The Nelson Affair (aka Bequest To The Nation) (1973)

A young man (Dominic Guard) is a guest at his Uncle's estate. His Uncle happens to be the naval hero Lord Nelson (Peter Finch). Loyal to his Aunt (Margaret Leighton), he has difficulty understanding the relationship between his Uncle and his mistress, the scandalous Lady Hamilton (Glenda Jackson). Based on the play by Terence Rattigan and directed by James Cellan Jones (TV's THE FORSYTE SAGA). The film serves as an interesting companion to THAT HAMILTON WOMAN (1941) which had Laurence Olivier as Lord Nelson and Vivien Leigh as Lady Hamilton. The portrayal of Lady Nelson is much more sympathetic than the 1941 movie where Gladys Cooper played Lady Nelson. Unlike Leigh, Jackson plays Lady Hamilton as a vulgar bawd. As long as the film focuses on the relationship between Nelson and Hamilton as observed by the nephew, it's an interesting watch. The movie's battle scenes are a letdown (most of it is stock footage anyway) but fortunately, the film ends on a high note with a confrontation scene between Leighton's Lady Nelson and Jackson's Lady Hamilton and it's a treat to see the great actresses play off each other. Director Cellan Jones is a TV director and so the film's isn't very cinematic and comes across as a livelier BBC Masterpiece Theatre offering. With Anthony Quayle, Michael Jayston, Pat Heywood and Barbara Leigh Hunt.