Lost Films

Many of the following films are not on DVD and were never on any Video format in the United States. The purpose of this blog is to seek out and explore obsure films that are not very well known. Many obscure films have great qualities and are sometimes worth looking at, if you are a serious moviegoer or just looking to be greatly entertained.

1.) Bequest to the Nation (The Nelson Affair) - 1973 Universal Pictures, 118 mins, directed by James Cellan Jones, based on the play Bequest to the Nation by Terence Rattigan. The film stars Peter Finch as Horatio Nelson and Glenda Jackson as Lady Hamilton, also in the cast are Michael Jayston, Anthony Quayle, Margaret Leighton, Dominic Guard, and Nigel Stock. Produced by Hal Wallis.

This film never had a VHS or DVD release in the US. The film used to show up on television in the early 1990's on the A&E television network. A&E must have purchased numerous films from the Universal studios catalog at the time because other films such as "Destiny of a Spy" (1969) and "Raid on Rommel" (1971) used to play quite frequently at the time. These films were also released by Universal.
"The Nelson Affair" is a lavish period piece centering on the relationship between Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton. Peter Finch's performace is outstanding. Glenda Jackson was on an Academy award roll at the time, winning an Oscar for her performance in Ken Russells film "Women in Love" (1970) and "A Touch of Class" (1972). She was also Nominated in 1971 for her roll as Queen Elizabeth I in "Mary Queen of Scots" (1971). "The Nelson Affair" was not nominated for any awards, and probably had a very brief US release. It is worth seeking out if it is ever shown on television.