That Hamilton Woman (1941)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Alexander Korda

Writers:

Walter Reisch (original screenplay) &
R.C. Sherriff (original screenplay)

Release Date:

30 April 1941 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

The Year's Most Exciting Team of Screen Lovers !

Plot:

Sir William Hamilton, a widower of mature years, is British ambassador to the Court of Naples. Emma...

Plot Keywords:

Ambassador | British Ambassador | Passion | Infidelity | Napoleonic Wars

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Vivien Leigh	...	Emma Lady Hamilton
Laurence Olivier	...	Lord Horatio Nelson
Alan Mowbray	...	Sir William Hamilton
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. Cadogan-Lyon
Gladys Cooper	...	Lady Frances Nelson
Henry Wilcoxon	...	Captain Hardy
Heather Angel	...	A Streetgirl
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Rev. Nelson
Gilbert Emery	...	Lord Spencer
Miles Mander	...	Lord Keith
Ronald Sinclair	...	Josiah
Luis Alberni	...	King of Naples
Norma Drury Boleslavsky	...	Queen of Naples (as Norma Drury)
Olaf Hytten	...	Gavin
Juliette Compton	...	Lady Spencer

Also Known As:

Lady Hamilton (UK)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #6915) | West Germany:12 | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | UK:A (original rating) | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Alexander Korda Films

Trivia:

HMS Vanguard was Nelson's flagship at the Battle of the Nile.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There would have been no formal registration of the birth as prior to 1837 there were none in the UK. The only records were those of baptisms at parish churches.

Quotes:

Emma: [shocked after seeing Lord Nelson's wounds] They told us of your victories but not of the price you paid!

Movie Connections:

Featured in War Stories (2006) (TV)

A haunting beauty whose fate is entwined with a craggy sea warrior

I recall seeing this film when I was very young and felt sad about it. Now that I'm almost very old I still find it fascinating to watch. It seemed strange how Emma (Vivien Leigh) could rise to such prominence in life to become a Lady Hamilton and eventually fall so low, yes and sadly.

The movie begins at the lower rung, in her later life as she's caught stealing and put in prison where she recounts her story to others. We are taken back in time to her youth and arrival in Italy where, after some thoughtful consideration of her situation in life, Emma agrees to marry the elderly Sir Hamilton, and rather enjoys her position as Lady Hamilton, a glittering socialite.

Events of Napoleonic wartime bring Lord Nelson (Laurence Olivier) into their sphere when in need of supplies and he also seeks to warn them. Yet it is Fate that draws these two, Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton, together in one of the great love stories of their time. It is touching to note Emma's care and concern for Horatio when his health is needing attention. For years their bittersweet romance must struggle to blossom against the ill-will of public opinion.

Vivien Leigh never looked more beautiful and one can see more of the true person she was after setting aside her role in "Gone With the Wind." Laurence Olivier, an actor of many disguises, is well masked in the injuries that Lord Nelson sustained in battle. One can almost feel he is the victim of circumstances as he moves from battles to home front. I don't know that much about the real history or the current politics involved when the movie was made but I always regarded this film as one of the great love stories of the past.