Hornblower: Duty

DVD Cover

Country	UK
Directed by	Andrew Grieve
Release Date	2003
Language	English French
Studio	A+E Networks Meridian Broadcasting
Distributor	ITV A&E

Main Cast
Character	Actor
Commander Horatio Hornblower	Ioan Gruffudd
Admiral Sir Edward Pellew	Robert Lindsay
Lieutenant William Bush	Paul McGann
Wolfe	Lorcan Cranitch
Matthews	Paul Copley
Styles	Sean Gilder
Commander Bracegirdle	Jonathan Coy
Ships' Master Prowse	Tony Haygarth
Maria Hornblower nee Mason	Julia Sawalha
Jerome-Napoleon Bonaparte	David Birkin

Hornblower: Duty is the eighth and the last installment of the Hornblower series of British historical war television films based on the works of C. S. Forester and starring Ioan Gruffudd as Royal Navy officer Horatio Hornblower during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Almost immediately following the events of Loyalty, Commander Hornblower of the HMS Hotspur is wedded to the daughter of his landlady, Maria Mason. During the wedding Hornblower is visited by Admiral Sir Edward Pellew with another important assignment - that being a search for a missing ship, the sloop-of-war HMS Grasshopper, captained by his and Pellew's former crew mate Commander Bracegirdle, who last reported strange new enemy activity. During this mission, a supposed well-to-do Swiss man and his American wife are rescued from a sea-stranded lifeboat by Hotspur. However events prove they may not be all that they appear. Hornblower must now contend with the potential dangers of taking on these passengers while also figuring out just what new great act the French are planning against Britain.

The film is partially based on the novel Hornblower and the Hotspur, with some new and original elements.

The following weapons were used in the film Hornblower: Duty:

WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Pistols

Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistol

Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistols are seen in hands of Commander Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Lieutenant William Bush (Paul McGann), Commander Bracegirdle (Jonathan Coy), Midshipman Charles Orrock (Jonathan Forbes), Boatswain Matthews (Paul Copley), and Styles (Sean Gilder) in numerous scenes.

British Heavy Dragoon Pistol - .62 caliber

The barrel of Hornblower's pistol is seen during the exploration of the wreck of HMS Grasshopper.

Bush (Paul McGann, left) cocks the hammer of his pistol when the landing party is ambushed during the search for survivors from the crew of the Grasshopper.

Bush fires at French soldiers on the top of the cliff.

Styles (Sean Gilder) also fires.

Matthews (Paul Copley, left) and Orrock (Jonathan Forbes) hold their pistols while under enemy fire from above.

Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) holds up his pistol in surrender.

Hornblower holds his pistol when he leads the reconnaissance party.

Bracegirdle (Jonathan Coy) holds his pistol while watching the French activities.

Bush and Hornblower aim their pistols in the climactic scene.

Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol

Thomas Wolfe (Lorcan Cranitch), now a French Commandant (Major), carries a Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol pistol. It was introduced only in 1810, thus its usage in 1804 is incorrect.

Saint Etienne 1810 Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol - .69 cal

Wolfe interrogates Maguire (Timothy Deenihan), a deserter from the Hotspur.

Another view of Wolfe's pistol.

Wolfe holds his pistol during the attempt to capture the Hotspur.

Wolfe in standoff with Hornblower who is armed with a Heavy Dragoon pistol.

Wolfe holds his pistol while searching the barn.

Charleville Mle 1777 Flintlock Pistol

Wolfe (Lorcan Cranitch) carries a pair of Charleville Mle 1777 Flintlock Pistols in the climactic scene. During Wolfe's attempt to capture the Hotspur, Maguire (Timothy Deenihan) also holds a pistol that is supposed to be an Mle 1777, although it is seen briefly and unclear due to the darkness of the scene. Very likely these guns are replicas by Armi San Marco, like Mle 1777 pistol(s) seen in previous films.

Charleville Model 1777 Cavalry Officer Flintlock- .69 cal

Maguire fires his pistol. The belt hook can be seen.

Wolfe aims his pistol at the French Navy officer, demanding to attack the Hotspur.

Wolfe who falls onto the Hotspur tries to reach for his pistol.

A close-up of the pistol.

Wolfe draws his second pistol. The belt hook is seen.

The pistol is seen when Wolfe is gunned down.

Muskets

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

Royal Marines carry Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets.

Modern reproduction "Long Land Pattern" Brown Bess Infantry musket made from 1722-1768 - .75 caliber.

A Marine on guard (at the left) on the deck of the Hotspur.

The Marines of the landing party hold the muskets with bayonets.

The Marines in shootout with French soldiers who fire from the top of the cliff.

The Marines in action.

The Marines fire, covering the retreat of the rest of the party to the boat.

The Marines escort arrested Steward James Doughty (Ron Cook).

Charleville Flintlock Musket

French soldiers carry Charleville Muskets.

Charleville Mousquet Mle 1777 - .69 caliber

French soldiers fire at Hornblower's landing party from the top of the cliff.

The flintlock of a musket in hands of a French soldier is seen at the far right.

Soldiers with muskets guard a transported naval cannon.

Soldiers with muskets search the barn.

Other Weapons

Swivel Gun

A Swivel Gun can be seen on HMS Hotspur.

Swivel Gun

The swivel gun is seen behind Commander Hornblower.

The swivel gun is seen when the Hotspur attacks French ships under heavy snowfall on Christmas eve.

Naval Cannons

Sloop-of-war HMS Hotspur carries relatively small cannons. According to the novel, they must be 9-pounder long guns, but in one scene Matthews calls them 12-pounder. Naval cannons are also seen in the French coast.

Naval cannon - 18th century

A cannon on the Hotspur fires at the French cannon on the shore.

A destroyed French naval cannon at the edge of the shore.

A heavy French naval cannon is transported on a cart. In reality the naval guns were always transported dismounted from the carriages.

Hornblower and Bush discover quantities of French naval cannons of various calibers hidden in a barn.

Hotspur attacks French ships.

Field Cannons

French troops under Wolfe's command deploy several muzzleloading field guns to fire at Hotspur's boat. They probably represent 4- or 8-pounder Gribeauval cannons, as they look too small for 12-pounder gun. Following the text of the novel, the guns are called 5-inch when Hornblower discusses them with Bush which is close to 4.8-inch caliber of 12-pounders.