That Hamilton Woman

Being Churchill's favourite film may not be much of a recommendation, but it's easy to see why he welcomed this wartime offering from the English community in Hollywood. Olivier may be outrageously hammy, but his Lord Nelson is an icon of eccentric English heroism. Patriotism is only half the story, though. Olivier and the splendidly coquettish Leigh distil the essence of their stormy off-screen romance so effectively that the Americans insisted on a ridiculously prurient prologue showing its unfortunate consequences for the lady.