O Falcão dos Mares

It took Hollywood a while to bring to the screen C. S. Forester's fascinating character Horatio Hornblower but never known to do things by halves it amalgamated in this film not one but three of Hornblower's early adventures, namely 'The Happy Return', 'Ship of the Line' and the short story 'Flying Colours'.

By all accounts it was originally intended as a vehicle for Errol Flynn but alas Mr. Flynn's star was beginning to wane and his unreliable behaviour made him too risky a proposition. As there was no actor on Warner Brothers' payroll who seemed to fit the bill, it fell to Gregory Peck, on loan from David 0. Selznick, to play the part. It turned out to be inspired casting as Mr. Peck captures brilliantly the character's innate courage and intelligence as well as his reserve and introspection. This is a star performance from one of Hollywood's finest. Those who describe him as 'wooden' are not looking at his eyes!

The obligatory romantic interest is supplied by Lady Barbara Wellesley, fictionalised sister of the Duke of Wellington who is played by Virginia Mayo.

Apparently a number of English actresses were considered but were either unavailable or uninterested. This is a far cry from Miss Mayo's role as Verna in 'White Heat' and she acquits herself very well. She is immensely appealing and has a chemistry with her leading man which always helps. Of course Miss Mayo always found an extra vitality for this particular director.

The indifference that director Raoul Walsh felt towards dialogue scenes is legendary but his mastery of action sequences is evident here in the naval battles. He never allows the pace to slacken and is aided by Guy Green's cinematography and a splendid score by Robert Farnon.

As roughly ninety-six per cent of the earth's water is oceanic it is hardly surprising that the genre of 'nautical fiction' has proved so popular. The pioneer in this country was of course Frederick Marryat who influenced both Forester and Patrick 0'Brian. Regarding the preference that some reviewers have expressed for Peter Weir's version of 0'Brian's 'Master and Commander', I can only only echo Hornblower's "Ha-hmm!"

I don't know that much about the story of Captain Horatio Hornblower, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of this version. I saw it because I was interested in its director Raoul Walsh, who creates another of his roaring and high-spirited masterworks with this serene, honest, swiftly-paced adventure of the 19th-century British Fleet Captain, from the celebrated three novels by C. F. Forester. Walsh depicts Hornblower, fantastically incarnated by Gregory Peck, as a modest man characterized by a sense of duty and honor. Peck is perfect for the role. Aided by stunning Technicolor scenery and marvellous score, this simple epic on the high seas navigates through several battles in Spain, France, and South America. Walsh's staging of the battle scenes is flawless. But I was really impressed by the romantic moments by Hornblower and Virginia Mayo's Lady Barbara Wellesley. Their love scenes are wonderfully gentle and moving without being forcefully sentimental.

"Captain Horatio Hornblower" is a great timeless classic from a master director.

Great naval adventure, based on CS Forester's series of books. Solid plot, energetically directed. Special effects are great, especially for 1951.

Gregory Peck is his usual brilliant self. Solid support from Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty and James Robertson Justice.

Great fun.

It's unfair that Raoul Walsh's name is labeled by the books as a second-level filmmaker in relation with, say, a Ford or a Hawks. He was an extraordinary crafted and prolific director, capable of incorporating standard studio material into his own personal worldview. `Captain Horatio Hornblower' is full of little moments that exceed any genre limitation. These `sparkles of Truth' may be the tracking shot along the empty room while Peck reads the letter of his deceased wife, or when Virginia Mayo kisses the youngster the way his mother used to did. So the adventure film becomes something bigger than life, just as `White Heat' used of the conventions of the gangster film to turn into metaphysics, or `Colorado Territory' departed the western into the depths of existentialism. This film is enjoyable from beginning to end, and it's a clear predecessor of Peter Weir's `Master and Commander', with which it shares a few tone, character and plot elements.

This is a breathtaking and handsomely story full of remarkable adventures , being adapted from C.S. Forester novel , a much successful seafaring writer.Set during the Napoleonic wars, this movie takes place from 1807 to 1808. It starts in the year 1807 , when Europe has been vanquished by Napoleon, and only the British Navy stands in his way to total victory . Nearly the cost of South America, a new conflict is brewing . As British Navy Captain Horatio Hornblower (Gregory Peck) aboard along with the ship Lieutenant William Bush (Robert Beatty) , 2nd Lt. Gerard (as Terence Morgan) , Midshipman Longley (James Kenney) , and Seaman Quist (James Robertson Justice) , all of them have adventures in Central American waters . Crossing the coast of South America on the lookout for enemies and after various weeks of uneventful sailing they arrive in a dangerous coast where governs Don Julian Alvarado, who is planning an attack against France's Spanish allies on the North American continent . While a Spanish Galleon is en route and Horatio no sooner captures it and hands it over to Alvarado (Alec Mango) . Then , he meets a reluctant host, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wellington, Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo) . Wherever adventure beckons, you'll find Captain Horatio Hornblower!. The sun never sets on his world of adventure.

Epic adventure and seafare story , plenty of action , character studio , a love story and spectacular maritime battles . This rousing adventure/war movie is packed with action , loving drama with interesting human relations, thrills , and impressive maritime battles. The Hornblower series of books were written by C.S. Forester and he adapted his own novels for this movie. As the movie is based on three "Hornblower" novels: ""Beat to Quarters" (or "The Happy Return"), "Ship of the Line", and "Flying Colours". These were all written in 1938, and were the first books of the series. The naval battle sequences are quite good , the movie is well developed because it gets to know the seamen who are locked aboard the narrow quarters of a three-masted frigate HMS and how they relationship everyday .Groundbreaking special effects with splendid scale-model ships and to save costs, the "Hispaniola" from Treasure island (1950) was re-used and renamed "Lydia . The rights to the novel were originally acquired by Warner Brothers with Errol Flynn in mind, but after some financial failures and growing difficulties with the actor, he was not cast. Subsequently producers hired Burl Lancaster but he ruled out , that's way he was playing his successful swashbucklers : The flame and the arrow , The crimson pirate , so Gregory Peck was ultimately cast. .Good-looking Gregory Peck gives an attractive acting as the unflappable Capt. Hornblower of the British Navy who is sent on a secret mission to divert Napoleon's Spanish allies by sponsoring a megalomaniac's Central American revolution . And Virginia Mayo who plays a star-crossed romantic interlude with Peck , she was only cast after several high-profile British actresses were either not available or uninterested . Support cast is pretty good , such as Robert Beatty , Terence Morgan , Christopher Lee , James Robertson Justice , Stanley Baker , Dennis O'Dea, Michael Goodliffe , Diane Cilento , Alec Mango , Christopher Lee and theatrical movie debut of Jack Watson as Captain Sylvester .

Colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Guy Green . The wonderful photography reflects magnificently the marvelous maritime exteriors and adequate interiors . Being shot in several locations as Rye, East Sussex, England , Villefranche-sur-Mer, Alpes-Maritimes, France , French Riviera, Mediterranean Sea : sea battle scenes and Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK . As well as rousing and exciting musical score by Robert Farnon . This adventure yarn with a romance slipped in was well directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema Raoul achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant in Western as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨The sheriff of fractured jaw¨, ¨A distant trumpet¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. Rating : Fairly straightforward movie and above average . This interesting adventure and action film makes it of the finest of Raoul Walsh genre entries