4/5 Love and war
  by Jay Dickson (Portland, OR)
As soon as you see Alexander Korda's classic 1941 film of the star-crossed love of Lord Horatio Nelson and Emma, Lady Hamilton you'll see why it was Winston Churchill's favorite film, which he reputedly screened dozens and dozens of times. Korda spared almost no expense on the sets, which are grandly elaborate on a scale worthy of MGM; the sea battles, particularly at Trafalgar, are beautifully and elaborately detailed, and show terrific models in almost convincing military action; and there are multiple propagandistic speeches about standing up to tyrants and allowing little England its freedom that clearly spoke to the Second World War (right then near its darkest hour). And in the leads there are the real-life couple of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, showing genuine sexual chemistry and intelligence between them. The part of Emma Hamilton is basically tailor-made for Leigh: she gets to show off some of her usual bursts of minxish energy in the film's early sections, when she's a foolish thing being wooed by Sir William Hamilton; later, bowed by worry and love, she gets to show her more skills as a mature woman that did not endear her to her public quite as much as her vixenish sulks (as with Scarlett O'Hara in the early scenes of GONE WITH THE WIND) but where she showed her genuine talents laid. And this is one of Olivier's best roles: he's quite sexy as Lord Nelson, despite the convincing makeup that shows his wounds and ruined eye after the Battle of the Nile, and he manages to seem simultaneously sure of himself in battle and winningly underconfident in matters of the heart.

They are given little help from their supporting cast, the film's weakest aspect: to stack the deck in terms of the audience's sympathies in favor of Lady Hamilton, Gladys Cooper, in her most inflexible and unlovable form, is cast as the frowning Lady Nelson; Alan Mowbray fares slightly better as the limping elderly Sir William Hamilton; and Sara Allgood gets a few good jokes as Emma's mother despite her clumsy line readings. The best reason to see the film, other than for its stars, are for its gorgeous cinematography, restored to almost pristine purity by Criterion, and its astonishing sets (there is an interior of the main hall outside the old House of Lords that is a kind of miracle of matte painting effects).

5/5 A must see!!
  by Danny Wendy (Southern California)
If you like old movies and you are a Vivien Leigh fan, this film is a must-see. Vivien is beautiful as always and you find yourself lost in the tragic love story of this couple. You feel for all the characters. This is one of the great ones!

5/5 A truly beautiful classic
  by Seehorse72 (Danbury, Connecticut United States)
This is one of my all time favorite movites. Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were both such beautiful people and complemented each other on and off the screen. They are both absolutely charming in this movie. If you love an old classical love story, this is an awesome addition to your collection.

5/5 One of the great period pieces
  by calvinnme (Fredericksburg, Va)
This is one of my favorite historic epic/romantic films. It stars Lawrence Olivier as Lord Nelson and Vivien Leigh as Emma Hart Hamilton, with Vivien Leigh fresh from her triumph in "Gone with the Wind" and at a time when the real-life romance and marriage between the two stars (Leigh and Olivier) was new. Up until now this film has only been available on expensive out of print VHS copies or Region 2 DVDs. Now Criterion is releasing a copy that will have all of the extras. The extras are:

New, restored high-definition digital transfer
Audio commentary featuring noted film historian Ian Christie
New video interview with author and editor Michael Korda, Alexander's nephew, who discusses growing up in the Korda family and the making of That Hamilton Woman.
Theatrical trailer
Alexander Korda Presents, a 1942 promotional radio piece for the film
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by Molly Haskell

The film is largely accurate, which is unusual for an historical drama of its time since these usually took great license with the truth. The departures from the truth that the film took were largely to satisfy the production code of the time. The truth is that William Hamilton, Emma's older husband, accepted and even encouraged the affair between his wife and Lord Nelson. When Emma set up housekeeping with Lord Nelson in England, William Hamilton lived there with them in a menage a trois relationship that fascinated the public of the time. In 1941 this would have been unacceptable on the screen.

The implication of the film is that Emma's daughter by Lord Nelson died. In fact their daughter married a man of the cloth, had ten children, and died at the age of 80. Emma's end as it is portrayed in the film is sadly accurate. Women of Emma's time were largely dependent upon their station in life and upon the whims of the men in their lives. If those men died, even if the man was great, women often found themselves in desperate poverty.

4/5 Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier at their all-time best!
  by Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood)
THAT HAMILTON WOMAN stars Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier at the peak of their powers, a marvellous movie which recounts the ill-fated affair between Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton.

Emma Hart (Vivien Leigh), a young woman of easy virtue, arrives in Naples to marry the son of Sir William Hamilton (Alan Mowbray). It soon becomes apparent that the son has no intentions of marrying her, and so she enters into a marriage of convenience with Sir William himself. Years pass and Emma, now Lady Hamilton, meets the acquaintance of Lord Horatio Nelson (Olivier), and they embark on a thrilling affair. Emma's reputation is pulled through the mud and Nelson returns to battle Napoleon's approaching forces, as the romance rushes to it's tearful conclusion.

Regarded as Winston Churchill's favourite film (it was made during the height of WW2, and partly meant to serve as an exercise in morale-boosting amongst the troops); THAT HAMILTON WOMAN is still an enjoyable dramatic experience. Fans of Vivien Leigh won't be disappointed by her amazing portrayal of Emma Hart Hamilton. The movie also features Sara Allgood as Emma's mother and Gladys Cooper as Lady Nelson. Heather Angel plays the young woman to whom Emma tells her story in the prologue. Rene Hubert designed Vivien Leigh's cavalcade of gorgeous gowns. Another fine Alexander Korda-helmed epic.