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the audience applauded

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

C.S. Forester adapted his own novel for this British military ship adventure drama that takes place during the Napoleonic wars, which was directed by Raoul Walsh; Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts, and Aeneas MacKenzie wrote the screenplay. Gregory Peck plays the title role (R.N. stands for Royal Navy) in this Technicolor movie which could have been the model for Peter Weir's 2003 action drama Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Other similarities include the point blank, broadside to broadside gun ship battles, action that includes significant (more than is usually shown) cannon damage complete with falling masts, a captain that's a more than capable navigator who's misunderstood by his crew initially, but otherwise beloved, and at least one youthful officer in training aboard.Unlike the more recent film about the type of warfare waged in that era, this one's middle third is a mushy romance between the titled Captain (who has an annoying habit of clearing his throat for attention) and Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), who's engaged to a Rear Admiral played by Denis O'Dea; she boards Hornblower's aged ship (another similarity to Weir's film), the Lydia, after he learns that Spain is now his country's ally in the war against France. Unfortunately, Hornblower had just captured a better Spanish warship and turned it over to a near crazy South American dictator rebel self dubbed El Supremo (Alec Mango), who had an alliance with England to attack Spain's colonies from the Pacific. But the Captain's superior tactical knowledge and seamanship enables Hornblower and his well trained crew to defeat El Supremo and sink the ship.On the voyage home, the Lady gets "the fever" (initially thought to be yellow fever, but actually breaks within 72 hours meaning it was merely swamp fever); the Captain alone cares for her, nursing her back to health, so the stage is set for their romantic entanglement, which is also complicated by the fact that he's married, in addition to her engagement. However, when Hornblower returns home, he learns that his wife died giving birth to a son. Two weeks later, he reads about Lady Barbara's wedding to the Irish Rear Admiral.But another opportunity presents itself to allow Hornblower to disobey his orders (from O'Dea's character) and perform heroically. Using a re-commissioned French warship, Hornblower and his crew use the subterfuge of a phony flag designation (another similarity) to get close enough to destroy three enemy ships in a protected harbor before their ship is sunk in its channel. After being captured by shore troops, he and his injured Lieutenant Bush (Robert Beatty), along with a strong and loyal seaman named Quist (James R. Justice), escape while being transported as prisoners to Paris. In a small boat, the three of them navigate a stream to the Loire river to a sea port where, thanks to Hornblower's ability to speak the language, they pose as Dutch sailors, free some of their countrymen prisoners to be crewmen, and commandeer a British frigate thought lost, the 'Witch of Endor', to sail home to England. He learns that his Rear Admiral died in battle. So, when Hornblower gets home again to see his son, Barbara (dressed nothing like a recent widow) is there and the two can be together.

I admit on this particular story I'm not so au fait with they exact facts, so I am just reviewing this film based on what it is. A Truly wonderful timeless classic film. I am a big fan of Raul Walsh whom directed this film, in this film he has created another masterpiece. A 19th Century Captain of a British Fleet, the film is taken from the books of C. F. Forester. Gregory Peck is just amazing in his role of Captain Horatio Hornblower, Hornblower is a simple honest man who believes in his duty and honour. The scenery and film score add to the quality of this film, there are some superb wonderful truly romantic scenes with Lady Barbara Wellesley and also superbly acted by Virginia Mayo. This is just another great time classic film with a truly majestic director.

This film could have been even greater had they spent more time with the escape of Horatio and his men from enemy France.The first part of the film was often tedious. Some momentum builds with the battle scenes. They really appeared to be quite authentic.Surprisingly, to me, Gregory Peck lacked the stamina for the part of Horatio Hornblower. It is only when the picture progresses that he really takes command of the title role. Virginia Mayo,as his love interest, first appears as if she is a dance hall queen. How surprising it is when Hornblower returns home to find out that he is widowed with a baby boy. There was never any hint whatsoever that he had been married while he cavorted with Mayo on board the ship.Too bad that Errol Flynn was regarded as too old for the part by 1951. While Peck wanted Margaret Leighton for his leading lady, she would have been entirely too regal. Susan Hayward, or Jean Crain should have been brought in. How about Deborah Kerr? After all, she was British.

Although directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted by C.S. Forester from his own work, "Captain Horatio Hornblower" will disappoint most who are familiar with the BBC series that starred Ioan Gruffudd. Admittedly the television series had more time to develop character and situations, but, early on, Walsh's film drifts into non-essential scenes that detail an unconvincing romance and the ego-maniacal rants of a madman with whom Hornblower must cooperate. However, after a faltering start, the film focuses on life aboard ship and thrilling sea battles and becomes gripping fun.When the ship's supplies run low after a long voyage around the Horn, fresh ham arrives in the persona of Alex Mango, who appears in full Latino makeup as the egotistical El Supremo. Once Mango has fully chewed the sets and viewers have become accustomed to the bronze gel that turned pale English extras into sun tanned South Americans, Christopher Lee emerges as a Spanish captain to dispel whatever credibility has crept into the film. But the silliness quotient reaches its zenith when Virginia Mayo boards the HMS Lydia fresh from the fastidious attentions of her hairdresser, makeup artist, and costume designer. Reportedly arriving from a small sailboat, where she and her maid were the only women, Mayo glides immaculately along the deck to greet the captain and trade witty asides. Untouched by the sea or the tropical sun, she appears regularly on deck baring her milky white décolletage and displaying her jewelry and silk finery for Peck and the crew, who have been woman-less at sea for months. Forester may have felt uncomfortable writing about women and emotions, because the scenes between Peck and Mayo are the weakest. Physically, Gregory Peck makes a fine Hornblower, but, while his performance is acceptable, perhaps Gruffudd's work has made him the definitive Hornblower.Fortunately, once the ham and Mayo are off the screen, the film regains its footing. The battles are well executed, and, even if most are models, the tall masted warships on the high seas are thrilling sights. When Hornblower attacks a French fortress, the film soars, and any lingering thoughts of Mango and Mayo fade with the smoking cannon, the falling masts, and the flashing swords. Guy Green's color cinematography is excellent, and, when the wind fills the sails and the canvas billows, any quibbles fade. "Captain Horatio Hornblower" becomes rousing entertainment, especially for younger viewers and those who love films from a less cynical time when sailors were chaste and loyal, women were pale and pure, villains wore mustaches and spoke with accents, and heroes looked like Gregory Peck.