THE DIVINE LADY
US, 1929, 99 minutes, Black and white.
Corinne Griffith, Victor Varconi, H.B.Warner, Ian Keith, Marie Dressler, Montagu Love, William Conklin, Dorothy Cumming.
Directed by Frank Lloyd.
The Divine Lady refers to Emma, a country girl, daughter of a cook in the late 18th century who finds a place in the household of the Honorable Charles Greville, falls in love with him but is transferred to the household of the ambassador to the kingdom of Naples, Sir William Hamilton. It is not a love match, though he is devoted to her. When she encounters the British national hero, Horatio Nelson, she is attracted to him, later helps him in the kingdom, appeals to the Queen to sign a document for supplies for his men afflicted with scurvy, incurring the wrath of the French in the post-revolution era. Later, she becomes his mistress, especially when he returns in triumph to England after the victory is on the Nile. She is refused invitation to the function for Nelson and to be presented to the Queen. He stays with her – but responds to the call to defend Britain against Napoleon once again when he threatens the English Channel – leading to the Battle of Trafalgar.
Frank Lloyd won the Oscar for best director for this film, strong in its presentation of the relationships but also quite spectacular in its portrayal of naval battles.
Corinne Griffith, very popular at the time, was Lady Hamilton and Hungarian-born Victor Varconi was Nelson. H. B. Warner has a strong role as Lord Hamilton soon after his portrait of Jesus in Cecil B. de Mille’s The King of Kings.
Ten years later Vivien Leigh Laurence Olivier played the couple and in 1979, Glenda Jackson and Peter Finch in Bequest to the Nation.
This is one of the last of the silent films.
1. Romantic drama? Historical drama? Naval drama?
2. Black-and-white photography, re-creation of the period, costumes and decor? The locations, the English countryside and village, the kingdom of Naples and the residence, London and society, the return to the English countryside? The staging of the naval battles, the ships, the close-ups of fighting?
3. The portrait of Emma Hart, the country girl, arriving on the coach with her mother and her mother falling out, the flirting of the coachman? The disapproval of Greville? Sacking them? Emma getting in the window, the appeal? The artist Romney approving? Training Emma to be a lady, not running in the house? Her bickering with the neighbours and then smiling and shaking hands? Greville and his infatuation with her? Her falling in love? The meeting with Lord Hamilton? Greville, his finances, marrying someone else after sending Emma to Naples? Emma in Naples, further education, marrying Hamilton, though not a love match? His devotion to her? Her playing the harp, her singing? Life in Naples, friendship with the Queen? Society activities, with the dog? The French revolution, tensions with France? The 1790s, Nelson’s arrival, her compassion, the attraction? Her plea to the Queen to give a permit for restocking in the kingdoms of Sicily? The King and his hostility? The French and hostility? The siege of Naples and the riots in the streets? The return of Nelson? His staying with Emma? His being recalled to England, Emma returning, her name crossed off the list for the reception? Retiring to the country, in love with Nelson? Idyllic? His being called to service, packing and letting him go?
4. Nelson, national hero, his naval skills? The battles of the Nile, the men with scurvy, going to Naples, the plea for replenishment? Emma and the permit from the Queen? The battles against the French? His return, idyllic time in Naples with Emma? In London, his taking the side of Emma when she was shunned? In the countryside? His relationship with his wife, leaving her after triumphing through the streets with her? His response to call for battle, the Battle of Trafalgar, his being wounded, his friendship with Hardy over the years, “kiss me, Hardy”, his death? His place in the national British consciousness?
5. Lord Hamilton, ambassador, older, attraction to women, the visit to London, interest in Emma, taking her to Naples, education, her playing the harp, his proposal, his devotion to her over the years, permitting her to have the relationship with Nelson?
6. Greville, the portrait, discussions with Romney, the arrival of the Harts, his reaction, sacking them, Emma’s plea? Loving her? In society? Vauxhall, her leading the singing, his indignant reaction? Forgiving her or not? Sending her to Naples, the letters, his marrying again, the later meeting?
7. The Queen of Naples, Marie Antoinette’s sister, receiving Emma, persuading her to sign the document? The reaction of the French, her brother backing France? Nelson’s rescue of Naples?
8. Emma’s mother, falling out of the coach, curtsying, travelling with her daughter to Naples?
9. Hardy, the soldiers on the ship, naval conditions, scurvy, the need for replenishment, fighting in battles? At Nelson’s death?
10. The staging of the battles, ships, close-ups, the fighting?
11. The romantic images at the end and the status of Nelson and Lady Hamilton?
