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Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship

Original title: Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
  • TV Movie
  • 1998
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
4.3K
YOUR RATING
Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)
Horatio Hornblower
Play clip1:04
Watch Horatio Hornblower
1 Video
31 Photos
AdventureDramaWar

While Lt. Hornblower studies for his promotion examination, he is distracted by the serious supply problems that face his crew.While Lt. Hornblower studies for his promotion examination, he is distracted by the serious supply problems that face his crew.While Lt. Hornblower studies for his promotion examination, he is distracted by the serious supply problems that face his crew.

  • Director
    • Andrew Grieve
  • Writers
    • Mike Cullen
    • C.S. Forester
  • Stars
    • Ioan Gruffudd
    • Robert Lindsay
    • Denis Lawson
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    4.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrew Grieve
    • Writers
      • Mike Cullen
      • C.S. Forester
    • Stars
      • Ioan Gruffudd
      • Robert Lindsay
      • Denis Lawson
    • 14User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Horatio Hornblower
    Clip 1:04
    Watch Horatio Hornblower

    Photos31

    Shot from Hornblower
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)
    Horatio Hornblower: The Fire Ship (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ioan Gruffudd
    Ioan Gruffudd
    • Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower
    Robert Lindsay
    Robert Lindsay
    • Captain Sir Edward Pellew
    Denis Lawson
    Denis Lawson
    • Captain 'Dreadnought' Foster
    Ian McNeice
    Ian McNeice
    • Tapling
    Andrew Tiernan
    Andrew Tiernan
    • Bunting
    Jonathan Coy
    Jonathan Coy
    • Lieutenant Bracegirdle
    Ian McElhinney
    Ian McElhinney
    • Captain Hammond
    Paul Copley
    Paul Copley
    • Matthews
    Chris Barnes
    • Finch
    Sean Gilder
    Sean Gilder
    • Styles
    Simon Sherlock
    • Oldroyd
    Colin MacLachlan
    • Master Bowles
    Rupert Holliday-Evans
    Rupert Holliday-Evans
    • Steward
    Frank Boyce
    • Midshipman Cleveland
    Peter Corey
    Peter Corey
    • HM Consul Duras
    Simon Slater
    Simon Slater
    • Commander Morris
    Frank Rozelaar-Green
    • Spanish Captain
    Jonathan Aris
    Jonathan Aris
    • Clerkly Officer
    • Director
      • Andrew Grieve
    • Writers
      • Mike Cullen(screenplay)
      • C.S. Forester(novels)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The question given at Hornblower's Lieutenant examination, that of what to do in response to a "full a-back", relates to the sails of a ship suddenly flattening against the mast due to a change in wind. The correct answer (which Hornblower clearly does not know) is to put the helm over, haul up the mainstay and spanker sails, and then shift the helm in the opposite direction in order to fill the after-sails with wind in order to regain headway. Once the wind has been recovered, the ship should then brace up the sails and bring the ship's course directly in front of the wind. The maneuver to regain wind after a fall a-back is known as "chapelling", or "Chapel Ship", and would have been something which Hornblower absolutely should have known.
    • Goofs
      During the examination, Captain Foster describes a situation "with Dover bearing north two miles" and a "nor'easterly wind" that "veers four points". That would put the wind at east, but Hornblower is told that he would have Dover under his lee, whereas he would, at worst, have Folkestone under his lee and that eight miles off. Unless the wind were to veer a further twelve points at gale force, the tide would never put a dismasted vessel anywhere near Dover.
    • Quotes

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: Where's Mr. Tapling?

      Matthews: He refuses to rise from his bunk, sir.

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: Does he indeed?

      [Below decks]

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: Good morrow, Mr. Tapling! When shall you grace us with your presence above decks?

      Tapling: Never. There is no point.

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: The Moors have come to fetch their gold.

      Tapling: The Moors? Don't let them aboard, set sail at once.

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: The gold is theirs by right.

      Tapling: I will not see them, send one of the men.

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: I need my men, Mr. Tapling!

      Tapling: I have pains in my body, I cannot move. The hand of Death is upon me.

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: In that case, you shall have no need for rations.

      [Takes away his food]

      Tapling: You would withold rations from a dying man?

      Acting Lt. Horatio Hornblower: I would consider it my duty to help speed your release from this world, sir.

      Tapling: [gets up] The Admiral will hear of this!

    • Connections
      Followed by Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      The British Man-of-War
      Traditional

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Another success
    I do not agree with Altea. The plot of the second episode of "Hornblower" is just as good as that of the first, and is quite far from being flat. Perhaps there is a little too much emphasis on the courage, luck, cleverness etc. of young Hornblower, turning him into a "mr. perfect", but that is understandable, and I think that he is still a very human character, certainly more human than the annoying never-do-wrongs from Hollywood movies. I still think this is one of the best shows I've seen, and I can't wait to see the next episode (hoping that my parents won't forget to tape it for me).
    helpful•4
    0
    • yaelbenisrael
    • Jul 14, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 11, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • A&E's Behind the Scenes
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Hornblower: Examen para teniente
    • Filming locations
      • Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine
    • Production companies
      • A+E Networks
      • Ecou Films
      • Meridian Broadcasting
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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