Long-Lost 1913 Lincoln Film to Premiere at the Putnam
Francis Ford as Abraham Lincoln in When Lincoln Paid (Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
A couple of years ago, a local contractor was demolishing a barn in Nelson, N.H., when he came across a 35mm Monarch projector and seven reels of film. He donated his find to the Keene State College Film Society, which has determined that at least three of the films appear to be the only surviving copies of long-lost movies, including When Lincoln Paid, a film on an incident in Abraham Lincoln’s life, starring and directed by movie pioneer Francis Ford, the older brother of and greatest influence on famed director John Ford.
This brittle and damaged 30-minute two-reeler is of such historical significance that it easily won support from Tag Gallagher (author of John Ford), the George Eastman House in Rochester, NY, and the National Film Preservation Foundation, who rallied to restore the film. After being lost for 97 years, When Lincoln Paid will premiere in the Mabel Brown Room in the Student Center on Tuesday, April 20, at 4 p.m. and again in the Putnam Theater in the Redfern Arts Center, thanks to the sponsorship of the KSC Film Archives, Special Collections/Mason Library, the Film Studies Dept., and the KSC Film Society. The film is important for its historical theme, its place in film history, and for what it has to show about the techniques that influenced John Ford. The screening is free and open to the public.
Both Ford brothers were fascinated with Abraham Lincoln and made him the subject of many of their films. “There is nothing I like better than to play Lincoln. I have a big library devoted to this great man, and I have studied every phase of his remarkable character, and when I am acting the part, I can feel the man as I judge him,” Francis Ford is quoted as saying in an article by Ford scholar Tag Gallagher.
“Francis Ford is one of the most fascinating persons in film history…And he is known as the man who taught John Ford.” Gallagher said in a letter he sent in support of restoring When Lincoln Paid. Francis Ford made the first spectacular westerns in 1912, some of the first detective movies, and one of the first serials.
“Between 1912 and 1915 he played Abraham Lincoln in at least seven pictures. Alas, all of these pictures are lost. For nearly a century no one has been able to see Francis Ford as Lincoln,” Gallagher explained. “So now…to be told that I may get to see Francis Ford as Lincoln is thrilling news indeed.”
Check out these film clips from When Lincoln Paid. The first shows Confederate soldiers ambushing and pursuing John Wade, one of the film’s principal characters. The second shows Mrs. Wade pleading with Abraham Lincoln (played by Francis Ford) for the life of a young Confederate soldier:
Michael Matros on 07 Apr 2010 at 10:28 am #
This is an amazing and outrageously cool story.
Mark Reynolds on 07 Apr 2010 at 11:09 am #
Thanks, Michael. So we’ll see you at the screening? Did you watch the clips? Very cool indeed.
Marilyn Simons '97 on 07 Apr 2010 at 12:57 pm #
I’d really like to see this film but unfortunately have to work. How about another, evening screening??
Also, what were the other films that were found?? More info, please!!
Marilyn Simons ‘97
L. gilliam on 13 Apr 2010 at 2:06 pm #
This is amazing and should bt in the Smithsonian for safekeeping. How wonderful something like this has survived all this time. I am a History buff and this is part of it.
Hugo Sleestak on 13 Apr 2010 at 4:27 pm #
Can anyone explain why a film from 1913 is under copyright? I understand that a lot of time, money and effort went into the film’s restoration, but does that give the university a legal right to a product made almost a century ago by persons unrelated to Keene? Just wondering.
KeMo on 13 Apr 2010 at 5:23 pm #
Very cool article. I submitted the link to Stumble Upon so more word will get out about the film and the screening.
LOUIS 1953 on 13 Apr 2010 at 5:40 pm #
WHEN CAN WE BUY A COPY
WHAT A FIND !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOUIS 1953 on 13 Apr 2010 at 5:41 pm #
what a find
when can we buy a copy
Kenneth A Dietich on 13 Apr 2010 at 7:51 pm #
I think its wonderful that you have found such an indearing film.
My hats off to you. It would be wonderful if people could get this film on DVD. I for one would cherish it. Thanks for let me see the clips they are remarkable
Kenneth A Dietrich
Mary Ellen Miller on 13 Apr 2010 at 8:22 pm #
This was an unbelievable find and the restoration process is mind boggling. I grew up with stories about the silent films my parents saw and this really gives the stories a new dimension. My parents were born in 1899 and 1904 so they saw every movie that they could . Now I wonder———did the see this one?
efren castro on 13 Apr 2010 at 8:51 pm #
i have always liked books about Ab Lincon and this is amazing to me, i hope you guys get more info.
AJ Fraser on 13 Apr 2010 at 9:43 pm #
Well done to all conserned,
Albie,Paris France
colleen moritz on 13 Apr 2010 at 10:42 pm #
The large type across the image - copyright Keene State College is an insult on many levels - but it also gives a bad impression of the college itself - caring more about copyright than the film is how i interpret that large size font. From what i understand it was donated, a gift from Peter Massie who found it - considering it was a gift, would you consider posting the film on line to share without such large copyright protection? Thanks.
cmoritz
Jean Zurow on 13 Apr 2010 at 11:05 pm #
How cool is that. Thank goodness the barn was “cool” too. As a Lincoln collector would love to see the film, but am in Texas. Can the PBS channels give it an airing? Will DVD’s ever be available? It is not surprising that the film was made four years after Lincoln’s 1809-1909 birthday celebration. So many things were done to mark his 100th, and so few to mark his 200th.
Thanks for preserving this piece of American history.
Rich on 14 Apr 2010 at 5:40 am #
A 1913 film cannot be copyrighted. Regardless of the time and expense that surely went to restoring the film, such efforts cannot serve to “re-copyright” a creative work whose copyright has expired. For example, if I take a representative photograph of the Mona Lisa, I cannot claim copyright to the image of the artwork. That said, an owner–such as Keene State College–is not bound to share freely what they physically own.
I agree with the previous poster - claiming copyright for a public domain work reflects poorly on the college.
True on 14 Apr 2010 at 5:56 am #
Yes! Another screening, please! An evening screening so us working stiffs can come appreciate this amazing find! And if it could be brought to Red River Theatre in Concord, and other community theatres, that would be terrific.
Larry W .W . on 14 Apr 2010 at 6:17 am #
Great find.
Should be shown nationwide some how for I would certainly watch it and like a copy of it for treasure it is.
Bill on 14 Apr 2010 at 8:03 am #
Read about this film in the April 14 issue of The Bangor Daily News. Wish I could be there to see the film. Hopefully this and the other found films will be available for purchase sometime soon. It would be nice to have a PBS program if you would prepare one.
CrazyHorse on 14 Apr 2010 at 5:36 pm #
Very interesting find … BTW today is the 145th anniversary of the Lincoln assassination.
Jason on 14 Apr 2010 at 5:59 pm #
Imagine… this film was produced 26 YEARS
before Gone With the Wind!
Bryan Kennedy on 15 Apr 2010 at 7:09 am #
I’m stunned at the high quality of this film, especially after 100 years. It looks on par with a film made 30 years later.
Pete Jones on 15 Apr 2010 at 10:29 am #
It’s a great find “When Lincoln Paid”. I learned of the find through a blurb in USA Today and couldn’t believe it, then I remembered Nitrateville.com website where they talk about all things silent films. There were seven cans of nitrate found and at least two of them contain a copy of “When Lincoln Paid”. Someone already asked, what were the titles of the other films that were found? or have they been restored yet?
The Keene College logo on the films doesn’t bother me as much cause it happens all the time. Bigger institutions that restore silent films ie Turner Classics(Turner Archive-now in Warner Archives), UCLA(Milestone), Library of Congress, MOMA, George Eastman, KINO Video, Boise State College(Nell Shipman films) they all label the film in some manner or other if they are the ones to restore them. The issue of copyright is too complex for me to go into now but having those institutions label over a film is a small price for having the films available for viewing in ANY manner. Furthermore those institutions are more than likely best suited to care for the films and to preserve for future generations to enjoy. Labeling/logo etc has always annoyed me take for instance Kino’s issue of John Barrymore’s 1922 Sherlock Holmes, it has one of the biggest logos i’ve ever seen cover nearly 1/8 of the screen. But a price to pay to have the film available. Well just my 2cents, forgive me for rambling on. Once again great find, “When Lincoln Paid”, I guess the line “search your attic” still rings true for some films, that’s if the nitrate in a hot attic doesn’t ignite and reduce that attic to ashes.
harry on 15 Apr 2010 at 9:26 pm #
RESPONSE TO SLEESTACK… WHY ELSE WOULD THE UNIVERSITY PUT SO MUCH MONEY, TIME AND EFFORT INTO THE PROJECT? COPYRIGHT IS THE PROTECTION AND PAYOFF. SURELY THEY HAD TO CLEAR LEGAL HURDLES TO ATTAIN COPYRIGHT.
Kim Accorsi on 16 Apr 2010 at 11:12 am #
After considering the concerns around issues of copyright raised in this discussion, the copyright statements have been removed from the film clips. We hope everyone continues to share and enjoy the clips (and those who can will join us next week for the screening).
John A Riggs on 17 Apr 2010 at 5:42 pm #
This is just wonderful. Almost the150th anniversary of the Civil War and a find like this is amazing. Thanks to all who helped restore it.
John Riggs
Judy Swain on 19 Apr 2010 at 11:23 am #
any possibility of showing somewhere in the Concord area? I can’t get down to Keene & would love to see the film!!!
Howard Porter on 20 Apr 2010 at 9:11 am #
I’m delighted by this find, but not accustomed to silent movies. Is there any way to view the dialogue for the movie?
David Wild Aiken on 20 Apr 2010 at 10:36 am #
To All –
Just proves hidden treasures die tough.
Working on way to resurrect actual humans - labeled as Immortals in Search of Poetic Fame.
Thousand years from today, some of us will be unearthed, reconstructed and held, also, in awe.
Death be damned.