The Divine Lady | 1929 | Historical drama, biographical, romance

Title: The Divine Lady | 1929 | Historical drama, biographical, romance Director: Frank Lloyd Studio: First National Pictures Starring: Corinne Griffith, Victor Varconi, H. B. Warner, Ian Keith, Marie Dressler Based on: The Divine Lady: A Romance of Nelson and Emma Hamilton by E. Barrington Release Date: March 31, 1929 Runtime: 99 Format: Black-and-white; silent with synchronized music and effects ; English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Historical drama, biographical, romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Opening titles and Emma’s early life 00:15:00 Sent to Naples and the Hamilton household 00:35:00 Marriage of convenience 00:55:00 Emma meets Capt. Horatio Nelson 01:15:00 War pressures and public scrutiny 01:35:00 Aftermath and reputations tested --- Summary: From humble origins, Emma Hart rises into society only to be maneuvered into the care of diplomat Sir William Hamilton. Their marriage brings status but not love. When British naval officer Horatio Nelson arrives amid the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars, Emma’s loyalty and desire collide with public expectations and political necessity. Set against shifting alliances and naval campaigns, the story traces Emma and Nelson’s attraction, their compromises, and the social consequences of a relationship that challenges class boundaries and marital conventions. --- Background: Produced by First National Pictures during the transition to sound, the film was released without spoken dialogue but with a synchronized Vitaphone score and effects. Adapted from E. Barrington’s 1924 novel, it depicts the romance of Emma Hamilton and Admiral Nelson and reflects late‑1920s fascination with historical spectacle. Director Frank Lloyd received the Academy Award for Best Director for this film, and it later underwent preservation and restoration efforts, including work by UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Museum of Modern Art. --- Trivia: The film employed the sound-on-disc Vitaphone process, typical of transitional-era releases that paired a recorded score with silent-era visual storytelling. Several contemporary sources noted that some theaters exhibited the film without sound, depending on local equipment. Its theme song, “Lady Divine,” with words by Richard Kountz and music by Nathaniel Shilkret, became a popular tune in 1929. Marie Dressler appears as Emma’s mother shortly before her early-1930s resurgence in talking pictures. The film’s restoration preserved its synchronized soundtrack along with the original picture elements. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: March 31, 1929 Original Studio / Distributor: First National Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain --- Hashtags: TheDivineLady 1929 PublicDomain ClassicFilm FrankLloyd CorinneGriffith Vitaphone SilentCinema HistoricalDrama EmmaHamilton HoratioNelson Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Divine_Lady_(1929).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/The_Divine_Lady_%281929%29.webm