Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Tymon Sutton The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

jacobs-greenwood C.S. Forester adapted his own novel for this British military ship adventure drama that takes place during the Napoleonic wars, which was directed by Raoul Walsh; Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts, and Aeneas MacKenzie wrote the screenplay. Gregory Peck plays the title role (R.N. stands for Royal Navy) in this Technicolor movie which could have been the model for Peter Weir's 2003 action drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Other similarities include the point blank, broadside to broadside gun ship battles, action that includes significant (more than is usually shown) cannon damage complete with falling masts, a captain that's a more than capable navigator who's misunderstood by his crew initially, but otherwise beloved, and at least one youthful officer in training aboard.Unlike the more recent film about the type of warfare waged in that era, this one's middle third is a mushy romance between the titled Captain (who has an annoying habit of clearing his throat for attention) and Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), who's engaged to a Rear Admiral played by Denis O'Dea; she boards Hornblower's aged ship (another similarity to Weir's film), the Lydia, after he learns that Spain is now his country's ally in the war against France. Unfortunately, Hornblower had just captured a better Spanish warship and turned it over to a near crazy South American dictator rebel self dubbed El Supremo (Alec Mango), who had an alliance with England to attack Spain's colonies from the Pacific. But the Captain's superior tactical knowledge and seamanship enables Hornblower and his well trained crew to defeat El Supremo and sink the ship.On the voyage home, the Lady gets "the fever" (initially thought to be yellow fever, but actually breaks within 72 hours meaning it was merely swamp fever); the Captain alone cares for her, nursing her back to health, so the stage is set for their romantic entanglement, which is also complicated by the fact that he's married, in addition to her engagement. However, when Hornblower returns home, he learns that his wife died giving birth to a son. Two weeks later, he reads about Lady Barbara's wedding to the Irish Rear Admiral.But another opportunity presents itself to allow Hornblower to disobey his orders (from O'Dea's character) and perform heroically. Using a re-commissioned French warship, Hornblower and his crew use the subterfuge of a phony flag designation (another similarity) to get close enough to destroy three enemy ships in a protected harbor before their ship is sunk in its channel. After being captured by shore troops, he and his injured Lieutenant Bush (Robert Beatty), along with a strong and loyal seaman named Quist (James R. Justice), escape while being transported as prisoners to Paris. In a small boat, the three of them navigate a stream to the Loire river to a sea port where, thanks to Hornblower's ability to speak the language, they pose as Dutch sailors, free some of their countrymen prisoners to be crewmen, and commandeer a British frigate thought lost, the 'Witch of Endor', to sail home to England. He learns that his Rear Admiral died in battle. So, when Hornblower gets home again to see his son, Barbara (dressed nothing like a recent widow) is there and the two can be together.

Prismark10 Raoul Walsh has directed this film in glorious Technicolour with great sets and costumes. An adaptation of the books from C S Forester, it cast Gregory Peck as the steely, calm and cerebral Horatio Hornblower aboard His Majesty's ship, 'Lydia.'The film is a combination of swashbuckling high seas adventure, a study of leadership and romance as Hornblower meets Lady Barbara Wellesley, the sister of the Duke of Wellington and fall for each other when she has been rescued by his ship.The film has a broad scope but is very much of its time. Its limitation are that the story is told in a rather dry way and does not always sustain your interest. I did not feel that the film was exciting enough. Its beautiful to look at but I saw Peter Weir's more modern film, 'Master and Commander' first which told a complex (and in ways a similar tale) in a more riveting manner.

blitzebill you can complain all you want about holes in the story, inconsistencies in continuity or lack of adherence to the novel.but you cannot complain about the stunning cinematography, ships and sea battles.Hornblower is a great piece of entertainment.the sea battles alone with the cunning and agility of the British ship's contests against its foes are worth the price of admission.Peck makes the character very likable and you won't be sorry for tuning into this tale.do not pass this by!

ebiros2 Until the mega million dollar production of Pirates of the Caribbean, good high seas adventure were all made in the '40s to '60s. Out of all of them, this one stands out as one of the best. Gregory Peck stars as the capt. Horatio Hornblower. His acting is superb in this movie. Of all the years I've watched sea adventures, this one still stands out as one of the best. The influence of this movie is far reaching as Gene Roddenberry took part of his Star Trek idea from this movie. In the book "The Making of Star Trek" (by Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry (Jul 1, 1970)), Roddenberry mentions about the concept of Star Trek in the early days was to create an adventure like Capt. Horatio Hornblower in space. Even the horn theme that this movie has sound's a bit like the one used in Star Trek TOS.Capt. Horatio confounds the Mexican tyrant, French navy, and steals a Dutch ship to make it back to his home port. All with esprit like never seen in other movies.Certainly one of the best if not the very best sea adventure movie ever produced.