Hornblower: Retribution

Hornblower: Retribution DVD Cover Country UK Directed by Andrew Grieve Release Date 2001 Language English French Spanish Studio A+E Networks Meridian Broadcasting Distributor ITV A&E Main Cast Character Actor 3rd Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower Ioan Gruffudd Captain James Sawyer David Warner Acting Captain Buckland Nicholas Jones 2nd Lieutenant William Bush Paul McGann 4th Lieutenant Archie Kennedy Jamie Bamber Midshipman Wellard Terence Corrigan Matthews Paul Copley Styles Sean Gilder Colonel Francois Lefanu Hugh Quarshie Colonel Francisco Manuel Ortega Antonio Gil

Hornblower: Retribution is the sixth 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. Retribution immediately follows the events of Mutiny. HMS Renown is now under the reluctant command of Acting Captain Buckland, while Captain Sawyer is isolated in his cabin. With the direct attack on the Spanish fort a failure, Buckland is ready to admit defeat and sail away to Kingston. Hornblower persuades him to instead launch a surprise night assault on the fort by land. Meanwhile the rebel slaves under the leadership of Colonel Francois Lefanu come into contact with the Renown, and they are not happy about the participation of the British in the events on Santo Domingo. In this difficult situation Hornblower must now deal with the captured fort and Spanish forces - including prize ships, the rebel slaves, Sawyer's continued attempts at manipulation, and Buckland's self-doubt at command. The film is based on the second part of the novel Lieutenant Hornblower.

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

Pistols

Dueling Flintlock Pistol

One of Captain James Sawyer's (David Warner) Dueling Flintlock Pistols is seen in a flashback scene. For the full description of these guns see Mutiny.

A flashback scene reveals one of the pistols shooting when Captain Sawyer falls into the hold.

British Heavy Dragoon Pistol

The officers of HMS Renown - Lieutenants William Bush (Paul McGann), Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) and Archie Kennedy (Jamie Bamber), Midshipmen Hobbs (Philip Glenister) and Wellard (Terence Corrigan), and the Marines commander, unnamed Captain - carry Heavy Dragoon Pistols throughout the movie. In some occurrences, Hornblower and Hobbs use flintlocks of their pistols to ignit the fuses of gunpowder charges.

British Heavy Dragoon Pistol - .62 caliber

Midshipman Wellard (Terence Corrigan, right) cocks the hammer of his pistol prior to the attack on the Spanish fort but Hobbs (Philip Glenister) takes away the gun and mockingly explains to the inexperienced Wellard that an accidental gunshot may lead to the failure of the whole plan.

A close-up of the barrel of Hornblower's pistol.

Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) and Bush (Paul McGann) (only the grip of his pistol is seen) fire their guns during the attack on the Spanish fort.

Kennedy throws a pistol to Wellard who managed to sneak into a tunnel below the fort.

Hobbs ignites the fuse by a flash of the flintlock of his pistol.

Bush aims his pistol at a Spanish officer, demanding surrender.

Kennedy (Jamie Bamber) fires his pistol during the retreat from the fort.

During the battle with rebelling Spanish prisoners on board of Renown, Kennedy picks up a pistol from the deck.

A close-up of Hornblower's firing pistol in the same scene.

"Here, take this - At least one of us can face the enemy with a clear head."
Captain Sawyer (David Warner) takes the pistol from Wellard but then gives it back when the rebelling prisoners break into Captain's cabin.

A wounded Bush fires his pistol.

New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol

Boatswain Matthews (Paul Copley) and Boatswain's Mate Styles (Sean Gilder), as well as some other seamen are armed with New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistols during the attack on the Spanish fort. Spanish Colonel Francisco Manuel Ortega (Antonio Gil) seizes a New Land Pattern pistol during the rebellion of the Spanish prisoners on the Renown. Judging by the flat heel of the grip, these pistols match the East Indian Pattern. The pistol was introduced in 1796 and came into widespread production only by 1802, making its appearance here possible but quite unlikely. Tower Sea Service pistols would be more correct for the Royal Navy personnel.

New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol - .65 caliber

In the right foreground, Matthews holds his pistol prior the attack on the fort.

Matthews fires during the attack on the fort. Next to him a seaman also holds a New Land Pattern pistol while Midshipman Wellard is armed with a Heavy Dragoon pistol.

Matthews' and Styles' pistols are seen.

Matthews holds his pistol. The barrel of another New Land Pattern pistol is seen at the bottom center.

Styles and another seaman cocks hammers of their pistols.

Matthews (Paul Copley) holds a pistol and a cutlass while anxiously watching the Spanish ships making an attempt to escape from the harbor.

Colonel Ortega (Antonio Gil) holds a New Land Pattern pistol during the battle on the deck of Renown.

Ortega fires the pistol.

Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol

A French Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol pistol is seen in hands of a rebel slave. What appears to be an An XIII pistol is also seen in hands of a Spanish officer during the battle for the fort. The An XIII pistol wasn't introduced until 1810, thus its usage in 1801 is anachronistic.

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

One of the crewmembers of Renown is taken as hostage by the rebel slaves and held at gunpoint.

Another view of the same scene. Note that the ramrod is poorly fixed on place and is extended at full length of the barrel.

A good view of the pistol.

A Spanish officer fires an An XIII pistol.

Charleville Mle 1777 Flintlock Pistol

During the battle for the fort, the abovementioned Spanish officer also fires a Charleville Mle 1777 Flintlock Pistol. The pistol is fitted with a belt hook which is common for naval rather than cavalry model. Same looking pistol, maybe same prop reused, is also held by a rebel slave. Very likely it is a replica by Armi San Marco which just has such belt hook, and probably this is the same prop used in The Duchess and the Devil and The Frogs and the Lobsters.

Charleville Model 1777 Cavalry Officer Flintlock- .69 cal

One of the rebels in the boat (at the far right) holds what appears to be an Mle 1777 pistol.

The Spanish officer holds an Mle 1777 pistol.

He fires the pistol.

Muskets

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

Royal Marines in Kingston and on board the HMS Renown carry Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets. Muskets are also seen in hands of deserters, lead by Seaman Randall (Gilly Gilchrist). When the Spanish prisoners try to seize Renown, they arm themselves with Brown Bess muskets from the ship's armory.

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

Marines with Brown Bess muskets in the Admiralty in Kingston as Commodore Sir Edward Pellew (Robert Lindsay) walks past.

Randall (Gilly Gilchrist) aims at Hobbs when the latter uncovers the desertion.

Marines with muskets on the Renown seen behind Acting Captain Buckland (Nicholas Jones) and ship's surgeon Dr. Clive (David Rintoul).

To the right of Sergeant Whiting (Paul Brightwell), a Marine takes aim at the boat of Colonel Lefanu.

Marines in battle with Spanish soldiers.

Marines aim their muskets, many of those with bayonets.

A Spanish soldier aims a captured Brown Bess during the rebellion of the prisoners.

A close-up of the flintlock of a musket in hands of a Spanish soldier just after the shot.

Marines aim their muskets at Spaniards who surrender after their attempt to seize the Renown fails.

Charleville Flintlock Musket

Spanish soldiers are armed with French Charleville Muskets (probably because no replicas of Spanish muskets are manufactured). Charleville muskets are also used by rebel slaves, organised in a uniformed army.

Charleville Mousquet Mle 1777 - .69 caliber

One of the soldiers of the rebel slaves army holds a Charleville musket.

More muskets are seen in the boat.

Spanish soldiers in the fort prepare to repel the attack.

Fire!

Spanish soldiers fire at advancing Marines and seamen of Renown.

A Spanish soldier fires his musket.

A good view of the musket barrel.

Spaniards aim their muskets at Bush's cornered unit.

Other Weapons

Swivel Gun

Swivel Guns are mounted on HMS Renown.

Swivel Gun

A swivel gun is partially seen at the left.

A swivel gun is seen at the background during the battle on the deck of Renown.

Naval Cannons

12-pounder long guns are seen on the top deck of HMS Renown. One of these cannons is taken from the ship and hastily mounted on the cliff to fire at Spanish ships in the harbor. Numerous coastal guns are seen on the Spanish fort. It is unclear what would be the caliber of such cannons be they real guns, but judging by the size of the solid shots, 24-pounder can be estimated. When they are captured by the crew of Renown, "hot shots" are used. The movie is one the very rare instances in media that preciously shows the heating of cannonballs, the procedure of loading them, and the disastrous explosion of a cannon as a result of overheating.

Naval cannon - 18th century

The battery of coastal cannons on the Spanish fort is overtaken.

The heating of cannonballs on metal grate placed over a fire pit.

The red-hot cannonball is placed in a special hot-shot ladle used for loading.

A good view of the cannons.

Hobbs readies to fire. The cannon uses the flintlock ignition.

A ship's cannon is lifted to the top of the cliff. Wellard pushes off the rock with his feet to protect the cannon from hitting the surface.