Lady Hamilton [That Hamilton Woman] *** (1941, Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Gladys Cooper, Alan Mowbray, Sara Allgood, Henry Wilcoxon) – Classic Movie Review 7328

Director Alexander Korda’s 1941 Lady Hamilton (That Hamilton Woman in the US) is a grandly theatrical, but inaccurately and dully written biopic on the extra-marital love affair during the Napoleonic Wars between Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805) and his ex-dance-hall courtesan mistress Lady Emma Hamilton (1765-1815), examining the clash of their private and public personae.

Signalling its craftsmanship excellence, there were four technical Oscar nominations, including one win – for Best Sound, Recording (Jack Whitney). Rudolph Maté was nominated for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Vincent Korda and Julia Heron for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White, and Lawrence W Butler (photographic) and William A Wilmarth (sound) for Best Special Effects.

For 1941 audiences it was a welcome chance to gaze at the then real-life newly-weds Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, and we can still enjoy it as a showcase for the handsome couple at their romantic peak.

For director Korda, working in the US, it was an opportunity to display his passion and talent for showcasing flamboyant historical characters and remind America of Britain’s fighting spirit. It remains an appealing but in no way special movie. The original screenplay is the problem, with Walter Reisch and R C Sherriff often struggling. Visually, there is no doubt that Technicolor would improve the film.

Also in the all-good cast are Gladys Cooper as Lady Frances Nelson, Alan Mowbray as Sir William Hamilton, Sara Allgood, Henry Wilcoxon, Halliwell Hobbes, Heather Angel, George Davis, Guy Kingsford, Olaf Hytten, Juliette Compton, Alec Craig, Leonard Carey, Georges Renavent, Luis Alberni, Ronald Sinclair, Miles Mander and Gilbert Emery.

Leigh and Olivier enjoyed their first screen romance in Fire Over England (1937).

Olivier was married to Jill Esmond (25 July 1930 – 29 January 1940), then Leigh (31 August 1940 – 6 January 1961) and then Joan Plowright (17 March 1961 – 11 July 1989).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7328

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