That Hamilton Woman (1941)

100% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
81% of users liked it
(1,470 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 5 min.
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

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
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.
Bill Weber, Slant Magazine
The wartime flag-waving beloved by Churchill seizes That Hamilton Woman from the rightful ownership of Vivien Leigh.
Bill Weber, Slant Magazine
That Hamilton Woman gains much from Leigh's playfulness and placid beauty.
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
... the most gracefully directed and dramatically engaging film from British film impresario Korda, who generally directed like a producer.
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.
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com
Rarely has a more thoroughly harrowing and emotional portrait of life at home during wartime been rendered on the screen
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It's big. It's glossy. It's rather noisy. But it's also rather charming in its old-fashioned way.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Winston Churchill's favorite film; he reportedly saw it 83 times.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A long movie, but worth it, it's got a great cast and story. I really liked this movie.
jay n

Fine historical drama, Olivier is good as Nelson but its really Vivien's film. Sara Allgood is fun as the mother and Alan Mowbray is wonderful as Lord Hamilton
Walter M

In "That Hamilton Woman," Emma Hart(Vivien Leigh) travels to Naples with her mother(Sara Allgood) on vacation before her fiance is set to arrive. She is extremely disappointed to hear from her future father-in-law(Alan Mowbray), the British ambassador, that he will not be… More
In "That Hamilton Woman," Emma Hart(Vivien Leigh) travels to Naples with her mother(Sara Allgood) on vacation before her fiance is set to arrive. She is extremely disappointed to hear from her future father-in-law(Alan Mowbray), the British ambassador, that he will not be coming. And she is absolutely livid that he purchased her rights for 5000 pounds and a fresco to be named later. Three years later, they are happily married. At least, that is the case until Captain Horatio Nelson(Laurence Olivier) makes a social call. "That Hamilton Woman" is an opulent movie that takes a decidedly sideways glance at history, almost turning an important point in history into an overheated soap opera. There are a couple of allusions to Emma's past via "Salome's Last Dance" that definitely sound racy for any time. According to the movie, she is almost responsible for all of us speaking French and I'm still torn if that would be a bad thing. Of course, saying your empire is morally superior to the other fellow's is a silly exercise at best but then this movie was made during World War II so some allowances should be made, as Olivier's speeches take the day in a warmup for his "Henry V." In the end, I am left wondering if Nelson would have been happy with any peace, mostly because I am the type of person who would prefer people make hot sweaty sex, not war.