When Lincoln Paid

When Lincoln Paid
Directed by	Francis Ford
Written by	William Clifford
Starring	Jack Conway Francis Ford Charles Edler Ethel Grandin
Distributed by	Mutual Film
Release date	January 31, 1913 (1913-01-31)
Running time	30 minutes
Country	United States
Languages	Silent English intertitles

When Lincoln Paid is a 1913 American short silent historical drama film written by William Clifford and directed by Francis Ford, who also appears in the film as Abraham Lincoln. Ford portrayed Lincoln in nine silent films; all are now lost except for this one ^[1] and The Heart of Lincoln . ^[2]

Plot

The mother of a dead Union soldier attempts to convince President Lincoln to pardon a similarly condemned Confederate soldier whose unjust conviction was the result of her vindictive scheme.

Cast

• Francis Ford as Abraham Lincoln
• Jack Conway as Bob Porter
• Charles Edler as Confederate General Porter (billed as Charles Elder)
• Ethel Grandin as Mrs. Barnes
• Joe King as John Wade
• Grace Cunard as John Wade's Sweetheart

Background

This was one of many films from the 1910s focusing on Lincoln's well-known practice of pardoning young Civil War soldiers condemned to die, if any extenuating circumstances might have been involved.

Preservation status

When Lincoln Paid was thought to be lost until a contractor who was demolishing a barn in Nelson, New Hampshire discovered a 35mm Monarch projector and seven reels of film. Among the seven reels was a nitrate print of When Lincoln Paid. The contractor donated the reels to the Keene State College Film Society. When Lincoln Paid was restored ^[1] and was screened at Keene State College in April 2010. The 35mm copy of the film was gifted by Keene State College to George Eastman House, where it is now held. ^[3]

See also

• List of rediscovered films

References

1. Reynolds, Mark. "Long-Lost 1913 Lincoln Film to Premiere at the Putnam". keene.edu. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
2. Taylor, Derrick Bryson (February 12, 2025). "A Lost Silent Film About Lincoln Was Unearthed by an Intern". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 1, 2025.
3. "When Lincoln Paid". collections.eastman.org. Retrieved August 28, 2025.

External links

• When Lincoln Paid at IMDb