MovieChat Forums > Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940) Discussion > Ruth Gordon Shines as Mrs. Lincoln

Ruth Gordon Shines as Mrs. Lincoln


Wonderful performance and since she was mainly known for her writing work and for theatrical performances - a good chance to enjoy Ruth Gordon's flair for memorable characterization.

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I think she should have received an award nomination for her performance.

❇ If you can remember the '60s, then you weren't there. ❇

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Considering the men toasted her as "the fairest maiden in town" or some line like that at one point, she really didn't. If you're going to throw in a line like that don't use a homely-looking woman for the role.



He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

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The first line of Gone With the Wind: "Scarlett was not pretty...." it was her dazzling femininity and allure outside of conventional 'prettiness' that made Bette Davis fight so hard for the role of Scarlett always showing this first line of the novel to the studio bosses. Different times, different men and women.

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Actually, the first line reads "Scarlet O'Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm..." etc. So she was likely quite "pretty" without being "beauty contestant material." Lots of women are pretty and attractive without being absolute, stunning beauty queens.

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Bette Davis ran all over the studio quoting that line trying to get the part of Scarlet.

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Bette Davis in her prime was gorgeous, though.

Nevertheless, she got her consolation prize in JEZEBEL.




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Bette at the end of Jezebel, her face in profile with the plague-fires burning behind her... never was she more beautiful.

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I thought she was gorgeous in MR. SKEFFINGTON, also (until near the end when age catches up with the character she's playing.)

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If Claude Rains was anywhere around she glowed with joy - he was her favorite actor as she said on Cavett.

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