Solidly produced, if a bit square, like much of his more ‘distinguished’ work, director Frank Lloyd won the first of his two Oscars® for this romantic historical drama. (The second was for CAVALCADE/’33, though he’s now best known for MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY/’35.*) LADY was the first of three major films about the Horatio Nelson/Emma Hamilton affair, with Lord Nelson battling ships at sea in the Napoleonic Wars and battling hearts in port over Lady Hamilton, the commoner who infamously married up.* Alas, it’s one of those stories that sounds better than it plays. Lady Hamilton, bustling to climb into society, pimped into a companionate marriage, then diplomatically maneuvering as ambassador’s wife in Naples to save the British Fleet. Lord Nelson showing up once in a blue moon as war rages to woo milady and plead for supplies between losing a limb and an eye. Eventually, they’ll each desert a spouse to set up house only to part once more when war draws him back in. Corinne Griffith, a silent beauty who didn’t survive sound, is happier as the grand lady than as hoydenesque cook’s daughter. (That’s Marie Dressler, who’d thrive in sound, briefly livening things up as mom in an early comeback appearance.) And a nice turn from Victor Varconi in a rare lead as the diminutive Nelson. This being 1928, there’s a VitaPhone soundtrack with music & effects, even near synch sound with Griffith dubbed on a few traditional Scottish tunes; the main ‘original’ love theme all but stolen from Sigmund Romberg’s ‘One Kiss,’ currently being sung on B’way in THE NEW MOON.
DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: *The other two were Alexander Korda’s THAT HAMILTON WOMAN/’41 - Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh & an undeserved good rep; and THE NELSON AFFAIR/’73 - Peter Finch, Glenda Jackson & no reputation at all. (Olivier does gets one great line though, murmuring to Lady H. on New Years 1800 that he has now loved her thru two centuries. Sigh.) OR: *What Lloyd should be remembered for was work like THE SEA HAWK, a 1924 beauty which likely got him this gig. Which in turn likely got him BOUNTY. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2010/06/sea-hawk-1924.html
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