I Remember Nelson

Very accurate portrayal of portions of Nelson's life. The Battle of Trafalgar tape is the best battle renactment I have ever seen. The quality of the tape recording, however, is poor. Rather than using the standard speed for each of the four one-hour episodes, the production is recorded in extended play. At that speed, the entire series could have been put on one two-hour tape (holding six hours of information at the slowest speed). This was a disappointment considering the price of the recording.

Please note that the above review refers to the VHS version of the DVD and not to the DVD for sale on this page. The DVD quality is excellent. And it's a great show too!

This superb series chronicles various aspects of Nelson's life as he might have been seen by those close to him as well as the common seaman. Brilliantly acted by stock BBC actors at the time in the early 1980s you won't find a better quality production. Sure, it might be lacking some hi-tech stuff for today, but the acting and screen writing is superb.

The series mostly touches on Nelson's latter period just before and including Trafalgar. We see him through the eyes of his first wife, Sir Hamilton, Captain Hardy and finally just a common seaman at the great battle. These individuals enable us to see different sides of the great hero's life. What this series shows was that Nelson was a lively, socialable person who enjoyed diversion and sensual delights. The rigors of naval warfare in the Napoleonic period had certainly taken its toll on his first marriage which is touchingly seen in the first episode.

How Nelson met Emma Hamilton is the subject of the 2nd episode which takes us back a number of years in time to the mid 1790s. Here we find England was trying to support the duchy of Naples against the Napoleonic tide of invasion in Italy. There is a devastating portrait of the petty Bourbon King and Queen who ruled the duchy in this period. We also meet Sir Hamilton and through him see how Nelson get to know Emma. Those who are use to the more elegant portrayal of Lady Emma Hamilton a la Vivian Leigh from the 1930s might be in for a shock here. This Emma is a bit more pleasantly plump, but is more sensual and earthy and probably a more accurate look at her. We certainly get to see the interesting relationship that developed between the three of them.

How Nelson and Emma were seen by one of his naval captains is the subject of the 3rd episode in the series. The domestic bliss at Merton comes across as rather odd to the stiff-necked Captain Hardy. Here we meet as well one of Nelson's syncophants who seeks to use the great man's name to advance his own personal designs to obtain a royal peerage. Hardy is disqusted by this, but here again we see a human side to Nelson as he reveals his debt situation to Hardy. We learn also the innovative tactics that Nelson will employ against the French in the upcoming Battle as well.

The final epsisode is probably the most impressive and moving of the series. How a common seaman lived below decks on HMS VICTORY and fought as a gunner during the great battle. Here we see how Nelson appealed to these poor, common wretches and inspired their actions at Trafalgar. Again, no state of the art special effects here, but the clousterphobic conditions and the suddenness of death at the hands of random solid shot crashing through the decks is brilliantly shown. The last scene shown many years later is particularly moving.

This is a brilliant little series. Here we see how great men of their times have all the same follies as the rest of us. We see also how others seek to latch onto them regardless of the circumstances in order to shine in their light as well. Nelson was a brilliant naval strategist, and an inspirational leader. We see him in all his faults and glory here. There is no better portrayal of the man and the period out there. The DVD should tack on a Nelson Bio and some BBC production notes but that is a minor quibble. Nelson/ Emma fans should enjoy, as well as fans of the Age of Sail.

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