That Hamilton Woman (1941)

That Hamilton Woman (1941)

That Hamilton Woman (1941)

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Edition: VHS Tape

VHS Movie Reviews of That Hamilton Woman (1941)

Movie Review: A truly great movie!
Summary: 5 Stars

Ever since reading a biography of Emma, Lady Hamilton I have wanted to watch "That Hamilton Woman" to compare. While Hollywood has taken some liberty, this is a classic movie from the early 1940's.
One of the most enjoyable things about this movie is the chemistry between Laurence Olivier (Wuthering Heights, Rebecca) and Vivien Leigh (Gone With The Wind, A Streetcar Named Desire). (in real life they were married at this time) Their ability to perform both humorous scenes and dramatic ones is absolutely amazing! This film is a tribute to two of the greatest stars of Hollywood.

Movie Review: Winston had to be an incorrigible romantic
Summary: 4 Stars

Released in early 1941 during the time when England was at its most beleaguered, THAT HAMILTON WOMAN is reputed to have been Prime Minister Winston Churchill's favorite film, which, if true, is prima-facie evidence that he was an old softie at heart.

A frothy historical romance as only Hollywood could create, the film is broadly faithful to the facts. Low-born Emma Hart (Vivien Leigh), the courtesan lover of the English aristocrat Charles Greville, is shipped off in 1786 to Naples to be, unbeknownst to her, the mistress of Greville's uncle, England's envoy to the Kingdom of Naples, Sir William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray). But, William is so smitten by Emma's beauty as to marry her, and the latter becomes Lady Emma Hamilton in 1791. In that capacity, she first meets Horatio Nelson (Laurence Olivier) in 1793, when he anchors his ship in Naples to officially seek the kingdom's help in providing reinforcements against the French. They don't meet again until five years later, after Nelson's famous victory in the Battle of the Nile, by which time he's lost an arm and his health. The latter is restored to the Admiral while under the Hamiltons' roof and Emma's care, during which time Nelson and his nurse fall in love. The rest is history. The Hamiltons and the Admiral returned to England where, in 1801, all three - or four, if you count Horatia, Nelson's daughter by Emma - moved into a house near present day Wimbledon purchased by Horatio after spurning his legal wife, Frances. William Hamilton died in 1803. Nelson died a national hero at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Ignored by the British government, Emma became destitute and died an alcoholic in Calais in 1815. Indeed, it's in Calais that THAT HAMILTON WOMAN opens and closes; Emma tells her story in flashback form to a fellow prison inmate (Heather Angel) after being arrested for public disorderliness.

THAT HAMILTON WOMAN is perhaps typical of the genre of the time. It's a good film, not great. The chief reason to watch is to discern its appeal to Churchill, who obviously found inspiration and a kindred spirit in the Tinseltown Nelson, whose impassioned speeches against the continental tyrant (Napoleon) and the need for his country to fight the dictator even if England stood alone reflected Winston's own feelings about the battle against Hitler and Nazi Germany in the months before Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war, the salvation so desperately sought by the PM.

From an historical point of view, the serious or casual student of the Trafalgar naval confrontation between the British and Franco-Spanish fleets will likely find fault. The battle scenes, using ship models, show vessels blowing up in great cataclysms of fire and smoke, and one actually capsizes. Trafalgar wasn't like that. Tactics dictated that opposing battleships maneuver up close and personal and fire withering volleys of hard, non-explosive shot at each other at point blank range to take down masts, reduce the decks (above the waterline) to kindling, and kill as many opposing sailors as possible. Only then would a ship surrender and be taken and converted to prize-money by the victorious captain and crew. To this end, actual sinking of an opponent was counterproductive. For a better understanding of Trafalgar and naval tactics of the period, I recommend Adam Nicolson's excellent book, Seize the Fire : Heroism, Duty, and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Any Vivien Leigh fan will find much to like in THAT HAMILTON WOMAN though, since GONE WITH THE WIND had been released only a couple of years prior, I kept half-expecting Leigh's character to break into a southern accent and pine for Tara. I especially liked the melodramatic ending when, after Captain Hardy (Henry Wilcoxon) rides his gallant steed off-camera after breaking the news of Nelson's death to Emma, the latter shuts the drapes across a massive window and collapses in a faint - a nice allusion to "the final curtain" closing on an epic love story. How "Hollywood" can you get?

Since this DVD was produced by Buddha Video in Taiwan, there's the unusual (to American audiences) availability of Chinese subtitles. Turn them "on" to view with Chinese take-out.

Movie Review: A TALE OF STAR COROSSED LOVERS...
Summary: 4 Stars

This film is based upon the real life love affair between Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton, wife of the British Ambassador to Naples. Real life husband and wife team, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, as the star crossed lovers, give magnificent performances. Ms. Leigh is absolutely enchanting in the role of Lady Hamilton. Mr. Olivier is likewise effective in his role, though Ms. Leigh is definitely the star of this show. The supporting cast also gives superb performances, particularly Alan Mowbray in the role of the cuckolded husband, Lord William Hamilton.

The story tells the viewer of the rise of Emma Hart, a blacksmith's daughter with a scarlet past, who by dint of her beauty and determination rose out of poverty and obscurity to become the wife of Lord William Hamilton, the British Ambassador to Naples. After their marriage, she is known as Lady Hamilton and becomes the toast of Naples. She then meets Admiral Horatio Nelson and her life changes, yet again. Defying social conventions, she and the also married Nelson begin a love affair that was to become public knowledge and lead to great scandal. What happened to them is memorably dramatized.

This is a wonderful film that all who love period pieces and historical dramas will enjoy.

Movie Review: I thought it was great too
Summary: 4 Stars

I have been dying to see this movie since last fall, and was disappointed when mom and dad didn't get it for me for x-mas. I just love history and I really love reading about Admiral Nelson. What I didn't like about the movie was some of what was portrayed about Lord Nelson in the film wasn't quite accurate, but I still loved it. I almost cried when he was killed. I really liked the fact that they were married in real life.

Movie Review: MORE TRUTH THAN FICTION
Summary: 5 Stars

Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier star in this wonderful film and their off screen love affair still makes this true story shine. Emma Hart and Lord Nelson are two historical figures who were so in love, their affair almost cost Nelson his career. Emma was considered the most beautiful woman of her time and this could also be said of Vivien Leigh when she made this film. Olivier and Leigh were newly in love when they made this film. The viewer can feel the sparks of their love, and that of Emma and Lord Nelson, as you watch these two brilliant stars bring their story to life. Although Leigh and Olivier were married for many years, they unfortunately divorced later on, primarily due to Leigh's bipolar disorder (mis-diagnosed in those days). Olivier remained loyal to Leigh until she died, trying in vain to protect her from the prying eyes of the world.
As you view this film, you are witnessing romance come alive two fold. It reminds us truth is stranger than fiction. I know of no other love story in history to top this one, and Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier obviously put their heart and souls into bringing Emma and Lord Nelson's love alive on screen - and off.
You are watching two true artists at their best. As Leigh brings Emma Hart to life, you understand why she was later chosen to star in "Gone With the Wind".
Hollywood made feeble attempts to tell this story in subsequent films, but none compare to "That Hamilton Woman". Be careful as you watch. You may find that one viewing isn't enough. I've been watching this film for over 40 years and it still comes across fresh and beautiful, aging well like a fine wine.

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