Lady Hamilton

This movie was Winston Churchill's favorite and for me, has always held a charm. Laurence Olivier is fine as Horatio Nelson but he doesn't hold a candle to his co-star and wife, Vivien Leigh. Vivien Leigh is simply superb as Emma Hamilton and dominates the entire film with her beauty and impressive acting skills. There is no doubt that she is one of the greatest beauties of the twenty-first century.

Screen biography of Emma, Lady Hamilton, whose love for Lord Nelson (the British naval hero of the Napoleonic wars) scandalized the Regency world.

Vivien Leigh is in almost every frame, and completely dominates the film. The story is all about Lady Hamilton and her unhappy marriage, her love for Nelson, and the consequences of leaving her stodgy husband to live adulterously and with the man she loved. (He was already famous before Trafalger, this was the "Monicagate" of its day) It's a fine soap opera, centered around a performance that can only be called luminous.

The camera doesn't just love Leigh, it gets down on its knees and worships her. Even in GWTW she never looked so unbelievably beautiful, and she's also completely charming and sensitive. The great Sir Laurence Olivier doesn't have a chance, he barely registers. He's handicapped by a serious lack of screen time and a dreadful red pony-tail wig, but the director seems to have decided to give him short shrift so he can squeeze in a few more exquisite close-ups of Leigh being enchanting. And she is, oh is she ever...

This picture emphasizes the fact that Vivien Leigh is not only beautiful but a major talent, too. In some ways, the character of Lady Emma Hamilton does resemble Leigh's earlier role of Scarlett O'Hara, but this is not surprising when one considers the actress is often typecast as the scheming vixen.

In a particularly memorable scene, when the Lady argues with her husband (Alan Mowbray) you do get a sense of Scarlett quarreling with Rhett. But the actress' undeniable chemistry with costar Laurence Olivier, as lover Lord Nelson, is perfect and much more intimate than what she shared on screen with Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind.

In fact, we believe that these two sincerely love each other. Both performers are rather eloquent and yet passionate in this film. And Korda's direction is superb. In addition to the great melodramatic moments, we are treated to some very realistic battle scenes that provide a fair amount of adventure amid the realities of war.

This is a beautiful period piece with the incomparable Vivien Leigh at her peak, just after GWTW and Waterloo Bridge. For a 1940's era production, the sets and lighting are outstanding, and the remaining cast is credible. Laurence Olivier may have been the best actor in history, but I do not appreciate it here. Perhaps this was not his best role. Leigh runs circles around him.

This film is worth a look for Leigh fans and those liking British period work, along with war propaganda. Here the noble civilized Brits are threatened by Napoleon (which is easily drawn to comparison with Hitler, being 1941).

Certainly, this is worth a look. Jolly Good Show.

One of the best known stories of adultery in British history is the one between Lord Horatio Nelson and the enchanting Emma Hamilton. This film by Alexander Korda takes that story and does not disappoint.

In the pivotal role of Emma, Vivien Leigh shines in a role that came not long after her international triumph in 'Gone With The Wind'. Her Emma is flirty, scheming, and delightful, and you can see why she captured the heart of Nelson. The part of Nelson is taken by Vivien Leigh's real-life husband, Laurence Olivier, and his stuffed-shirt persona suits the role perfectly.

In support, Alan Mowbray (as the cuckolded Lord Hamilton), and Gladys Cooper (as the snide Lady Nelson), are excellent, and the standard of script, photography, and direction is high throughout.

This was said to be Winston Churchill's favourite wartime film, and you can see the attraction. It was given a coda which showed that Emma didn't profit from her liaison but this is a small price to pay for such a sumptuous and engaging film.