The Day Lincoln Was Shot (1998)

The Day Lincoln Was Shot Poster

A dramatization of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Based on the book by Jim Bishop.

Film Overview
"The Day Lincoln Was Shot" is a 1998 American historic drama film stemmed from a book of the exact same name by Jim Bishop. The TV film was directed by John Gray and starred Lance Henriksen as President Abraham Lincoln and Rob Morrow as John Wilkes Booth. The film narrates the information of the eventful day of Lincoln's assassination, the 14th of April, 1865, providing an hour-by-hour account of the tragic event.

Plot Summary
The film opens one week after the conclusion of the Civil War. We get presented to Lincoln, who's pondering his plans for bringing unity to the country. Concurrently, John Wilkes Booth, a popular star and Confederate sympathizer, is fixated on his ominous plot to assassinate the President.

The elaborate strategy, created by Booth, initially intended to catch and smuggle Lincoln to the South in an attempt to bring back the Confederate cause. However, this plan ultimately moved due to the viewed desertion of the Confederacy by the Northern states. The focus rapidly changed to removing President Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State William Seward, in a desperate gambit to plunge the Union into turmoil.

In the taking place scenes, we witness a lot of character detailing in both Lincoln and Booth, sway of public beliefs, and political maneuvering in the nation's capital.

Assassination Scene
The day of Lincoln's assassination is exhibited agonizingly. President Lincoln, his better half Mary, Major Henry Rathbone, and his fiancée Clara Harris participate in the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre. In a twist of fate, Booth, being one of the nation's leading actors, enjoys relatively open door throughout most theaters. He takes this benefit to get in Lincoln's box and fatally shoots him before leaving the scene.

Aftermath of the Assassination
The concluding part of the movie paints an agonizing image of Booth's escape and the disorderly aftermath of Lincoln's assassination. Lincoln is transferred throughout the street to Peterson's Boarding House, where he eventually dies the following early morning.

The film indicates Booth's stopped working attempt to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward but does not cover the planned attack on Vice President Andrew Johnson, which never happened mainly due to the designated conspirator's cold feet. After getting away Washington, Booth is eventually cornered in a Virginia barn, where he is shot and eliminated.

Crucial Analysis
"The Day Lincoln Was Shot" does an excellent task of depicting the eventful day with an accurate representation of historical events. The double representation of Lincoln and Booth's widely contrasting emotions ahead of the terrible occasion is drastically poignant and engaging.

The film offers an expressive panorama of the period and the political atmosphere underlying Lincoln's assassination. It highlights the scary of civil war and the stress between the North and South that added to this cataclysm. The performances, particularly by Henriksen as Lincoln and Morrow as Booth, are also good, enhancing their historical characters with a believable human measurement.

Certainly, "The Day Lincoln Was Shot" is a noteworthy film that dives deep into among America's most significant minutes, illustrating how this unfortunate occasion has actually shaped the nation's intricate history. It stands as a valuable recommendation for those interested in American history, especially the period surrounding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Top Cast