Hornblower: Mutiny (2001)

Hornblower and his comrades come under the command of a revered but obviously mentally unstable captain and eventually must mutiny.

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writers:

T.R. Bowen (screenplay), C.S. Forester (books)

Stars:

Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, David Warner

Nominated for 7 Primetime Emmys. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower
Robert Lindsay	...	Commodore Sir Edward Pellew
David Warner	...	Captain James Sawyer
Nicholas Jones	...	Lieutenant Buckland
Paul McGann	...	Lieutenant Bush
Jamie Bamber	...	Lieutenant Archie Kennedy
Philip Glenister	...	Gunner Hobbs
Paul Copley	...	Matthews
Sean Gilder	...	Styles
David Rintoul	...	Dr. Clive
Terence Corrigan	...	Midshipman Wellard
Gilly Gilchrist	...	Randall
Paul Brightwell	...	Sergeant Whiting
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Moses Rockman	...	Bowman

Storyline

Sir Edward Pellew visits Horatio Hornblower who is jail in Jamaica awaiting his trial on a charge of making a mutiny. His problems began six months earlier when he was appointed Third Lieutenant aboard the HMS Renown under the famous Captain James Sawyer. It soon becomes apparent to several of the officers, including Horatio's friend Archie Kennedy who is aboard ship as Fourth Lieutenant that the Captain is suffering from madness of some sort. He is cruel and sees conspiracies everywhere. Both Horatio and Midshipman Welland prove to be the particular objects of his wrath. The situation is not helped by an inexperience First Lieutenant who does not command the Captain's respect and a newly arrived Second Lieutenant who doesn't seem ready to challenge the Captain in any way.

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Plot Keywords:

ambiguous scene | moral choice | naval mutiny | naval battle | refusing to obey orders | 

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Taglines:

He's Back!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the scenes portrayed as being filmed in Portsmouth, it is in fact filmed at Plymouth's Royal William Ward.

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Goofs

When Captain Sawyer orders grog at high noon, he shouts "We'll splice the Main Brace!" which draws a cheer from his crew. Now the phrase "Splice the Main Brace" is a celebratory call before a drink; however, during the age of sail under its original meaning, the phrase was an order to undertake one of the most difficult tasks on-board ship involving splicing the principal line controlling the rotation of the main sail (anyone who desired to do it received an extra issue of rum). The task was long and arduous and critically important for the safety of the ship. Thus, when Captain Sawyer gave this order, his crew would have been looking at hours of work ahead of them with no reason to cheer.

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Quotes

Capt. James Sawyer: Liberty, equality, stupidity!

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Connections

Follows Horatio Hornblower: The Duel (1998)

User Reviews

Series better as "Master and Commander" movie

Big budgeted Brit TV-series based on the books of C.S. Forester, set during the Napoleonic wars in the beginning of the 19th century.

Hornblower starts of as a midshipman and the series follows him as he climbs up through the ranks.

Only the British can make such a spectacular historical series. No costs or means have been spared to recreate life at sea in those times. Not much of CGI or whatvever, the ships and fight are all real. When Hornblower is trapped on a sinking ship, there is no money for some elaborater special effect so they just sink it for real. Plots are full of twists and turns and are never predictable. Series is very intelligently scripted, great charactarisation and humour is provided when needed.

It seems this series was the inspiration for US movie "Master and Commander" with Russel Crowe. It's the same theme, same era and nearly same plot. If you are familiar with the Hornblower series , Master and commander is almost a kind of rip-off, although it is based on another bookseries. Master and Commander is an OK movie but it just pales in comparison with this simply brilliant series. I think this is again proof that TV is getting better then cinema.



It is not the first adaptation of the CS Forester saga on Hornblower . In 1952 Hollywood made a very worthy effort with "Hornblower" by cramming three books into one movie. Starring Gregory Peck as Hornblower and Virginia Mayo as the love interest. Directed by actionspecialist Raoul Walsh, it's a real winner.

Details

Official Sites:

A&E Television Networks

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Horatio Hornblower: The Mutiny

Filming Locations:

South Devon, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

A+E Networks, Meridian Broadcasting, United Film and Television Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1