List Price: $19.98You Pay Only: $14.99 You Save: $4.99 (25%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0085391108023
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, NTSC
Label: Warner Bros. Pictures
Manufacturer: Warner Bros. Pictures
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Bros. Pictures
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 06, 2007
Running Time: 117 minutes
Sales Rank: 4939
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: 1951
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Editorial Review:
Description: Screen legend Gregory Peck brings to life C.S. Forester's classic nautical hero, Horatio Hornblower. Hornblower battles the French and the Spanish forces during the Napoleonic wars, but also finds time for romance in this story from director Raoul Walsh.
Amazon.com: The much-loved novels of C.S. Forester come to life in Captain Horatio Hornblower, a solid, engrossing seafaring tale. Forester himself worked on the script for the 1951 film, which mines its plot from three Hornblower books. Set during the Napoleonic era, the movie kicks off by steering British captain Hornblower (Gregory Peck) into the middle of a nimble cat-and-mouse game with anti-Spanish rebels in the New World--only to find that in the months since he set sail from Old Blighty, national alliances have changed, causing a reversal in his original mission. The action later shifts to Europe, and throughout there is a love story involving a noblewoman (Virginia Mayo) who takes unexpected lodging aboard Hornblower's ship. The film has an intelligence that keeps it watchable, although it's definitely not one of the more buoyant films of the robust director Raoul Walsh. Perhaps the movie falls short of classic status because of the casting: its sober nature might stem from the personality of Gregory Peck, who looks marvelous but remains stolid throughout, while Virginia Mayo is, well, Virginia Mayo, a league away from British aristocracy. The sea battles don't have the technical dazzle of Master and Commander but they look acceptable for their time, and the movie's fondness for detail is gratifying. Forester's tales later became a series of British TV programs, with Ioan Gruffud as Hornblower. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - A BRILLIANT PRECURS0R TO STAR TREK!
This is an excelent movie! Gregory peck is inspirational and courageous in this Seafaring Saga. Star Trek Fans will here the familiar adventure fanfare and if you look closely, you will see the familiar dialoque of a Captain and Doctor.
In 1807, Royal Navy Captain Horatio Hornblower (Gregory Peck), commanding the 36-gun frigate HMS Lydia, is on a lengthy secret mission to Central America. He is to provide arms and support to a megalomaniac calling himself "El Supremo" or "The Almighty" (Alec Mango) in his rebellion against Spain, an ally of Britain's enemy France during the Napoleonic Wars. As Hornblower observes to First Lieutenant Bush (Robert Beatty): "War breeds strange allies".
Upon his arrival, the Englishman is told that a larger, much more powerful Spanish warship, the 50-gun Natividad, has been sighted. When it anchors nearby, Hornblower and his crew board and capture it in a surprise nighttime attack. He then reluctantly hands the ship over to El Supremo to appease the madman and they go their separate ways.
Later, he encounters a small Spanish vessel with a pair of troublesome passengers. First, a Spanish official informs him (and provides proof) that Spain has switched sides. Then Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo) "requests" passage back to England for her and her maid. Due to a deadly epidemic raging ashore and her influential relations (she is the fictitious sister of Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington), Hornblower is in no position ... Read More
Rating: - Captain Horatio Hornblower
For sure one of the best adventure movies of all times, if you enjoy the clasic adventure movies you need to see this one. And of course, whit grate actors like Gregory peck, Robert Beatty and Virginia Mayo.
Rating: - Arrrrrr Matey
A perfect example of a well done Sea going romance aboard a British Man 'O War.
Rating: - Captain Horation Hornblower - a great classic movie.
I think this movie is one of the better swashbuckler - old sailing ship movies out there.
I have read it is losely based on the life of the great British Admiral Nelson.
The movie takes place during the time period when England, France and Spain were all trying to be the "Masters of the Seas".
It has a great combination of action and a little romance for the women also.
The action scenes are very well done even by todays standards. While maybe not as realistic and bloody as "Master and Commander", it is still a fast paced, entertaining action flick.
I have the VHS also and they did an excellent job transferring the movie to the DVD format.
Rating: - They don't make movies like this anymore
My favorite Genre is high seas adventures, pirate movies and naval warfare movies. If you like tall ships, cannon broadsides and these type of films this one will satisfy you. The film seems fairly historically accurate with a few flaws...but it's a movie not a history book. Gregory Peck is great. The costumes and ships are great. I especially liked how the Captain's uniform at times is worn and tattered...nice effect. I judge all these movies not on sword fighting, but ship to ship fighting. This movie, Damn the Defiant, The Sea Hawk and Master and Commander are the best in this regard. I just ordered the Horatio Hornblower 8 DVD A & E / BBC series. Please email me if I am missing another flick that fits this bill.
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