That Hamilton Woman (1941) -- the original British title was simply Lady Hamilton -- is a historical film drama, produced and directed by Alexander Korda for Alexander Korda Films.
It tells the story of Emma Hamilton, who was mistress to Admiral Horatio Nelson, played respectively by Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. Heather Angel also appears in the film in the minor part of a street prostitute. The story begins with a decrepit, now-alcoholic Lady Hamilton thrown into debtor's prison in the slums of Calais, and shows her past life by means of a flashback, as she narrates the story to her skeptical fellow inmates.
Stars Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were newlyweds at the time of filming and were considered a "dream couple".
In one scene Nelson (Laurence Olivier) says he has received orders from Admiral Hood. Ironically Olivier would go on to play Admiral Hood 43 years later in The Bounty (1984).
This was Sir Winston Churchill's favorite film.
Sir William Hamilton, a widower of mature years, is British ambassador to the Court of Naples. Emma who comes for a visit with her mother wouldn't cut the grade with London society but she gets along well with the Queen of Naples. Emma likes being Lady Hamilton and life goes smoothly until Lord Nelson pays a visit. Sir William decides at first to let his young wife have her fling and pretends not to know what is going on. But the real life lovers, whose first screen romance was in "Fire Over England" (1937) have an even more burning passion for each other in this film. Written by Dale O'Connor
