Review of That Hamilton Woman (1941) by Eric F — 28 Oct 2009

"That Hamilton Woman", directed by the legendary Hungarian producer Alexander Korda, is not exactly a subtle example of pro-British propaganda. Released in the midst of World War II, Korda's script quite obviously uses Napoleon Bonaparte allegorically as his Hitler. It's no wonder that the film is cited as the favorite of Winston Churchill, who was said to have seen it upwards of one hundred times.

The film stars Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, the famous couple whose personal lives quite closely reflects that of Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. The two had a scandalous affair before wedding each other, although they would later divorce in 1961. Vivien Leigh, one of the period's most beloved screen actresses, was fresh off of her Academy Award win for 1939's "Gone with the Wind". Leigh's performance in "That Hamilton Woman" is often cited as one of her very best, and her demanding charisma is as prominent as ever now 68 years after the film's release.

The framing device takes place in Calais, where a shabby English woman (Vivien Leigh) is persecuted for stealing a bottle of wine. She tells a fellow prisoner that her name is Emma, the once famous Lady Hamilton. The flashback takes us to 1786 and there we meet Emma as she arrives in Naples with her mother, Mrs. Cadogan-Lyon (Sara Allgood), at the mansion of Sir William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray, in a great performance). Emma, who had suspected that Hamilton's nephew was to wed her, is shocked to learn that the union will not happen. Shortly thereafter, however, it is Sir Hamilton himself that takes a liking to Emma, and soon makes her his wife.

A few years later, the dashing Captain Horatio Nelson (Laurence Olivier) visits Sir William in an effort to request troops from Naples to aid in England's battle with France. He is sent away with many men thanks to Emma's help, but returns five years later with depleted resources. Naples is too intimidated by Napoleon Bonaparte to continue to stand behind England, but Emma, once again, comes through with assistance. Nelson, now visibly exhausted, is missing one hand and an eye, but such losses perhaps only further attract Emma to his tremendous feats of heroism.

The film continues on, balancing scenes of war with scenes of romance on an equally spectacular scale, and it holds up as a highly involving, albeit cheesy, romantic drama. Although most of the action is off screen, there is one spectacular naval battle that displays some of the more impressive special effects and miniatures i've seen from that era. Olivier's performance is a bit hammy, however Leigh is overwhelmingly delightful, from her time as the flamboyant young doll to her later years as the broken vagabond.