enjoyment seeing- this picture unreeled.” Terry Ramsaye of Motion Picture Herald, who views pictures from their commercial values, made a comment that was typical of the opinion of representatives of the trade press when he said: “A remarkable picture that will help every theater that shows it.” Katherine Best, speaking as a magazine writer, pre- scribed: “I think every picture that shows ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ is a lot richer—and certainly here is a picture that is just loaded with entertainment—love, fun, suspense, drama and the element of surprise. How can it miss?” And each and every one of the critics marveled at the performance given by Henry Fonda. Each went into a rave where Fonda’s performance was concerned. Most of the writers nominated him for the Academy award for the year’s best performance. John Ford’s direction with his eyes fixed on box office value and mass au- dience appeal came in for his share of praise. But all were in unison that Darryl Zanuck has done it again! “ ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ will discourage a cycle because no intelligent pro- ducer can hope to come anywhere near the enter- tainment richness and production perfection of this one” was the way Norman Clark of the Baltimore News-Post put it. Following are excerpts from the critics’ reviews George Lait interest every second and there is enough of every- thing to make it popular with every sort of movie- goer.” Kaspar Monahan, Pitts- burgh Press: “A fine, honest, inspiring picture. Fonda gives a deeply mov- ing performance.” Bosley Crowther, New Rose Pelswick York Times: “A swell pic- ture, inspiring and cer- tainly excellent entertain- ment.” A. M. Miller, Rochester (N. Y.) Times-Union: “ ‘Young Mr. Lincoln’ is a throbbing, absorbing ex- perience. No American should miss it,” J. S. Pooler, Detroit News: “‘Young Mr. Lin- coln’ catches the spirit of something truly American and great.” Rose Pelswick, New York Journal-American: “Superb. One of the fin- est pictures of this or any year.” Helen Eager Helen Eager, Boston Herald: “Henry Fonda’s impersonation of Abra- ham Lincoln is brilliant in performance.” Herbert L. Monk, St. Louis Globe-Dispatch: “Sprinfieldians saw Lin- coln right back to life on Katherine Best Charles S. Howard the screen. It was great.” Merle Potter, Minneap- olis Journal : “I don’t think Fonda has any real com- petition for the annual critics’ poll for the best performance of the year. He does a grand job and the picture is a grand job.” Karl Krug, Pittsburgh Norman Clark Sun-Telegraph: “One of the most distinguished motion pictures, marked by one of the finest per- formances Henry Fonda has ever achieved. It is a beautiful story, with well placed humor and ex- cellent throughout.” Charles Gentry, Detroit Journal : “A stirring American chronicle. Fon- da, was marvelous.” Bland Johanesson, New York Daily Mirror: “An impressive, exhilirating experience, important, in- spired and particularly timely in its ringing Americanism.” (Continued on page 11A) Ardis Smith