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Tennessee Johnson

Play trailer Poster for Tennessee Johnson 1942 1h 43m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 100% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
This biopic focuses on Andrew Johnson, the first American president to be impeached. Initially an uneducated drifter who stumbles upon a job as a tailor in a Tennessee town, Johnson (Van Heflin) is taught to read by librarian and future wife, Eliza (Ruth Hussey). Eliza convinces him to enter a local election, and, from there, Johnson rises swiftly. However, after inheriting the presidency in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, he finds himself on unsteady political ground.

Critics Reviews

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Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Although Johnson has been pegged as an incompetent and racist narcissist (hmm, sounds familiar), this interpretation is naturally missing from this movie. Rated: 2/4 Nov 21, 2020 Full Review Mattie Lucas From the Front Row Ignoring, for a moment, the fact that Tennessee Johnson basically gets the heroes and villains of this story completely flip-flopped, it's also extremely dull, representing the worst of MGM's glossy prestige drama instincts. Rated: 2/4 Nov 9, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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acsdoug D The movie glosses over many of the aspects of Johnson's presidency that lead many historians to label him as one of the worst Presidents of all time. Still, I found the depiction of the impeachment trial to be compelling, and Van Heflin not only does a decent acting job he even looks like Johnson. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/08/24 Full Review ashley h Tennessee Johnson is a decent film. It is about the life of President Andrew Johnson. Van Heflin and Lionel Barrymore give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. William Dieterle did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Tennessee Johnson

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Cast & Crew

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William Dieterle

Director

Van Heflin

Andrew Johnson

Lionel Barrymore

Thaddeus Stevens

Ruth Hussey

Eliza McCardle Johnson

Marjorie Main

Mrs. Maude Fisher

Charles Dingle

Senator Jim Waters
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Tennessee Johnson

Tennessee Johnson (1942) Tennessee Johnson (1942) Tennessee Johnson (1942) Tennessee Johnson (1942) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This biopic focuses on Andrew Johnson, the first American president to be impeached. Initially an uneducated drifter who stumbles upon a job as a tailor in a Tennessee town, Johnson (Van Heflin) is taught to read by librarian and future wife, Eliza (Ruth Hussey). Eliza convinces him to enter a local election, and, from there, Johnson rises swiftly. However, after inheriting the presidency in the wake of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, he finds himself on unsteady political ground.
Director
William Dieterle
Producer
J. Walter Ruben, Irving Asher
Screenwriter
John L. Balderston, Wells Root
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 43m