Plot summary
The film depicts the relationship between Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress, Lady Hamilton, during the Napoleonic Wars plus others they would meet, including Nelson's nephew, George Matcham Jr.
Much of the story takes place at Merton Place, Nelson & Hamilton's estate, before Nelson's heading out to sea for the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
Critical reception
Clyde Jeavons wroye in The Monthly Film Bulletin : "James Cellan Jones, another graduate from television, directs with a pleasing eye for period and lots of respect for both author and cast, but (perhaps in his eagerness to show he is making a film, not filming a play) he seriously mishandles the climactic battle scenes, dwelling too lovingly on gory special effects and reducing Nelson's death to absurdity by a sudden switch to ponderous slow-motion. ... Peter Finch, while not quite suggesting the insatiable sexual athlete Rattigan intended, nevertheless brings some humanity to the part of the besotted Lord Nelson, even managing the hazardous "Kiss me, Hardy" with sufficient aplomb to minimise audience giggles. Any comment on Glenda Jackson's strident, anachronistic, inconsistent Lady Hamilton has been pre-empted by her own admission that 'it's the worst over-acting I've ever committed'." [4]
Variety wrote: "The reason younger audiences may not exact as much entertainment value as elders from the film is that the pre-Victoria morality, which constitutes the unseen hut pervading antagonistic influence in the story, is of little concern to those youthful and most frequent filmgoers. A national hero, separated from his wife and living openly with a known and notorious swinger, today means instant fame and immediate entree into the allegedly best circles. Older generation will be much better attuned to the story vibrations and environment." [5]
The New York Times found the film "thoroughly genteel", and wrote that Rattigan's dialogue was written "in the manner of someone regurgitating the cadences of a 19th-century schoolgirl's diary... Peter Finch plays Lord Nelson with a reserved passion that seems intelligently thought out but is not terribly interesting to watch, while Glenda Jackson seems to go at Lady Hamilton from the opposite direction." [1]
Sky Cinema found the film "remarkable for the handsome Technicolor photography of Gerry Fisher and the brilliant production design of Carmen Dillon. There are some touching moments, notably those involving Margaret Leighton as Lady Nelson, and vivid climactic battle scenes. However, the two principals are not very well cast, and while Peter Finch struggles gamely to erase memories of Olivier's version of the role, Miss Jackson responds by stridently over-playing her hand as a sluttish Emma". [6]
Time Out wrote, "Histrionics apart, you come out wondering whether it really matters." [7]
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