on the night in question, the moon had set before the time of death. He then drives Cass to confess that he had actually stabbed his friend. Cast Henry Fonda as Abraham Lincoln Alice Brady as Abigail Clay (final film role) Marjorie Weaver as Mary Todd Arleen Whelan as Sarah Clay Eddie Collins as Efe Turner Pauline Moore as Ann Rutledge Richard Cromwell as Matt Clay Donald Meek as Prosecutor John Felder Dorris Bowdon as Carrie Sue (Judith Dickens, who was obviously replaced by Bowden, is falsely credited) Eddie Quillan as Adam Clay Spencer Charters as Judge Herbert A. Bell Ward Bond as John Palmer Cass Milburn Stone as Stephen A. Douglas Cliff Clark as Sheriff Gil Billing Fred Kohler Jr. as Skrub White (uncredited) Background The film has as its basis the murder case against William "Duff" Armstrong, which took place in 1858 at the courthouse in Beardstown, Illinois, the only courthouse in which Lincoln practiced law that is still in use. It is referred to as the "Almanac Trial" on Armstrong's grave, and Lincoln proved the witness against the accused was lying about being able to see by the light of the moon, using an almanac. Armstrong was acquitted. Adaptations Young Mr. Lincoln was adapted as a radio play on the July 10, 1946, episode of Academy Award Theater. The Village Theatre of Everett and Issaquah, Washington has commissioned a new musical based on the film titled Lincoln in Love, book and lyrics by Peter S. Kellogg and music by David Friedman. See also List of American films of 1939 List of films with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a film review aggregator website References External links Young Mr. Lincoln: Hero in Waiting an essay by Geoffrey O'Brien at the Criterion Collection 1939 films 1930s biographical drama films 1930s English-language films 1930s historical drama films 1939 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films 20th Century Fox films American biographical drama films American black-and-white films American courtroom films American historical drama films Biographical films about Abraham Lincoln Fictional depictions of Abraham Lincoln in film Films about lawyers Films about presidents of the United States Films directed by John Ford Films scored by Alfred Newman Films scored by Louis Silvers Films set in Illinois Films set in the 1830s Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti United States National Film Registry films 1930s American films