Hornblower: Duty

I watched this series years ago when i rented them from the video store. I remembered reading an interview with Gene Roddenberry wherein he explained how Horatio Hornblower was his basis for the character of James T. Kirk. That had me. The great story, well told immediately capitivated me. With HH, I could clearly see the parallel with JTK--The noble, trickster, swashbuckler. I would watch it all over again. This and Pride & Prejudice (Firth/Ehle) began my love affair and discover of BBC and anything, anyone from the UK. Great storytelling!

This episode follows on from the previous one, Loyalty. It carries on as Hornblower attempts to find out what the french are up too and keep his crew intact at the same time. The entire Hornblower series of tv movies is on a par with Sharpe starring Sean Bean and set in the same era and with a cast of well know actors I highly recommend anyone to buy the DVD's it's something you can watch again and again, we want more!

A great series, based on the books by CS Forester.

The adventures of Horatio Hornblower, an officer in the Royal Navy at the start of the 19th century. The movies follow his rise up the ranks.

Very realistic in its actions, commands, uniforms, ships etc. Some great action and human drama.

Special effects are good, except for the explosions. Those seem very cheap and unrealistic.

The other area that seems unrealistic is Hornblower's home life. The relationship with Maria seems very clumsy and unnatural.

Great performance by Ioan Gruffudd in the lead role. This is surpassed by Robert Lindsay as Admiral Pellew. He provides the perfect mix of authority, gravitas, compassion and father-like doting.

Good support from Paul McGann as Lt Bush, Paul Copley as Matthews and Sean Gilder as Styles.

The biggest pity is that this movie is the last one they made, when there are several books left.

I was flipping threw the channels and came across this tv show and was blown away. It pulled me in and ever let go. This is the newest show in the series I watched it this week 12/02/2003, I had no idea they had made new ones. After reading some reviews I agree that the acting is better than any American made for tv movie, except "Lonesome Dove", Ioan Gruffudd is great, but he is no Robert Duval or Tommy Lee Jones.

The set and I use that word loosely, is a 19th century ship. Every aspect of the ship feels like it came out of the 19th century. It does feel tight and dark. Exactly what a ship back like then feels like.

The story is not really great, good is what i would say. You are able to determine what happens with in a few minutes. The acting is what I paid more attention to. Some of the action sections are ok. It's not movie quality but you don't really let it bother you. If "Master and Commander" and "Pirates of the Carribean" was not released I don't think the American viewers would watch this. I hope A&E will keep showing this series if i continues.

Over all I would recommend anyone this show who love the sea and watching acting, a great tv movie.

I'm a long-time Hornblower fan; I own all the books and have read them so often they're falling apart. I can almost recite the Gregory Peck movie word for word as well! but this series is far, far better and of course more 'gutsy'. I bought the boxed DVD set on its release because it's one of those classic British historical dramas I will never get tired of watching.

While a fair amount of poetic license has been taken with the novels, I still feel I haven't been in any way cheated, or that Forester's characters have been misused. The way the screenwriters melded the different books together to make a full and exciting series is truly excellent, and Ioan Gruffudd shines as Hornblower; he even fits Forester's physical description. Robert Lindsay as Sir Edmund Pellew was brilliant, as indeed were every one of the actors.

I only wish they hadn't stopped!

A terrific series, well worth a look for anyone keen on swashing their buckles.