This is the first part of a six-part series on the marriage of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd. Two parts are shown on each DVD in the collection.
Most today don't realize that the Lincoln marriage was very, very troubled. Part of it was due to the depression that both Abe and Mary experienced and part of it was due to increasingly irrational behaviors of Mary--which only got worse after her husband's assassination. However, this being the first episode, it focuses much less on their problems and much more on the early life of Abe--from his birth until he is, rather miraculously, elected president. Considering Lincoln's rather mediocre political career up until then, it's a wonder that he became president--having only served one term in Congress and a couple terms in the state legislature.
This final episode concerns Lincoln's re-election, the first episode where Mary behaved like a crazy person in front of strangers in the waning months of the war, the war ends, the assassination, the death of her third child, years of insanity and instability for Mary, Robert has her committed and years of bleak depression. All in all, it's a very depressing episode. I was surprised, a bit, with how little of the final installment had to do with Mary's insanity. Perhaps there are other documentaries that cover this material more in depth. As with all the other episodes, well worth seeing and exceptionally well made.
Most today don't realize that the Lincoln marriage was very, very troubled. Part of it was due to the depression that both Abe and Mary experienced and part of it was due to increasingly irrational behaviors of Mary--which only got worse after her husband's assassination. However, this being the first episode, it focuses much less on their problems and much more on the early life of Abe--from his birth until he is, rather miraculously, elected president. Considering Lincoln's rather mediocre political career up until then, it's a wonder that he became president--having only served one term in Congress and a couple terms in the state legislature.
This final episode concerns Lincoln's re-election, the first episode where Mary behaved like a crazy person in front of strangers in the waning months of the war, the war ends, the assassination, the death of her third child, years of insanity and instability for Mary, Robert has her committed and years of bleak depression. All in all, it's a very depressing episode. I was surprised, a bit, with how little of the final installment had to do with Mary's insanity. Perhaps there are other documentaries that cover this material more in depth. As with all the other episodes, well worth seeing and exceptionally well made.
