Tennessee Johnson
| Tennessee Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | William Dieterle |
| Produced by |
J. Walter Ruben Irving Asher (uncredited) |
| Written by |
Milton Gunzburg (story) Alvin Meyers (story) John L. Balderston Wells Root |
| Starring |
Van Heflin Lionel Barrymore Ruth Hussey |
| Music by | Herbert Stothart |
| Cinematography | Harold Rosson |
| Edited by | Robert Kern |
| Distributed by | MGM |
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Release date
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Running time
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103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,042,000 |
| Box office | $684,000 |
Tennessee Johnson is a 1942 American film about Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by William Dieterle and written by Milton Gunzburg, Alvin Meyers, John Balderston, and Wells Root.
It stars Van Heflin as Johnson, Lionel Barrymore as his nemesis Thaddeus Stevens, and Ruth Hussey as first lady Eliza McCardle Johnson. The film depicts the events surrounding the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and "presents its title character as Lincoln’s worthy successor who runs afoul of vindictive Radical Republicans."
The movie contains several historical inaccuracies, and an onscreen preface acknowledges that "liberties" have been taken with the facts. Its positive portrayal of Johnson and negative portrayal of Reconstruction activism are at odds with current historical opinion, but such attitudes were more common when the film was made.
Like most U.S. historical films made during World War II, Tennessee Johnson has a strong underlying theme of national unity. The movie shows Johnson as a visionary who heals the rift between North and South despite the efforts of his shortsighted foes. In a climactic scene, he delivers an impassioned speech to the senators sitting in judgment of him, and warns them that failure to readmit the former Confederate states will leave America defenseless before its overseas foes. The scene is pure fiction; Johnson never appeared in person at his trial.
Runaway tailor's apprentice Andrew Johnson (Van Heflin) wanders into the Tennessee town of Greeneville. He is persuaded to settle there. He barters his services to the librarian, Eliza McCardle (Ruth Hussey), in return for her teaching him to read and write and eventually marries her.
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