The Divine Lady is a 1929 American pre-Code Vitaphone sound film directed by Frank Lloyd. It features a synchronized musical score, sound effects, and some synchronized singing, but no spoken dialogue. The film stars Corinne Griffith and tells the story of the love affair between Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton. It won the Academy Award for Best Director and was nominated for Best Actressin a Leading Role for Corinne Griffith. The story is based on the novel "The Divine Lady: a Romance of Nelson and Emma Hamilton" by E. Barrington, published in 1924. The film has a duration of 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Plot
The Divine Lady is a silent film that tells the story of Emma Hart, a young woman of low birth who is courted by rich Charles Greville. Emma becomes a popular model for the painter George Romney, and she eventually meets and falls in love with Admiral Horatio Nelson. The film follows their love affair, which is complicated by their different social statuses and Nelson's marriage. The story is based on the novel "The Divine Lady: a Romance of Nelson and Emma Hamilton" by E. Barrington, published in 1924.
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Cast
- Corinne Griffith as Emma Hart
- Victor Varconi as Horatio Nelson
- H.B. Warner as Sir William Hamilton
Director: Frank Lloyd
Writer: Forrest Halsey
Distributor: First National Pictures
Release date: November 7, 1929
Genre: Drama
Themes & Reception
The film explores themes of love, social class, and the complexities of romantic relationships, particularly against the backdrop of the historical figures Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton.
The Divine Lady was well-received and won the Academy Award for Best Director. It was also nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Corinne Griffith.
Challenges Faced
As a silent film released during the transition to sound films, The Divine Lady may have faced challenges related to the evolving technology and audience preferences.
Settings, Visual Styles, & Techniques
The film likely features period-specific settings, typical visual styles of silent films, and techniques common to the filmmaking of the late 1920s.
Trivia & Fun Facts
- The Divine Lady is a pre-Code film, released before the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code.
- The film is based on the novel "The Divine Lady: a Romance of Nelson and Emma Hamilton" by E. Barrington, published in 1924.