Bequest to the Nation [The Nelson Affair] ** (1973, Glenda Jackson, Peter Finch, Michael Jayston, Anthony Quayle, Margaret Leighton, Dominic Guard, Nigel Stock) – Classic Movie Review 10,716

Director James Cellan Jones’s 1973 British historical biopic Bequest to the Nation [The Nelson Affair] stars Peter Finch as Viscount Horatio Nelson (1759-1805) and Glenda Jackson as his mistress Lady Emma Hamilton (1765-1815).

This is the film of Terence Rattigan’s play about their long-time romance as his death at the Battle of Trafalgar brings together the mistress and wife, Lady Frances Nelson (Margaret Leighton), and reconciles their differences.

If it is a none-too-special movie, it is at least entertaining for the most part. Jackson starts at the top and gets gradually more raucous, while Finch underplays riskily but more appealingly. It is carefully crafted and well shot. What is missing or lacking is a sense of dignity, a parade of pageantry, a command of history, maybe a bit of pomp and circumstance; some real quality that is.

Terence Rattigan also writes the screenplay.

Also in the cast are Michael Jayston as Captain Hardy, Anthony Quayle as Lord Minto, Dominic Guard as Master George Matcham, Nigel Stock as George Matcham, Barbara Leigh-Hunt as Catherine ‘Catty’ Matcham, Roland Culver as Lord Barham, Richard Matthews, Liz Ashley, John Nolan, André Maranne, Clelia Matania, Pat Heywood and Stephen Jack.

Bequest to the Nation [The Nelson Affair] runs 118 minutes, is made by Hal Wallis Productions, is released by Universal, is written by Terence Rattigan, is shot in Technicolor by Gerry Fisher, is produced by Hal B Wallis, is scored by Michel Legrand and designed by Carmen Dillon.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,716

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