I like historical movies as there is rarely any real cursing in them. Now the screen writers have made the ancients curse in modern drivel. I refuse to watch STARZ' SPARTACUS for that very reason.
George Washington
The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense, and character, detests and despises it.
Head Quarters, New York, August 3rd 1776. Parole Uxbridge. Countersign Virginia
― George Washington
I enjoyed “Deadwood,” about the Old West and Wild Bill and such, which had characters using contemporary swear words, and often. There was an excuse: that old-timey swears sound old-timey to us. Using our swears provide the right effect, if not historical accuracy.
This movie us different, in that though Lincoln was born a backwoodsman, it takes place in genteel society.