LADY HAMILTON
UK/US, 1940, 128 minutes, Black and white.
Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, Alan Mowbray, Gladys Cooper, Heather Angel, Henry Wilcoxon.
Directed by Alexander Korda.
One of Alexander Korda’s most famous productions. He also directed. Laurence Olivier, renowned on the English stage, had recently had film successes with Wuthering Heights and Rebecca. He was becoming known to an international audience. He plays Lord Nelson with great gravity and dignity as well as feeling. Vivien Leigh had just been the star of Gone with the Wind and Waterloo Bridge. They also married around this time. The film had all the aura of this kind of publicity. However, in retrospect, it is still a good historical film.
The supporting cast includes many Hollywood veterans for the film was made in Hollywood. Sarah Allgood in very effective as Emma’s mother and Alan Mowbray as Lord Hamilton. Gladys Cooper appears briefly as Lady Nelson. The score is by Miklos Rosza, who was to be an important composer for so many of the M.G.M. films of the forties and fifties including Quo Vadis and Ben Hur. Lady Hamilton could be compared with the more recent focus on Emma Hamilton in Bequest to the Nation with Glenda Jackson as Lady Hamilton and Peter Finch as Nelson and Margaret Leighton as Lady Nelson.
1. The quality of this British production in America, with American traditions, technology? An entertaining film, historical interest? Its status as a classic, impact now?
2. The reputation of the stars, the background of their marriage, their capacity for working together? Their reputation at the time? The audience interest in seeing early Olivier and Vivien Leigh?
3. The importance of the production values, the re-creation of history, sets, atmosphere, the battle sequences? Black and white photography, the historic, rousing score? Audience enjoyment of this kind of historical background?
4. The dramatic importance of the structure and the flashbacks? The introduction to Lady Hamilton - in her degradation, the shop and the drink? Calais, the fighting in the streets and the police, prison? Her telling her stories to the prostitutes? Lady Hamilton's memories and the reality and unreality of her past? The listener asking to hear whether it was true or not? The ending and the sudden death of Lord Nelson and her having no after and no further story in that English society?
5. The introduction to the young Emma after seeing her telling her story? Vivien Leigh's style, vivacious, her arriving with her mother, the personality and her impact? Her hopes, plans of marriage? Her coyness, scheming yet sweet? Her shock with the news of Lord Hamilton and her being bought like a work of art? The basis of her agreement to be Lady Hamilton and her turning against him later? (And his comments about his works of art always being with him?) The achievement in her early years after the mistakes of her background, her happiness in Neapolitan society, British status? The continued influence of her mother - as illustrated by her mother's presence at banquets and chatter, protecting her daughter, guiding her role in society?
6. The introduction to Lord Hamilton and his way of life in Naples, his age, attitude towards women? Making Emma his wife and the reasons for this? His care for her? His ambitions? His being a collector? Society, parties etc.? Emma’s fitting into this way of life?
7. The introduction to Nelson and the casual style of this? The introduction to the Napoleonic wars? Nelson's needs and his urgency about the war? The contrast with Emma and her chatter about banquets, dancing? Her helping of Nelson especially the audience with the Queen (and the parody side of the presentation of the court of Naples?) Nelson's reaction to her help and this as the basis of his thinking about her over the years?
8. The transition of five years and the effect on Nelson and Emma? Audience anticipation of their relationship? The Napoleonic wars and the details, Lord Hamilton's explanation with the globe? (and the patriotic remarks relevant to World War II when the film was made?)? Nelson and the change from his experience, the loss of his sight, arm? Emma’s arrival at the ship, her being carried on board, her shock at Nelson's condition? Her continued helping of him?
9. Nelson's being in Naples and the urgency to persuade the King for help? His being feted? His illness and Emma’s looking after him? Mrs Hart and her flurrying about? Emma’s constant attention and the credibility of their falling in love? Nelson's acknowledgement of his wife? His son and the introduction to him earlier, his place on the ship, his presence in Naples, in the tavern? The opera and Nelson’s presence with Emma, the discussion in the tavern, the toast? The credibility of their relationship?
10. His leaving and the impact on Emma? Her husband's discussion of this with her, his acquainting her with the works of art, her justification of her leaving him emotionally? The importance of Nelson's return and their final time together? Romantic, historical? Their comments about the morality and their judgment of the situation? The importance for Nelson of Emma’s emotional support, her understanding of his work as Admiral, her help? The contrast with the storm, the move to rescue Lady Hamilton and the British? The dilemma for the Admiralty and their censuring of Nelson? His homecoming and its turning into a triumph?
11. The portrait of Lady Nelson, the contrast with Emma, the greeting of Nelson on his return and its cold formality, the pain for Lady Nelson, the encounter with Emma and the keeping of the proprieties? Audience response to both women and Nelson's relationship with each?
12. Lady Hamilton as Nelson's mistress, the bond between the two, her living in the country? The importance of his being commissioned again and her accepting of his going?
13. How well did the film present the Battle of Trafalgar, the action in which Nelson was involved, his being wounded? The character of Hardy and the assistance? The scone of Nelson's famous death? His death?
14. Hardy and his grief? His decision to go to Lady Hamilton? Their meeting and discussion, her grief and his riding away? The fact that there was no aftermath for her, that her life with Nelson and in this environment was ended so suddenly?
15. The film as a romantic love story? As a glimpse at history? The relationship, the nature of love, moral judgments?
