SAVING LINCOLN
A moral Lincoln drama better suited to home viewing.
Should You Watch It?
SAVING LINCOLN offers a thoughtful, moral portrait of Abraham Lincoln through his friendship with Ward Hill Lamon, his law partner and personal guard. Its strongest moments include Lamon’s concern for Lincoln’s safety, Lincoln’s anguish over casualty lists, the Second Inaugural and Gettysburg Address, and a moving scene in which a former slavewoman comforts Lincoln after his son’s death.
The film’s low-budget style is unusual but uneven. Actors perform against enlarged still photographs from the period, and the technique sometimes adds reality and drama. At other times, the presentation feels stilted, and some early acting is exaggerated.
The content is manageable for older children and adults, but younger viewers may be troubled by war photographs and a hospital scene. For the best experience, wait to watch this one at home with your family.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSAVING LINCOLN follows Abraham Lincoln and Ward Hill Lamon, whose law partnership in Illinois grows into a close friendship. When Lincoln becomes president, Lamon remains near him as his personal guard.
Against the backdrop of the Civil War, the two men face military crises, the death of Lincoln’s youngest son, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the continuing ravages of war.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means this film has worthwhile material but uneven execution. Its most effective scenes are dramatic and emotional, especially Lamon’s concern for Lincoln’s safety, Lincoln’s despair over the casualty figures, and the speeches drawn from the period.
The visual approach is distinctive. The performances are inserted into blown-up historical photographs, which sometimes creates a powerful sense of reality. At other times, the backdrops are distracting, and the film feels stilted. The acting early on is also exaggerated and unbelievable. The result is an interesting but imperfect drama.
The Worldview
The film presents a strongly moral, anti-slavery worldview. It is patriotic and includes more positive references to God and Christian virtues of mercy than the source review’s comparison film. The story treats the fight against slavery as a righteous cause and gives Lincoln a serious concern for the human cost of war.
One moving scene shows a former slavewoman comforting Lincoln after the death of his son Willie. She tells him that God has chosen him to lead the fight to end slavery. The film also presents Lincoln as suspicious of a séance and critical of the medium’s superficial claim that the dead soldiers are happy in Heaven because of the cause he is pursuing.
The review notes possible revisionist history: one main character, a friend of Lincoln, opposed slavery but also hated abolitionists, and the movie does not really mention that hatred. The film’s moral emphasis on mercy and justice aligns with Scripture’s concern for the oppressed, though its historical presentation may leave some aspects incomplete.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression” (Isaiah 1:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong moral, Pro-American, patriotic worldview with strong Christian, redemptive references to God and to mercy, plus some occult content when president Lincoln’s wife gets him to attend a séance to get in touch with their dead son but Lincoln dresses down the medium when she tries to tell him that the dead soldiers in Heaven are happy about being there because of the “great cause” Lincoln is doing against slavery and some possible revisionist history as one main character, a friend of Lincoln, opposed slavery but also hated the abolitionists and movie doesn’t really mention that hatred; one or two “h” words and five very light profanities, including one MG but several Dear God exclamations that also seem very reverent reactions/appeals to God concerning the ravages of war; some black and white Civil War photos of dead bodies, including one of a man’s head covered in blood, but nothing gruesome, plus sounds of gunfire and cannon fire, John Wilkes Booth is dragged away from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural address, and Lincoln visits hospital where man has lost one arm and his screams are heard but not shown as doctors start to amputate the other; no sex; no nudity; some alcohol use and drunkenness; brief cigar smoking; and, Booth plots to kidnap, then assassinate the president, and men want to kill man because they think he was derelict in his duty but he was not.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Lincoln hears the casualty lists and grieves over the ravages of war. How should leaders respond when their decisions cost people dearly?
James 3:1 · Romans 12:15A former slavewoman tells Lincoln that God has chosen him to help end slavery. What does Scripture say about justice, oppression, and defending the vulnerable?
Isaiah 1:17 · Micah 6:8Lincoln rejects the séance medium’s shallow words about the dead. Why is it important to test spiritual claims rather than accept comforting words automatically?
1 John 4:1 · Acts 17:11The film emphasizes mercy during a time of national suffering. How has God shown mercy to you, and how can you extend it to others?
Matthew 5:7 · Ephesians 4:32The Final Word
SAVING LINCOLN offers a moral, patriotic drama with several genuinely moving scenes and positive references to God. Its stagey execution and difficult war imagery make it better for older viewers, while a séance and hospital scene call for family discernment. For your family, WAIT FOR HOME. For other options, see.
