Merkel's melodramatic acting style. Glenn Erickson, reviewing the DVD in 2012, wrote that it "comes off as an interesting curio. Its earnest simplicity seems more dated than ever, despite the fine performance of Walter Huston in the lead role." Film historian Melvyn Stokes found that Abraham Lincoln'''s episodic structure "came at the cost of dramatic tension" and suggested that the film's disappointing box office performance was due to its having "nothing of major importance and relevance to say about its subject to moviegoers of Depression-era America." Abraham Lincoln'' was the first sound film about the Civil War which veterans of that war could view. See also D. W. Griffith filmography References External links 1930 films 1930s biographical drama films 1930s historical drama films 1930s English-language films American black-and-white films American biographical drama films American historical drama films Biographical films about Abraham Lincoln Fictional depictions of Abraham Lincoln in film American Civil War films Cultural depictions of Ulysses S. Grant Cultural depictions of Robert E. Lee Cultural depictions of John Wilkes Booth Films directed by D. W. Griffith Films set in the 19th century United Artists films Articles containing video clips 1930s American films