Hornblower: Loyalty (2003) (TV)

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writers:

C.S. Forester (novel)
Niall Leonard (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 December 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Plot:

Hornblower is given a dangerous mission to deliver an emigre French nobleman to a secret rendezvous near Brest while coping with enemy agents in his own ranks.

Plot Keywords:

Cowardice | Landlady | Nephew | Horatio Hornblower | Emigre

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd	...	Commander Horatio Hornblower
Robert Lindsay	...	Admiral Sir Edward Pellew
Paul McGann	...	Lieutenant Bush
Lorcan Cranitch	...	Wolfe
Tony Haygarth	...	Master Prowse
Julia Sawalha	...	Maria Mason
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. Mason
Paul Copley	...	Matthews
Sean Gilder	...	Styles
Greg Wise	...	Major Côtard
Ian McElhinney	...	Captain Hammond
Christian Coulson	...	Midshipman John 'Jack' Hammond
Ron Cook	...	Steward James Doughty
Jonathan Forbes	...	Midshipman Charles Orrock
Jim McManus	...	Pawnbroker

Also Known As:

Horatio Hornblower 3 (USA)
Hornblower and the Hotspur (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Cornwall, England, UK

Company:

Meridian Broadcasting

Trivia:

The white and blue print gown Julia Sawalha (Maria) wears to church is the same costume worn by a gust at the Easter Ball in "Wives and Daughters" (1999).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening scene entitled "Portsmouth 1803" when the camera pans from right to left, a rowboat can be seen rowing in the same direction, but when the camera pauses, the boat, actually a CGI effect, does not catch up to it and seemingly disappears.

Quotes:

Styles: How do you make coffee?
Matthews: Do I look like a cook? You and your big mouth!

Movie Connections:

Follows Hornblower: Retribution (2001) (TV)

Soundtrack:

God Save the King

Entertaining without being remotely challenging.....

This was completely harmless and unbelievable, but a pleasant enough way to pass a Sunday evening. I've not seen all the previous Hornblowers, but I would not rate this as highly as the earlier ones from the late 80's. The series has improved greatly with the addition of Paul McGann as Bush, Hornblower's friend and second in command. Paul McGann is always watchable in anything and has a gorgeous voice to match. He is wonderful to listen to while Gruffudd is true eyecandy.

Julia Sawalha was a poor choice as Hornblower's wife. She is 5 years older than Gruffudd and looks every bit of it. (Perhaps she is supposed to be older than him?) Nonetheless, I found it disappointing that Hornblower marries so unhappily. It would have been nice to have seen a bit of romance and passion there. But perhaps the true relationship of this series is between Hornblower and Bush.

So pleasant enough, but don't go expecting too much and certainly don't expect authentic American and French accents!