Die Nelson-Affäre

England, 1805. After two years at sea, Vice Admiral Lord Nelson, the naval hero, is back. With his star in its zenith he could demand and get any post but for now he just wants to be with the woman he loves. Controversially, that woman is not Lady Nelson but his mistress, Lady Hamilton.

A film that largely explores the famous Lord Nelson's private life. In particular his private life in the months leading up to the Battle of Trafalgar. It's a complex business, which adds a bit of spice to proceedings. However, much of the way it is portrayed amounts to less interesting melodrama, feeling a bit soap-opera-y at times

In addition, the point of all this escapes me. The focus appears to be more on Lady Hamilton than Nelson and she's painted as a rather unpleasant person. I was hoping there'd be a turning point, where some positive qualities come through but she is unpleasant and unsympathetic to the end.

The personal drama stuff isn't terrible, it's even quite engaging at times, but it isn't enough to make an entire movie about.

What makes the film eminently watchable, however, is the battle scene. This isn't any battle, it's the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson's finest hour. A very gritty, lavish portrayal of the battle - very well made. This lifts the quality of the film considerably.

Terence Rattigan adapted his own play "Bequest to the Nation" (also this film's alternate title) featuring young Dominic Guard as yet another go-between: this time observing the relationship between vulgar Lady Hamilton (who quotes others as labeling her "that Hamilton b*tch") and his uncle, Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, who is unhappily married to Lady Nelson, the young man's confidante. Glenda Jackson is rather a hoot as the belching, saucy Lady Hamilton, though she criticized her own performance after seeing the completed picture (causing Rattigan to suggest she return her salary). The ticklish little asides between Jackson and Peter Finch are fun, though there's really no reason to be interested in these costumed monsters and guttersnipes. *1/2 from ****

It has been said that Glenda Jackson.was overacting. Emma Hamilton was crude and vulgar, that characteristic was captured greatly. Historically, she was a tramp and died in poverty after the death of Nelson. The character who played Harding said it best,

England needed a hero not a saint. He had said that Nelson was a great man by both was he did and what he was.

The battle did not show the details, however, Nelsons plans never were that complicated. His approach or "touch" was always to go right at them and break the line of battle and turn the fight into a melee. This tactic was no longer viable with the creation of the dreadnought, and long range guns. Had Nelson lived in 1917, his tactics would have spelled disaster for the British Navy: hence, the tactics were and are irrelevant to the story. The detail of preparation and conduct of a battle in the Victory in the age of sail is quite interesting.

This is an interesting and powerful story of an imperfect man being great. The current list of leaders and politicians are "perfect" men or women, but mediocre and incompetent. I would much rather have a Nelson, than a Biden, or a Lloyd Austin or Mark Milley.

Peter Finch gives a brilliant performance as Nelson in this colorful, superbly photographed film. Glenda Jackson gives a fine performance as Lady Hamilton, but Finch stands out in this film, as the central character of focus. Too bad it is not on video or disc 10/10.

"That Hamilton Woman" of 1941 was a spectacular Alexander Korda production bent on exonerating the woman in question, marvellously played by Vivien Leigh in her prime against Laurence Olivier as Nelson who consequently became her husband. It was a very romantic film romanticising and idealising the affair and story, making Lady Hamilton something of a martyr and a saint, while this film, written by Terence Rattigan, does the opposite: it focuses entirely on undressing Lady Hamilton almost to the bone, making her an almost unbearably impudent self-indulgent and self-derogatory shameless woman, whom no one can understand how Lord Nelson could prefer her to his wife. Well, he did, and his wife even made him an ultimatum to choose between the two, and he actually chose the cheap and vulgar one, if you are to believe Terence Rattigan. His portrait of Lady Hamilton must be somewhat exaggerated, she can't have behaved like that in social life, although Glenda Jackson makes a virtuoso performance of her. Peter Finch is perfect as Lord Nelson, quite credible in his love and weakness for her and still remaining in perfect order and loyalty as an admiral. Lady Nelson is heart-renderingly played by Margaret Leighton, which must be one of her best performances, and also Gladys Cooper made an excellent interpretation of her in "That Hamilton Woman" - both films make her justice. Glenda Jackson overdoes it in all her splendour, and the final battle of Trafalgar crowns the film in realism and admirable reconstruction of the battle. It's a great film although slightly biassed by Terence Rattigan, who did not understand women. An additional triumph of the film is an absolutely stunning and perfect score by Michel Legrand.