Hornblower: Loyalty

Hornblower: Loyalty 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 Captain Hammond Ian McElhinney Thomas Wolfe Lorcan Cranitch Boatswain Matthews Paul Copley Styles Sean Gilder Major Andre Côtard Greg Wise Ships' Master Prowse Tony Haygarth Maria Mason Julia Sawalha

Hornblower: Loyalty is the seventh 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. Shortly after being promoted to Commander and given command of his own vessel, Britain and France sign the Peace of Amiens. During the peacetime period of 1802-1803, Hornblower - demoted and languishing without a posting and on half-pay - makes ends meet by gambling in officer's clubs and staying at a cheap lodging where his landlady's daughter is rather taken with him. As a renewal of war looms, his old superior Admiral Sir Edward Pellew reinstates Hornblower as Commander to captain a sloop, the HMS Hotspur, with orders to sail to French coast for a reconnaissance mission. With a new ship and (mostly) new crew - among them a French noble and spy assigned as an officer in England's army - they set sail to perform this covert assignment. However when suspicious events occur, it is not clear just whose loyalties lie exactly where. Hornblower must determine who is with Britain's cause and who isn't as he discovers the extent of a new French threat to Britain.

The film is mainly based on the the final chapters of the novel Lieutenant Hornblower and the novel Hornblower and the Hotspur, with some new elements introduced for this adaptation.

The following weapons were used in the film Hornblower: Loyalty:
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), Midshipman Charles Orrock (Jonathan Forbes), Captain Hammond (Ian McElhinney), and Major Andre Côtard (Greg Wise). Boatswain Matthews (Paul Copley), Styles (Sean Gilder) and some other seamen also carry Heavy Dragoon pistols, unlike the previous films where they are armed with New Land Pattern pistols.

British Heavy Dragoon Pistol - .62 caliber

Hornblower holds a pistol (seen slightly blurry due to fast motion) when HMS Retribution under his command retakes HMS Hotspur from the French.

When the landing party prepare for the raid on the French semaphore station, Major Côtard (Greg Wise) carries a Heavy Dragoon pistol. When he is seen in action, he holds a flintlock dueling pistol (see below).

Hornblower holds the Heavy Dragoon pistol during the raid.

Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) with the pistol.

Midshipman Orrock (Jonathan Forbes, in center) carries his pistol tucked into the belt.

Styles uses the flintlock of his pistol to ignite the fuse of the Congreve rocket.

Matthews (Paul Copley) holds his pistol during the raid.

A wounded Côtard fires a Heavy Dragoon pistol during the battle on the beach.

Bush (Paul McGann) hands his pistol to Côtard.

Captain Hammond (Ian McElhinney) holds the pistol at his head in the climactic scene.

Dueling Flintlock Pistol

When Commander Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) and Major Andre Côtard (Greg Wise) reconnoiter on the French coast, disguised as fishermen, they carry identical Flintlock Pistols. Judging by the shape and angle of the grip and by the faceted barrel, these are dueling pistols, very similar to French Boutet pistols, exceptionally high quality guns manufactured in Versailles from 1792 until at least 1818. Like other guns in Hornblower films, these pistols are supposed to be modern replicas; the exact manufacturer is unknown. Côtard continues using one of these pistols during the raid on the French semaphore station. Due to continuity errors, this pistol in Côtard's hands several times switches to a Heavy Dragoon pistol and back.

For reference: French Flintlock Pistol which is generally similar to the screen gun

Hornblower and Côtard, both in disguise, hold their pistols.

Hornblower and Côtard sneak to the French field camp.

The grip of Hornblower's pistol is seen when he runs, pursued by a French cavalryman.

Côtard holds a dueling pistol during the raid of the semaphore station.

Côtard holds his pistol when the landing party retreats to the shore.

Due to a continuity error, the dueling pistol is seen in hands of Styles (Sean Gilder) while Côtard carries a Heavy Dragoon pistol.

The grip of the pistol is seen at the foreground bottom.

Côtard who volunteers to cover the retreat together with Midshipman Orrock takes aim. Orrock also holds a dueling pistol in this scene in addition to his Heavy Dragoon pistol.

Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol

Thomas Wolfe (Lorcan Cranitch) carries a Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol pistol. It was introduced only in 1810, thus its usage in 1803 is incorrect. The ramrod of the pistol is poorly fixed on place and sometimes extend beyond the end of the barrel.

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

Wolfe holds an An XIII pistol.

He uses the flintlock of his pistol to ignite the fuse of the Congreve rocket.

Wolfe holds his pistol when he encounters Hornblower on the coastal battery. The ramrod is extended too far forward.

Muskets

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

Royal Marines are armed with Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets.

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

"Present Arms!"
The Marines on the Hotspur conduct a 'passing honors' salute to the French frigate Loire.

A Marine on guard. Note that the metal parts of his musket are very well-polished, almost to a mirror-like shine.

Marines fire during the battle with Loire. Major Côtard (Greg Wise) holds a Brown Bess at the foreground.

A close-up of the flintlock of Côtard's musket.

Marines fire at Loire.

Marines of Hornblower's landing party take aim.

Marines of Captain Hammond's landing party attach bayonets.

A surrendered pile of Brown Bess muskets.

Brown Bess Prop Bayonets

A noticeably bent rubber prop bayonet is seen in center.

Charleville Flintlock Musket

French soldiers are armed with Charleville Muskets. In several scenes Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Côtard (Greg Wise) and Styles (Sean Gilder) arm themselves with captured French muskets.

Charleville Mousquet Mle 1777 - .69 caliber

French soldiers pursue Hornblower and Côtard.

Côtard aims a captured musket. Again note the considerable (and out-of-place) polish to the weapon.

French soldiers aim their muskets.

The guards in the fort are very surprised how Hornblower and his men managed to escape from the prison cell.

Hornblower runs up the stairs with a captured musket in-hand.

French soldiers on the coastal battery.

Styles (Sean Gilder) with a captured musket.

Wolfe (Lorcan Cranitch) takes a musket from a soldier and aims.

French soldiers prepare to open fire at Hornblower and a handful of his men.

A French soldier in battle.

Other Weapons

Swivel Gun

Swivel Guns are seen on several ships of the Royal Navy.

Swivel Gun

A swivel gun on HMS Retribution is seen during the opening credits.

A swivel gun on HMS Hotspur is seen behind Commander Hornblower.

A swivel gun on HMS Hotspur. The muzzle is seen.

Naval Cannons

Sloop-of-war HMS Hotspur carries relatively small cannons. According to the novel, they must be 9-pounder long guns. Heavy cannons are mounted on the French coastal battery.

Naval cannon - 18th century

A bow cannon on HMS Retribution fires in the opening scene.

Cannons on HMS Hotspur.

Matthews prepares to fire a cannon.

Styles fires a cannon.

A French artilleryman on the coastal battery prepares to fire a heavy cannon at Admiral Pellew's flagship (which is a remotely controlled scale model).

Another heavy cannon is ignited by a flintlock.

A carronade on the Hotspur's boat supports the attack of Bush's landing party.

Field Cannons

When Captain Hammond's landing party is ambushed by French troops, several muzzleloading field guns are deployed against the Britains. They probably represent 4- or 8-pounder Gribeauval cannons, as they look too small for 12-pounder gun.

For reference: French Gribeauval 12-Pounder Cannon. 4- and 8-pounder cannons looks similar but are smaller.

French soldiers aim a field cannon at Hammond's men.

A close-up of another field cannon.

Congreve Rocket

During the British raid on the French semaphore and the coastal battery, Hornblower's and Hammond's men carry small Congreve Rockets for signalling. Hornblower orders to use a signal rocket to detonate the powder charge from safe distance which Styles (Sean Gilder) does successfully.

A seaman of Hornblower's landing party carries a pair of blue signal rockets.

Styles readies a rocket.

The fuse is burning.

A Marine next to Captain Hammond carries a pair of red signal rockets.

Wolfe ignites the fuse to launch a red rocket.