Horatio Hornblower Vols. 1-4 (1998)
Adventure | War

-- C.S. Forester's -- 4-Disc Boxed Set --

Tagline: C.S. Forester’s classic novels beautifully brought to life.

The Emmy award-winning epic saga of Horatio Hornblower, the legendary sea-faring hero, comes to life in these four films based on C.S. Forester’s classic novels. Set against the bloody backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, Hornblower charts a course for high adventure. Follow the raw recruit as he battles the French, evades capture, and rises through the ranks of the King’s Navy.

With a powerful performance by Ioan Gruffudd (Titanic) in the title role, Horatio Hornblower brings C.S. Forester’s classic tales to life in all their swashbuckling glory.

Filmed in Turkey, the Crimea, and on the Black Sea and produced by the same team that created the Emmy award-winning Jane Austen’s Emma. Now in the crystal-clear digital clarity of DVD.

1. The Duel (The Even Chance)
2. The Fire Ships (The Examination for Lieutenant)
3. The Duchess and the Devil
4. The Wrong War (The Frogs and the Lobsters)

The Duel - Hornblower gets his first ship where he has to overcome seasickness and a bully M'Man Simpson, who is after him because his abilities far exceeds all of the others on board. When Simpson accuses him of cheating at cards, Hornblower challenges him to a duel. But Clayton knocks Hornblower out, takes his place in the duel, and is shot. Before Horatio can do anything, war is declared, and he is transferred to the Indefatigable under Captain Pellew. Horatio gradually earns a place on his new ship and the respect of the men under his command, and Pellew even trusts him with a prize command. But when Simpson reappears, and Horatio is given a dangerous assignment with Simpson at his back, will he survive?

The Fire Ships - The reckless legendary Captain Foster destroys a supply ship rather than let it get into enemy hands, and he and his crew are rescued by the Indefatigable. Hornblower finds himself admiring Foster, despite Pellew's disapproval. But the loss of supplies puts them on half-rations, and there's mutinous talk, led by Bunting. Hornblower tries to study for his lieutenant's examination, but he has to accompany a diplomat, Tapling, to secure more supplies. But when Tapling and Hornblower discover that the grain and cattle may be tainted with bubonic plague, Hornblower must keep his crew and cargo in quarantine in defiance of Foster's demands for victualling. And if Horatio survives, how will Foster judge him at the Lieutenant's Examination? Hornblower uses the time to study for his upcoming lieutenant's examination. None of his crew is stricken with the dreaded disease, and they rejoin their ship just in time for the exam. During the actual oral exam, a Spanish "fire ship" (a ship ablaze sent into the midst of the fleet to burn it), is spotted and it's up to Hornblower and one of his chief examiners to save the fleet. This bravery more than proves Hornblower's ability to take on the duties of a lieutenant.

The Duchess and the Devil - Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) is assigned to escort a duchess (Cherie Lunghi) back to England on a Spanish ship he captured. He is also assigned to take top secret papers back with him. On the trip, the ship runs into a deep fog and suddenly the crew finds themselves in the middle of the Spanish Armada and taken prisoner. The papers are hidden in the duchess' undergarments for protection. But Hornblower doubts his decision to do this when he finds that the duchess speaks Spanish, is given free reign of their island, and that she is not a real duchess - but rather is an actress. Hornblower's men also start doubting him as he becomes attracted to the duchess and is given freedoms and food not offered to the others.

Hornblower captures the French vessel, Le Reve, and is asked by Pellew to sail her back to England so that she can be outfitted for the English navy, and also, as a favor, to convey the unusual Duchess of Wharfedale back home. Unfortunately, Le Reve, Hornblower, the duchess and the crew are captured by the Spanish and imprisoned. There, Horatio finds Kennedy, wasted and hopeless from months in solitary. Against the odds, Horatio must find a way to escape with Kennedy, against Hunter's protests, and with the growing suspicion that the duchess may not be who she appears.

The Wrong War - Hornblower (Ioan Gruffuld) is called to take a company of British troops (which the sailors call lobsters because of their red coats) and a company of French nationalists (which are called frogs) to France to fight in the revolution. But Hornblower is horrified by the brutality of the French commander as he guillotines everyone in a village that destroyed his former home and his unwillingness to take part in the actual battles. However, when the commander and his men set out to rape and brutalize a young school teacher, Hornblower vows his protection of her.

--- JOYA - (PPQ) ---

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