Justine Calahatian, The Conspirator
The film “The Conspirator” connects too many topics discussed in class as it deals with the most important advocate in anti-slavery, Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln as many know is the president to abolish slavery during his term, and is later assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who supported the South and their beliefs, one of them being pro slavery. Not only does this film connect to the idea of slavery, but also the first of many of a handful of elaborate and successfully planned assassinations throughout American history, without the thought of failed assassinations from Andrew Jackson who was struck by Robert Randolph to another attempt on Jackson where Richard Lawrence’s pistols misfired twice. Lastly the film portrays the nation in distraught after Lincoln’s successful assassination, which much outcry through the beginning of the movie was able to show the audience. This in relation to class discussion could relate to almost equal to that of the Panic of 1837 where financial crisis led America to the brink of possible bankruptcy.
      The historical accuracy of the selected film definitely gives the correct information and event timeline that occurred during the assassination of Lincoln. The beginning gives a brief summary of events that already occurred such as the surrender of Robert E. Lee to General Grant, and even how multiple assassination attempts took place besides Lincoln. Mary Saratt is portrayed as a business woman who is innocent of all accusations and simply provided a living establishment for those who held meetings to assassinate President Lincoln, but in doing so tags her as part of the death of Lincoln. She later on admits she wants to abduct Lincoln or exchange of Southerners, which doesn’t help her case either way. Although the film can’t be extremely accurate with what each character said at the time of the trials of the conspirators, but the film successfully portrays the ending of the movie, which no matter the defense of Frederick Aiken and his attempt to prevent Saratt from being charged as guilty and hanged for the death of Lincoln. I couldn’t see much historical errors or missed opportunities that the producer could have added to make the film more accurate as possible and felt that the information already given in the movie was enough to get the idea of the trials that occurred after the assassination of Lincoln occurred and their respective verdicts of being guilty.
      All in all, I feel that “The Conspirator” is a good work of historical film due to its fair representation of each character that was involved in the case, from the Lawyer Aiken to the innocence of Surrat. The story begins accurately of Aiken’s involvement in the film overall, from starting off fighting in the Civil War, and finally given the case to defend Surrat. Throughout the film it gave a more bigger background on Aiken and how he no matter how guilty everyone in the court felt Surrat was, continued to fight for her life and prevent her from being hanged, but instead at least a lifetime in jail. When the movie ends, and like previously stated above about her conviction, her son is finally caught and given a trial in which he is not hanged. This shows how his mother received the worst ending possible knowing she was far less guilty then her son.
      The historical context was definitely at a time where there was political unease and tensions as the Civil War was drawing to a close. So the military trial that was set for the men and Surrat was definitely meant to convict those who simply had something to do with the assassination of Lincoln, and how proving them guilty no matter what was the intention of the court. Proving them guilty would thus the country to be at ease knowing that those involved in the murder of Lincoln and the harm of other high ranking politicians would relieve the country knowing justice was served. Therefore this tension at this time gave the setting an uneasy and unsettling mood throughout the film where everyone is not only looking for Surrats Son, but also trying to convict those held accountable for the assassination. People argue and give unreasonable statements towards each other throughout the movie and the music sets the mood as if everyone has some sort of conflict with each other.
