Gary O'Blog

LINCOLN FEST

Posted by: Gary O'Brien

Thursday, March 19, 2009 10:30 AM

The Lincoln Fest Film Festival last weekend was a great event. Hats off to Nancy Casey, Dan McCollum and Lisa Wilson for coordinating an wonderful four days of films, discussions, musical performances and special guests. It was an honor fo rme to be a part of the event as well. I was plesed to be on the opening night panel with the Oscar-nominated actor Hal Holbrook and Lincoln authors and scholars Guy Fraker, Vernon Burton and Mark Reinhardt. I have had the honor of having Mr. Holbrook on the show a few times, including the afternoon of the opening night presentation where he introduced a showing of "Sandburg's Lincoln" which was a six part mini-series in which he starred in 1874. I have enjoyed talking to Mr. Holbrook perhaps more than any other guest because his passion in undeniable and an interview with Hal Holbrook is like listening to a performance on stage. He is very dramatic, very detailed and very passionate. The first time I spoke to Mr. Holbrook we of course talked about his infamous role as Mark Twain in his award-winning one man show "Mark Twain Tonight." He is now older than Twain lived to be, yet Mr. Holbrook continues his portrayal as one of the greatest performances to ever set foot on stage. We also talked about his recent Oscar nomination for his moving and perfect performance in "Into the Wild." I challenge anyone to watch that scene in the truck without choking up. He evokes so much emotion. He should have won the Oscar. Our connection was so good, that I did not want to stop, so I asked him about his role as Abraham Lincoln in that 1974 production of "Sandburg's Lincoln." What followed was a passionate (there is that word again...no other word is sufficient) description of the research he did for the role, his travels to New Salem, Springfield and through Indiana to Kentucky. He studied his mannerisms, his vocal inflections (as described in a book account by a close friend of Lincoln's), his smile or sometimes lack thereof, and even his hygiene! He was on stage! I amde a vow after that interview to replay the Lincoln segment every Lincoln's birthday on February 12. I can't imagine another description of Lincoln and his importance to our country than that by Hal Holbrook. I was so impressed I called Lincoln Fest organizer nancy Casey immediateoly and told her about it and that she shuld try to get Mr.Holbrook to come to the Festival if his schedule allowed. I happily shared the contact information of his assistant...and shortly thereafter, word came that Hal Holbrook was coming to Champaign! Everyone who attended the Festival was impressed with Mr. Holbrook and his pre-film talk and his answering of quesitons by me, the panel and the audience after the film. He is such an amazing man and what a talent. He was so kind to everyone who said hello and was genuinely pleased to be here. We had a nice discussion after the Festival, he was pleased to meet my son Justin, and signed my guestbook (as all in-studio guests do). He wrote: "To Gary, Thanks for getiong me here to Champaign. Yuors, Hal Holbrook." Nancy did the work to get him here, but I am sure glad he was on my show so I could suggest his soming and help with the contact info. Afterwards, Justin was hungry and suggested we get something to eat. So we went to Steak and Shake (after 11 p.m.) and who did we run into? Hal Holbrook and Nancy Casey! It was fun to run into them once again and chat for awhile. The guest scholars, authors and panelists were just terrific. I especially enjoyed watching the films and enjoying them as films, but then hearing the commentary from the panelist as to what was authentic and what was not. Someone suggested with DVDs as they are now with special features, they should include a special feature of historians discussing what was real in the film and what liberties Hollywood took. Everyone agreed that Hal Holbrook's portrayal of Lincoln was by far the most authentic. Also, a special congratulations to nancy Casey, who was honored with "Nancy Casey Day" on March 15 by Mayor Schweighart to commemorate her great work on the Festival an dher 9 years with Ebertfest! It was fun to have her on the air the Day after the Festival's conclusion and surprise her with a visit from the Mayor. A great event! It sure makes us feel proud to be in a community that has so many great events. I was proud to be just a very small part of what was a terrific four days.

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