Main Cast: Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty, Terence Morgan, Denis O'Dea, Moultrie Kelsall, James Robertson Justice
Release Year: 1951
Country: UK
Run Time: 117 minutes
Plot
Gregory Peck stars as the title character in this swashbuckling saga of the high seas based on C.S. Forester's novel. In 1807, Hornblower is given a special assignment by the British Navy: he is to deliver a supply of weapons to El Supremo (Alec Mango), a Latin American rebel leading an uprising against Spain. However, by the time Hornblower arrives, it is discovered that the political winds have shifted, Spain and England are once again allies, and El Supremo is now the enemy of the British forces. Hornblower and his men are also forced to take on a passenger, Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), a sister of the Duke of Wellington who is trying to escape an outbreak of yellow fever. When she shows symptoms of the disease, Hornblower tries to nurse her back to health while attempting to organize an attack on the armada he just helped to arm. Upon his return to England, Hornblower parts company with Wellesley (while they were attracted to each other, Hornblower remained loyal to his wife) and is given a new mission to take on Napoleon's naval forces. Captain Horatio Hornblower was originally scheduled to star Errol Flynn, but the role was recast when it was decided he'd grown too old to play the role convincingly (the fact Flynn was in the midst of one of his periodic battles with the brass at Warner Brothers certainly didn't help matters). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Captain Horatio Hornblower features several nicely staged battle sequences and an excellent performance from Gregory Peck as the title character. Brought to the screen by veteran director Raoul Walsh and a fine Warner Bros. production team, the tale of honorable military service and heroism was well-suited to post-World War II audiences. Peck brings his customary aura of intelligence and moral authority to the role. If the film has a fault, it's that it spends too much time on Hornblower's uninteresting relationship with Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo); the scenes seem tacked-on, detracting from the naval drama. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Stanley Baker - Mr. Harrison; James Kenney - Midshipman Langley; Richard Hearne - Polwheal; Michael Dolan - Gundarson; Alec Mango - El Supremo; Ronald Adam - Adm. Macartney; Michael Goodliffe - Caillard; Christopher Lee - Captain; Kynaston Reeves - Lord Hood; Amy Veness - Mrs. McPhee; Ingeborg Wells - Hebe; John Witty - Capt. Etenza
