Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951) on Netflix
NR19511h 57mActionAdventureDrama
Royal Navy captain Horatio Hornblower takes HMS Lydia to Central America on a secret mission to arm Don Julian Alvarado against Spain. Lady Barbara Wellesley comes aboard as a passenger.
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Trailer
Plot summary
In 1807, with Britain at war with Napoleon, Captain Horatio Hornblower commands the 38-gun frigate HMS Lydia on a secret voyage to Central America. His orders are to arm Don Julian Alvarado, who has raised a rebellion against Spain's colonial authorities, allies of France. Word arrives that the 60-gun Natividad is sailing to crush the rebellion; Hornblower's crew boards her at night and takes her, and he hands the prize over to Alvarado. A Spanish lugger then reports that Spain has changed sides. Two passengers come aboard over Hornblower's objections: Lady Barbara Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington's sister, and her maid, who are escaping an epidemic of yellow fever.
Cast
- Michael Dolanas Surgeon Gundarson
Show all 20 cast
- John Wittyas Capt. Entenza
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Warner Bros. bought the film rights to the first three Hornblower novels as a star vehicle for Errol Flynn; he was not cast, and Burt Lancaster was passed over because a British sea captain was thought outside his range, so Gregory Peck was cast on loan-out from David O. Selznick.
- Virginia Mayo won the part of Lady Barbara Wellesley only after several high-profile British actresses were unavailable or not interested; Gregory Peck wanted Margaret Leighton, but studio head Jack Warner found Mayo more attractive.
- To save money, the Hispaniola set built for Disney's 1950 adaptation of Treasure Island was reused as Hornblower's frigate, HMS Lydia.
- Rather than move the horizon background to simulate movement on the water, the filmmakers rocked the ship itself, which caused problems because of the combined weight of ship, crew and equipment.
