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By
NICK ZEGARAC
Adapted from C.S. Forester's
exhilarating nautical saga Raoul Walsh's Captain
Horatio Hornblower (1951) is a colorful and
thrilling sea epic with masterful performances
throughout. Like Clark Gable's Mutiny on the
Bounty or Errol Flynn's The Sea Hawk, this film is
an exercise in recreating, then fictionalizing
historic maritime events. The sea is as much a
character as any of flesh and blood; a compelling
master representing both vast opportunities for
men to prove themselves, while coming perilously
close in facing their own mortality.
The tale begins in earnest with the secretive
mission of the HMS Lydia, tall ship belonging to
his majesty, the King of England and commanded by
Capt. Horatio Hornblower (Gregory Peck).
Presumably lost at sea, stricken with scurvy, and,
with the crew's morality ebbing to an all time
low, Hornblower is forced to uphold his 2nd Lt.
Girard's (Terence Morgan) threat of flogging a
crew member who has been derelict in his duties.
Yet, Hornblower makes it clear that the exercise
is conducted only as a matter of form and
furthermore urges his officers to temperance when
dealing with the sailors working under them.
It seems that the Lydia is carrying arms to a
secluded Spanish Fortress controlled by the
tyrannical Don Julian Alverez (Alec Mango) – El
Supremo to his friends and enemies. He has ample
quantities of both. Hornblower quickly realizes
that Don Julian does not respect the British
monarchy. His is a blood-thirsty conquest to
defeat Napolean's fleet and conquer the Americas.
Bordering on insanity, Julian has nevertheless
correctly assessed that the British will align
themselves with whatever means necessary to defeat
France.
However, Hornblower's mission is interrupted by
the arrival of Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia
Mayo); sister to the Duke of Wellington. Forced to
evacuate Panama after a plague of yellow fever,
Barbara convinces Hornblower to take her on as a
paying passenger, much to his own chagrin and
personal dissatisfaction. After all, Hornblower
reasons, ladies are a distraction – one he is
quite capable of living without.
The rest of Walsh's seafaring adventure treads
lightly between exhilarating action sequences and
moments of fiery feuding between Barbara and the
Captain until both cannot fathom a life for
themselves without the other in it. This is a
brilliantly conceived film with stellar
performances. It is definitely worth a second
glance on DVD.
Warner Home Video's DVD is a sumptuous experience;
glowing in glorious Technicolor with rich robust
and vibrant hues, impeccably rendered contrast
levels, and, very refined details throughout.
Flesh tones are accurately presented. Blacks are
deep and solid; whites, generally clean and
bright. Occasionally, matte process shots exhibit
a tad more film grain and age related artifacts
than the rest of the footage. The audio is mono
but adequately restored for a thoroughly
satisfying listening experience. Tragically, there
are NO extras. Recommended! |
