"Captain Horatio Hornblower" is a fun swashbuckler, adventure and romance film. Warner Brothers filmed the sea-going scenes out of Villefranche on the Riviera, near Nice, France. Great Britain had its real naval heroes during its rule of the seas in 18th and 19th centuries - Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson being one of the most prominent.
But still, it had its mythical heroes as well. And Horatio Hornblower is in the company of those legendary heroes who helped perpetuate the legendary greatness of the British admiralty and navy. This imaginary seafaring hero was created by English author C. S. Forester in three novels of the 1930s. This film is a compilation of the adventures and stories of Hornblower from those books..
Gregory Peck plays Hornblower and Virgin Mayo is Lady Barbara Wellesley. What worthy seafaring tale wouldn't have a woman and romance, I ask? The supporting cast are all good. Among the better known actors of the day are James Robertson Justice, Robert Beatty, Terrence Morgan and Stanley Baker.
This isn't a swashbuckler on scale of Errol Flynn's films - after all, our hero here is a gentleman and officer of His Majesty's Royal Navy. But there is some good action with the capture of a Spanish ship, then defeat of such, and finally the destruction of four French ships in harbor. That' enough action to satisfy anyone.
My favorite line from the film comes after Hornblower and his crew are in prison after demolishing the four French ships and they sinking their own to block the port entrance. Captain Hornblower, "Mr. Baker, you and I are to be taken to Paris and tried as spies." Lt. Baker, "Well, I expected to lose a leg, sir, but not all the way up to my neck."
But still, it had its mythical heroes as well. And Horatio Hornblower is in the company of those legendary heroes who helped perpetuate the legendary greatness of the British admiralty and navy. This imaginary seafaring hero was created by English author C. S. Forester in three novels of the 1930s. This film is a compilation of the adventures and stories of Hornblower from those books..
Gregory Peck plays Hornblower and Virgin Mayo is Lady Barbara Wellesley. What worthy seafaring tale wouldn't have a woman and romance, I ask? The supporting cast are all good. Among the better known actors of the day are James Robertson Justice, Robert Beatty, Terrence Morgan and Stanley Baker.
This isn't a swashbuckler on scale of Errol Flynn's films - after all, our hero here is a gentleman and officer of His Majesty's Royal Navy. But there is some good action with the capture of a Spanish ship, then defeat of such, and finally the destruction of four French ships in harbor. That' enough action to satisfy anyone.
My favorite line from the film comes after Hornblower and his crew are in prison after demolishing the four French ships and they sinking their own to block the port entrance. Captain Hornblower, "Mr. Baker, you and I are to be taken to Paris and tried as spies." Lt. Baker, "Well, I expected to lose a leg, sir, but not all the way up to my neck."