Hornblower: Retribution (2001) (TV)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Andrew Grieve

Writers:

C.S. Forester (stories)
Ben Rostul (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | War

Plot:

Hornblower and the other officers of the Renown must return to Jamaica to face a court-martial and possible execution for their actions in relieving their unstable captain.

Plot Keywords:

Court Martial | Paranoia | Mutiny | Ineptitude | Gallows

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd	...	3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower
David Warner	...	Capt. James Sawyer (HMS Renown)
Robert Lindsay	...	Cmmdre. Sir Edward Pellew
Nicholas Jones	...	1st Lt. Buckland
Paul McGann	...	2nd Lt. Bush
Jamie Bamber	...	4th Lt. Archie Kennedy
Terence Corrigan	...	Midshipman Wellard
Philip Glenister	...	Gunner Hobbs
David Rintoul	...	Dr. Clive, Ship's Surgeon
Sean Gilder	...	Styles, Boatswain's Mate
Paul Copley	...	Matthews, Boatswain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Brightwell	...	Marine Sgt. Whiting
Katia Caballero	...	Senora Ortega, Col. Ortega's Wife
John Castle	...	Capt. Collins, Member of Court
Richard Clews	...	Clerk
Antonio Gil	...	Col. Francisco Manuel Ortega, Spanish Commander of Fort (as Antonio Gil-Martinez)
Gilly Gilchrist	...	Seaman Randall
Ian McElhinney	...	Capt. Hammond, Member of Court
Hugh Quarshie	...	Francois Le Fanu, Rebel Leader

Directed by
Andrew Grieve

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
C.S. Forester		stories
Ben Rostul		screenplay

Produced by
Andrew Benson	....	producer
Liz Bunton	....	line producer

Original Music by
John E. Keane		(as John Keane)

Cinematography by
Chris O'Dell

Film Editing by
Keith Palmer

Casting by
Susie Parriss

Production Design by
Rob Harris

Costume Design by
John Mollo

Makeup Department
Veyatie MacLeod	....	makeup designer

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alison Banks	....	second assistant director
Robert Fabbri	....	first assistant director
Lee Tailor	....	third assistant director

Sound Department
Rudi Buckle	....	sound mixer
Colin Codner	....	boom operator
Sue Lenny	....	sound effects editor
Dave Sloss	....	foley recordist

Special Effects by
Karl Ayton	....	special effects assistant
Jeremy Lovett	....	special effects senior technician: model unit

Visual Effects by
Simon Carr	....	digital artist
Simon Frame	....	visual effects supervisor
Tom Hocking	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Christian Abomnes	....	first assistant camera
Martin Cox	....	electrician
Vince Goddard	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alan Flyng	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Simon Harris	....	first assistant editor

Other crew
R.H. Davies	....	marine coordinator
Sasha Harris	....	production coordinator
Dan Knight	....	floor runner
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in: Ioan Gruffudd
Doug Smith	....	electronic press kit

Production Companies

• Meridian Broadcasting
• United Film and Television Productions

Distributors

• A&E Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• A&E Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• A&E Television Networks (2001) (USA) (TV)
• Cinema Club (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Cinema Club (2003) (UK) (VHS)
• ITV DVD (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (2002) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• Celtic/Picture Palace  series developed by
• Square Sail Shipyard Ltd.  ship supplier

Also Known As:

Horatio Hornblower: Retribution (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:98 min | Israel:96 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Meridian Broadcasting

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Spanish prisoners break into the captains cabin, Captain Sawyer and Midshipman Wellard are standing behind the table, with Wellard to the Captains left. After they are shot, the scene showing them laying on the deck, now has Wellard to the Captains right.

Quotes:

4th Lt. Archie Kennedy: I remember when you used to be scared of heights, Mr. Hornblower.
3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower: [Looking at the height he must descend from] Nothing's changed, Mr. Kennedy.
2nd Lt. Bush: They say one must always do what one dislikes.
3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower: [Nervously] Oh, yes?
2nd Lt. Bush: When I was a boy, I had to eat turnips.
3rd Lt. Horatio Hornblower: Eat them now, do you?
2nd Lt. Bush: [after Hornblower begins his descent] Never touch 'em.
[Smiles]

Movie Connections:

Follows Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters (1999) (TV)

Fine entertainment for us armchair sailors

Now here's some uncomplicated Sunday night entertainment for us armchair sailors. Adventure and action on the high sea and the odd hot country, lots of friction among the officers and men, a captain nearly round the twist, and of course the heroic Horny who saves the situation. He winds up before a court martial in Jamaica but we need not fear for him with his old captain and mentor Sir Edward Pellow presiding.

This show cost a lot of money, though I don't think they went as far as James Cameron did in `Titanic' and build a full-sized replica of an 18th century ship of the line. The re-creation of the period detail – weapons, uniforms, boats and tackle, the wardroom, even the brutal medical procedures, brings you right into the action. The personality clashes between officers seem a bit contrived at times – particularly the Billy Budd syndrome – older officers of marginal competence resenting their brighter juniors – but the fellowship amongst Horny and his mates rings true.

Ioan Gruffudd is darkly romantic in appearance but uses this somewhat brooding exterior to show Horny as someone who thinks a bit and then acts quickly and decisively, a very good combination in military matters. He makes it plausible that his friends, Kennedy (James Bamber) and Bush (Paul McGann) should support him, even at considerable risk to themselves.

As is usual in this sort of production, the major and minor roles are all well done. David Warner is convincing as Captain Sawyer, a sort of nautical King Lear, and Nicolas Smith as the aging, fearful first lieutenant Buckland, fits the bill well (albeit playing the role as a less devious version of Jeremy from Kavanagh Q.C.) There is a nicely judged performance by David Rintoul as the wily ship's doctor, and Dobbin is very effective as the Captains's loyal supporter Hobbs. Robert Lindsay does a good senior partner number as Commodore Sir Edward Pellew, actually an historical figure with some islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria named after him, though Hornblower himself is total fiction.

It's funny. In some ways it might have been a film about a law firm, such is the universality of professional culture. Deference to seniority has to be matched against the need to exercise independent professional judgment. Just obeying orders is the lot of the mere technician. A professional officer has to cultivate independence of mind in a milleu that demands obedience to orders. Not an easy task and we can well understand how it proves too much for the unfortunate Buckland.

Anyway, good derring-do stuff, even if Horny doesn't get to kiss anyone.