Vivien Leigh's career is usually defined by her two most famous films, "Gone With the Wind" and "A Streetcar Named Desire". Although certainly good in the first she is magnificent in the second, with an unparalleled maturity and sensibility that defies all explanation. For me Blanche Dubois IS Vivien Leigh.
Having seen "That Hamilton Woman" for the first time recently, Leigh's portrayal kept me riveted and anxious for her next interpretation of that tragic woman's life despite the fact that I am familiar with her history. Perhaps it is because of that familiarity that I was anxious to see how she would act out the events. Nonetheless I was very impressed and can say that "Hamilton" is now my second favorite Leigh film after "Streetcar".
My only beef is with the naval scenes. They needlessly interfered with the film's flow and had little if anything to do with Lady Hamilton's life other than in the way they affected her love affair with Nelson. They could have easily been removed without penalty. Nelson's death at Trafalgar could have easily been covered in the scene where his lieutenant breaks the news to Emma. There was no need for the naval battle scene. After all this wasn't a movie about Nelson but about Emma Hamilton. All that chest beating and heroic music simply took away from what ends up being a tragic love story.
So watch it for Vivien Leigh and fast forward through the battle scenes.
Having seen "That Hamilton Woman" for the first time recently, Leigh's portrayal kept me riveted and anxious for her next interpretation of that tragic woman's life despite the fact that I am familiar with her history. Perhaps it is because of that familiarity that I was anxious to see how she would act out the events. Nonetheless I was very impressed and can say that "Hamilton" is now my second favorite Leigh film after "Streetcar".
My only beef is with the naval scenes. They needlessly interfered with the film's flow and had little if anything to do with Lady Hamilton's life other than in the way they affected her love affair with Nelson. They could have easily been removed without penalty. Nelson's death at Trafalgar could have easily been covered in the scene where his lieutenant breaks the news to Emma. There was no need for the naval battle scene. After all this wasn't a movie about Nelson but about Emma Hamilton. All that chest beating and heroic music simply took away from what ends up being a tragic love story.
So watch it for Vivien Leigh and fast forward through the battle scenes.