| Hornblower: Duty
|
|
DVD Cover
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| Country
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 UK
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| Directed by
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Andrew Grieve
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| Release Date
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2003
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| Language
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English
French
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| Studio
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A+E Networks
Meridian Broadcasting
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| Distributor
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ITV
A&E
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|
|
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. In 1804-1805 HMS Hotspur under the command of Commander Horatio Hornblower continues missions near the French coast. During these missions, Hornblower uncovers Napoleon's preparations to invade Britain and then makes a good deal in ruining these plans. An important part of the events is the case of Jerome-Napoleon Bonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon, and his American wife who are saved from a lifeboat by Hotspur, along with the continuing of nearly personnal war between Hornblower and former Hotspur crewmember Wolfe who turned out to be French agent.
The film is partially based on the novel Hornblower and the Hotspur but many plotlines are original.
The following weapons were used in the film Hornblower: Duty:
Pistols
Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistol
Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistols are seen in hands of Commander Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Lieutenant William Bush (Paul McGann), Captain 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 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.
Matthews and Orrock hold their pistols while under enemy fire from above.
Hornblower pretends that he is ready to surrender to Wolfe during the latter's attempt to capture the
Hotspur.
Hornblower holds his pistol when he leads the reconnaissance party.
Bracegirdle holds his pistol while watching the French activities.
Bush and Hornblower aims their pistols at Wolfe 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 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.
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.
For reference: French Gribeauval 12-Pounder Cannon. 4- and 8-pounder cannons looks similar but are smaller.
Two cannons are deployed.
French artillerymen prepare to load the cannon with a bombshell.
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