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The Great Man's Whiskers
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Wikipedia article
'The Great Man's Whiskers' is a 1972 American made-for-television drama film about Abraham Lincoln, directed by Philip Leacock. It was based on a play by Adrian Scott.
The film featured a number of well known theatre and television character actors. Harve Presnell, featured as a ballad singer in the film, sings "The Wilderness Man" written by Earl Robinson with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Isabel Sanford sings "Things Go Bump in the Night" also written by Robinson and Harburg. This was Mr. Harburgs last work.
Plot
A ten-year-old girl (Elizabeth Cooper) encourages Abraham Lincoln to grow a beard. Lincolns inaugural journey, by train, from Illinois to Washington, D.C. takes him through New York state. The journey includes a stop in the girls hometown of Westfield, NY. Lincoln, now with a full beard, takes the opportunity to meet the young girl.
The screenplay was inspired by the true story of Grace Bedell, who wrote Lincoln just before his election to the presidency in 1860.
Cast
*Dean Jones as James E. Cooper
*Cindy Eilbacher as Elizabeth Cooper, who wrote letter to Mr. Lincoln
*Ann Sothern as Aunt Margaret Bancroft
*Dennis Weaver as Abraham Lincoln
*John McGiver as Andrew Hogan
*Harve Presnell as Ballad Singer, featuring The Wilderness Man
*John Hillerman as Major Underwood
*Isabel Sanford as Ella
*Charles Lane as Philbrick
Production
In 1947 it was announced Adrian Scott would make his directorial debut with an adaptation of the play. John Paxton would produce.By THOMAS F BRADY Special to The New York Times. (1947, Sep 02). [https://search.proquest.com/docview/107994520 "SCOTT WILL DIRECT OWN FILM AT RKO"] 'New York Times' However Scott was fired from RKO because of the blacklist.By THOMAS M PRYOR Special to The New York Times. (1948, Jul 21). [https://search.proquest.com/docview/108104615 "COWBOY GROOMED FOR FILM STARDOM"] 'New York Times' For a time it seemed RKO would still do the projectBy THOMAS F BRADY Special to The New York Times. (1948, Feb 18). [https://search.proquest.com/docview/108309723 "GOTTLIEB TO MAKE TWO NEW MOVIES"] 'New York Times' but it was eventually dropped.
The screenplay by John Paxton was eventually directed by Philip Leacock at Universal City Studios in 1969.Norma, L. B. (1969, Aug 20). [https://search.proquest.com/docview/168970167 "Hollywood today"] 'Chicago Tribune' The film aired on the NBC television network as a TV Movie of the Week on May 2, 1972. It was rebroadcast on February 13, 1973.[https://search.proquest.com/docview/157157736 "Robert Adrian Scott, One of Hollywood's 'Unfriendly 10', Dies"] (1972, Dec 26). 'Los Angeles Times'
The 'Los Angeles Times' called it "foolish and belaboured."Murphy, M. (1973, Feb 13). [https://search.proquest.com/docview/157291802 "CHESTER FORGOTTEN"] 'Los Angeles Times'
References
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