The affair between Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton is one of the more prosaic of history. He was a frail, prematurely old man who never mastered violent attacks of seasickness; while she was a rather large female who literally towered over her sea-going lover and took consolation in the bottle during his many absences.

Yet despite his clumsiness and lack of flourish as a lover, Lord Nelson's expolits as a sea-officer served to make the Napoleonic wars the most glorious period in British naval history. Each victory in which Nelson took the leading role was won due to his magnificent disregard for the stuffy tradition which had hampered the effectiveness of England's navy for over a century.

In the face of this exciting material, it is unfortunate that Producer Alexander Korda chose to place great emphasis on love interest, consequently making "That Hamilton Woman" into a rather dull romance with bright spots that are few and far between. In the picture, the fat Emma undergoes a change in the person of Vivien Leigh who is as beautiful as you could expect, and who makes love quite correctly. Laurence Olivier as Lord Nelson is scarcely more than adequate, although at times he gives indication of genuine acting ability. However, honors for acting go to the supporting roles of Sir William Hamilton and the phlegmatic Captain Hardy, convincingly portrayed by Alan Mowbray and Henry Wilcoxon. Nevertheless, the picture is a historical love story of the type which has been done before many times, and much better.