Public Domain Movies

The Divine Lady is a 1928 American pre-Code synchronized sound historical drama film. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process. It stars Corinne Griffith and tells the story of the love affair between Horatio Nelson and Emma Hamilton.

In the late 18th century, Lady Hamilton has had a somewhat turbulent relationship with the British people, especially the aristocracy. Born Emma Hart from a very humble background (she being the daughter of a cook), she was seen as being vulgar by the rich, but equally captivating for her beauty. In a move to protect his inheritance, Honorable Charles Greville, Emma's then lover and her mother's employer, sent Emma to Naples under false pretenses to live with his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, where she would study to become a lady.

Surprisingly to Greville whose deception Emma would eventually discover, Emma ended up becoming Hamilton's wife in a marriage of convenience. But it is Emma's eventual relationship with Horatio Nelson of the British navy that would cause the largest issue. A move by Lady Hamilton helped Nelson's armada defeat Napoleon's fleet in naval battles, which Nelson would have ultimately lost without Lady Hamilton's help. Beyond the dangers of war, Lady Hamilton and Nelson's relationship is ultimately threatened by the court of public opinion as both are married to other people.

Cast
Corinne Griffith as Emma Hart
Victor Varconi as Horatio Nelson
H. B. Warner as Sir William Hamilton
Ian Keith as Honorable Charles Greville
Marie Dressler as Mrs. Hart
Montagu Love as Captain Hardy
William Conklin as Romney
Dorothy Cumming as Queen Maria Carolina
Michael Vavitch as King Ferdinand
Evelyn Hall as Duchess of Devonshire
Helen Jerome Eddy as Lady Nelson