That Hamilton Woman (1941)
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100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
80% of users liked it
(1,543 ratings)
Acting spouses Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh star in Alexander Korda's tragic tale of the adulterous love affair between Emma Lady Hamilton and Lord Horatio Nelson. The story begins in 1786, as the young and vivacious Emma Hart (Vivien Leigh) marries Sir William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray), the… More Acting spouses Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh star in Alexander Korda's tragic tale of the adulterous love affair between Emma Lady Hamilton and Lord Horatio Nelson. The story begins in 1786, as the young and vivacious Emma Hart (Vivien Leigh) marries Sir William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray), the British ambassador to the court of Naples. Seven years pass and British naval hero Lord Horatio Nelson (Laurence Olivier) arrives at court to gain the king's assent in the war against Napoleon. Lady Emma and Lord Nelson fall in love. When they return to England, Emma and Nelson unashamedly begin to live together, although Nelson's wife refuses to divorce him. When the war takes a bad turn, Emma convinces Nelson to resume command and Nelson goes off to lead the victory at Trafalgar, where he is mortally wounded. After Nelson's death, Emma falls into depression and despair. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alexander Korda
- Written By
- Walter Reisch, R.C. Sherriff
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Classics
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1941 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 8, 2009
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
Leigh and Olivier translate their real-life passion to celluloid, making it curiously difficult to discern what was performed and was simply there
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Not only does Leigh look outrageously beautiful, but she seems to be radiating sheer, undiluted adoration and desire through her eyes, voice and movements, perfectly received and matched by Olivier.
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Bill Weber, Slant Magazine
That Hamilton Woman gains much from Leigh's playfulness and placid beauty.
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Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... the most gracefully directed and dramatically engaging film from British film impresario Korda, who generally directed like a producer.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Olivier and Vivien Leigh made this romantic historical melodrama at the height of their popularity, which became Churchill's favorite film due to its propaganda elements during WWII.
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Cast
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Vivien Leigh
as Lady Hamilton
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Laurence Olivier
as Lord Horatio Nelson
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Alan Mowbray
as Sir William Hamilton
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Sara Allgood
as Mrs. Cadogan-Lyon
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Gladys Cooper
as Lady Nelson
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Henry Wilcoxon
as Capt. Hardy
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Heather Angel
as Street Girl
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Halliwell Hobbes
as Rev. Nelson
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Gilbert Emery
as Lord Spencer
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Miles Mander
as Lord Keith
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Ronald Sinclair
as Josiah
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Luis Alberni
as King of Naples
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Norma Drury
as Queen of Naples
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Olaf Hytten
as Gavin
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Julie Compton
as Lady Spencer
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Guy Kingsford
as Capt. Troubridge
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Leonard Carey
as Orderly
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Alec Craig
as Gendarme
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Georges Renavent
as Hotel manager
- George Davis
