Hornblower: Duty (2003)

Admiral Pellew interrupts Hornblower's wedding reception and tasks him to locate a British ship which has disappeared off the French coast, where Napoleon's troops are engaged in covert activities.

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writers:

Stephen Churchett (screenplay), C.S. Forester (novel)

Stars:

Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Paul McGann

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ioan Gruffudd	...	Commander Horatio Hornblower
Robert Lindsay	...	Admiral Sir Edward Pellew
Paul McGann	...	Lieutenant Bush
Lorcan Cranitch	...	Wolfe
Tony Haygarth	...	Prowse
Julia Sawalha	...	Maria Hornblower
Barbara Flynn	...	Mrs. Mason
Paul Copley	...	Matthews
Sean Gilder	...	Styles
Jonathan Coy	...	Captain Bracegirdle
Jim Carter	...	Etheridge
Ron Cook	...	Steward James Doughty
Jonathan Forbes	...	Orrock
David Birkin	...	Jerome
Camilla Power	...	Betsy

Storyline

Now married to Maria, Horatio Hornblower is soon sent by Admiral Pellew in search of the sloop Grasshopper captained by their old friend, Bracegirdle. The ship had been patrolling a stretch of French coast but had not sent in a report for over two weeks. During a raging storm they take aboard two passengers, an American woman and her French speaking Swiss husband. They are not what they pretend to be. Horatio and his men also encounter Wolfe, the Irish rebel turned traitor and now fighting France. They also realize exactly what Wolfe's plan is when they see three French frigates riding high in the water near his encampment. At home, Horatio is getting used to marriage and having to share his life with someone.

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Plot Keywords:

french | ship | duty | british | water | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Mr. Proust says, "come to port" when telling the helmsman to steer to the left. However, the term "larboard" was the nautical term for left in use before the Royal Navy authorized the use of "port" in 1844.

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Goofs

Bush and Hornblower refer to the shell which Hornblower extinguished as a "five inch". The cannon was clearly no more than a 12 pound gun which would have had a bore diameter of about 3.7 inches. A five inch gun would have been too large to be easily moved by hand as shown in the scene.

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Quotes

Mrs. Mason: Horatio. You think you're just the Hotspur's captain, you think only of your hundred crew. But you're also a husband now. Is it too much that you might think of one wife? That you might think of her as your duty too?

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Connections

Follows Horatio Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil (1999)

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Soundtracks

Yankee Doodle
Traditional
Performed by Sean Gilder

User Reviews

A totally different story

If you have read CS Forester's "Hornblower and the Hotspur" you are wondering where it went. While a few incidents are present here from the book, the story line has nothing to do with the book. You will be disappointed that the main themes and character of Horatio have been lost. While the series is entertaining, do not expect the TV movies to be the books. "Based on" is used in its very broad sense.

So watch the movies first. Then go read the books, they are much richer and complex. However, the character of Hornblower will be vastly different and the historic settings as well. Unfortunately, another example of taking the reputation of a book, some names and some of the incidents and then writing your own story without the depth of the original.

So, just treat them as separate works with name connections only.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hornblower - L'arte del comando

Filming Locations:

Three mills, Stratford, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1