Why are three movies made seven decades ago worth watching? History. American History—a lesson in a system that honors laws that treat all equally. Although July 4 has passed, it’s always a good time to celebrate American history with inspiring classic films. Hollywood during its Golden Era made many movies about U.S. presidents, using their biographies as the groundwork for inspiring, patriotic stories. Three excellent classic films about famous U.S. presidents are “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” (1940), “Tennessee Johnson” (1942), and “Magnificent Doll” (1946). The first two deal with Abraham Lincoln’s life and events, although Lincoln is unseen in the second film. The third is set during and after the Revolutionary War. In these films, a total of four U.S. presidents are depicted: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, and Andrew Johnson. Made in the 1940s, they reflect the patriotic feelings of World War II as well as the times …