Hornblower: The Even Chance (1998) (TV)

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writers:

C.S. Forester (stories)
Russell Lewis (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 April 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | War

Plot:

Horatio Hornblower begins his naval career, but a deadly feud with a despicable mate is causing complications.

Plot Keywords:

Mutton | Card Cheat | Cannon | Trigonometry | Rat

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd	...	Midshipman Horatio Hornblower
Robert Lindsay	...	Capt. Sir Edward Pellew
Dorian Healy	...	Midshipman Jack Simpson
Michael Byrne	...	Capt. Keene
Robert Bathurst	...	Lt. Eccleston
Duncan Bell	...	Midshipman Clayton
Paul Copley	...	Matthews
Sean Gilder	...	Styles
Simon Sherlock	...	Oldroyd
Chris Barnes	...	Finch
Jamie Bamber	...	Midshipman Archie Kennedy
Colin MacLachlan	...	Master Bowles
Roger May	...	Lt. Chadd
Vincent Grass	...	Capt. Forget
Richard Lumsden	...	Midshipman Hether

Also Known As:

Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (USA)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | UK:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

One of the ships used for the film was "The Grand Turk" which is a working replica of a 1790s man-o-war that makes yearly trips throughout Europe and winters in the city of Whitby, England. It was specially built for 'Hornblower', and painted black and buff on one side, and black and red on the other, so that it could double as a British or French ship, depending on the angle it was filmed from.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Indefatigable is portrayed as a 22-gun corvette, with 12-pounder main guns. In reality she was a 44-gun heavy frigate with 24-pounder main guns.

Quotes:

Midshipman Clayton: [as he lays dying] You were right. Horatio... someone had to stand again him.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Hornblower: Mutiny (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Heart of Oak

One of the all time great seafaring adventures!

I Have just finished watching the entire series of Hornblower and must say that few seafaring adventures can beat it.It ranks up there with the original Mutiny on the Bounty,The Sea Hawk and Master And Commander as one of the greatest of its kind. Ioan Gruffudd is perfectly cast as young Hornblower,a seasick midshipman who tranforms gradually into a courageous leader of men. Robert Lindsay offers great support as Capt.Edward Pellew,one of the most important characters in the story who guides Hornblower along his journeys.Jamie Bamber,Paul Copley and Sean Gilder are all excellent as Hornblower's loyal shipmates. Ireally can't pick any one episode as they are all magnificent.I also liked Paul McGann who portrays Lt.Bush. All in all i just hope that in the future their will be more parts to this truly brilliant adventure series!!! EASILY 10 OUT OF 10 !