DVDs
That Hamilton Woman
By
Richard Moore
This
is an interesting yarn about a society floozie, her besotted husband
and a dashing lover.
The
floozie is Emma Hamilton (Vivien Leigh), the cuckolded chap is Sir
William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray) and the lover is none other than
Britain's naval hero and first popular star and pin-up boy Admiral
Sir Horatio Nelson (Laurence Olivier).
Set
during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, That Hamilton Woman
looks at the romance between the lovers that shocked a nation.
For
by the time their affair was made public, Nelson was so great a
hero he could do no wrong - at least to the British public - and
while many may have cocked an eyebrow at his discretion, his popularity
never waned.
However,
it was different for the social climbing Emma and her tale is a
moving one.
Leigh
is stunningly effective as the determined heroine/anti-heroine and
it is hard to think of a role where she betters this performance.
As
the young Emma she is all ambition and energy, but even more impressive
is her as the ageing exile languishing in France after being spurned
by the British following Nelson's death.
Olivier
is better-than-expected as Nelson and the obvious chemistry between
he and his real-life wife sparkles.
That
Hamilton Woman has a marvellous video transfer - almost pristine
black and white - although the sound has a bit of volume problem
and seems to be set too low.
Conclusion:
Movie:
80%
DVD
Extras: 20%
|