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Product Description
Two of Hollywood's biggest legends, Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, star in this Academy award-winning story based on one of history's most ill-fated love affairs between Emma Hamilton, the beauty or her age, and England's greatest hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson.
Product Description
Two of Hollywood's biggest legends and off screen lovers VIVIEN LEIGH (Emma Hamilton) and LAURENCE OLIVIER (Nelson) star in this Academy award-winning story based on one of history's most ill-fated love affairs. However, the film left no-one in any doubt that Nelson's warning of the dangers of appeasing Napoleon was an obvious parallel to the threat Hitler posed to Europe at the time. Shot in just six weeks in Los Angeles, Korda's first directorial effort since 'Rembrandt' is an appealing mix of high drama and romance, which succeeded with the critics and audiences alike. Politically the film also made an impact on both sides of the Atlantic. In the UK, Churchill decided it was his favourite film, while the American Senate decided it was mere propaganda and subpoenaed Korda to appear before them, along with Chaplin and Hitchcock, on the suspicion of being British agents.
Also, the film created a stir with the American film censor whose concern with the morals of the picture forced new dialogue to be included to reflect the couple's suffering by commtting adultery. The New York Times critic dwelt on neither the politics or the drama, but complained that such is Leigh's beauty in the film that when she is on screen it is immpossible to concentrate on anything beyond her stunning looks.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Winston Churchill said that this was one of his favourite films and that, I can well imagine. It epitomises one man crying out for the urgent need to prepare for war - as indeed Churchill did in the lead up to the Second World War - instead of appeasement.
Laurence Olivier and his then wife, Vivien Leigh make the perfect Lord Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton. Vivien Leigh's Cockney accent as Emma Hart at the commencement of the film, is a treat and Laurence Olivier's almost inarticulate outbursts against the Admiralty, the King of Naples and anybody else who cannot adopt his principals are masterly; he depicts Nelson as a doer and a fighter, rather than a talker or a diplomat. Gladys Cooper takes a terrific part as Lady Nelson and Alan Mowbray, as Sir William Hamilton manages to pinch some of the best acerbic lines and delivers them with unerring malice aforethought.
With sweeping music by Miklos Rozsa, and the excitingly staged Battle of Trafalgar, the film is unashamedly patriotic and for a serial blubber like myself, it demands a double pack of Kleenex.
Unmissable.
Laurence Olivier and his then wife, Vivien Leigh make the perfect Lord Horatio Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton. Vivien Leigh's Cockney accent as Emma Hart at the commencement of the film, is a treat and Laurence Olivier's almost inarticulate outbursts against the Admiralty, the King of Naples and anybody else who cannot adopt his principals are masterly; he depicts Nelson as a doer and a fighter, rather than a talker or a diplomat. Gladys Cooper takes a terrific part as Lady Nelson and Alan Mowbray, as Sir William Hamilton manages to pinch some of the best acerbic lines and delivers them with unerring malice aforethought.
With sweeping music by Miklos Rozsa, and the excitingly staged Battle of Trafalgar, the film is unashamedly patriotic and for a serial blubber like myself, it demands a double pack of Kleenex.
Unmissable.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
... though the producer and director was Alexander Korda(From Hungary, lived in England) on a mission(sent by Churchill)to make a propaganda film in order to get the Americans involved with what happened here in Europe. Indeed, his actions were questioned and he was ordered to explain himself before the goverment... A few days later things happened at Pearl Harbor and the case was dropped...
Vivien Leigh and Emma Hamilton had striking similaraties. Both were thought to be the most beautiful of the period and both made their men become knighted by Britain. They both har brains and the most important thing in their lives were Nelson and Olivier. Emma died at 50, Vivien at 53... When Emma died; Nelson`s crew sailed in her honour(not seen in the film - they never fotgot their leader`s Emma) and when Vivien passed away; the theatres of London turned down their lights in her honour...
They were both strong-willed women... In fact; I think Vivien recognised this and played Emma on a variation of herself. Hugo Vicker`s brilliant 1986-book on Vivien reveal her chararcter quite good and it`s then easy 2 c Vivien playing herself in the film.
Korda said to her; "Vivien - Emma was VULGAR" - to which Vivien snapped back; "You wouldn`t have given me a contract if I`ve been vulgar,"
This is a good film thanks 2 Vivien, Olivier, Sara Allgood(and the rest of the supporting cast), the scenic design(by Alexander`s brother Zoltan Korda)and the brilliant lines spoken by the best Shakespearian actors in the Hollywood community.
Churchill loved it and presented Vivien with a self-made painting, It hung in her bedroom till she died...
This is an all-time must-c film.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
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 Henry Wilcoxon 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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Oh baby, blow off those cannons at me
Vivien Leigh (Lady Hamilton) is caught shoplifting and put in a cell where she recounts her life story to Heather Angel. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Alex da Silva
That Hamilton Woman! - Distorted Aspect Ratio
I have just viewed That Hamilton Woman! "licensed by Granada International Media Ltd" and "distributed by SimplyHome Entertainment 2010" purchased from Amazon.co. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Diotima
Lady Hamilton
I was very thrilled to re-visit this great Alexander Korda film in its renewed form. At the time the film was made, Vivien Leigh was in the throes of a deep love affair with... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Rayna Vincent
LADY HAMILTON, A Tragic love story.
I think that this film portrayal of the love of England's Hero, Viscount Nelson for Emma Hamilton is one of the great moments of Cinema history. Read more
Published 21 months ago by G. Smith
propaganda goody
Really good movie done as a world war 2 propaganda film aimed at the US as well as the home market.That said,its a lot better than that with ms leigh giving an credible performance... Read more
Published 22 months ago by R. Poole
One of the Greats!
My mother took me to see "That Hamilton Woman" when I was a small child in a Hollywood movie theatre, and I have never forgotten either the film, or Vivien Leigh's poignant last... Read more
Published on 2 Jan 2010 by F. S. L'hoir
That Brilliant Movie
In 1941 Alexander Korda directed one of the best films of the 1940s and even of all time.Staring Laurence Olivier(Henry V) as Lord Nelson and Vivien Leigh (Gone with the Wind)as... Read more
Published on 28 April 2008 by Mr. Terry D. Jarvis
That Brilliant Movie
In 1941 Alexander Korda directed one of the best films of the 1940s and even of all time.Staring Laurence Olivier(Henry V) as Lord Nelson and Vivien Leigh (Gone with the Wind)as... Read more
Published on 28 April 2008 by Mr. Terry D. Jarvis
A good read - recommended for any fans of the movie
Having been a fan of Vivean Leigh for some time, I took the opportunity to read the book on which one of her most favous performances was based. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2000
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