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Hornblower: Retribution
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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.
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.
Captain Sawyer (David Warner) takes the pistol from Wellard but then gives it back when the rebelling prisoners break into Captain's cabin.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Weapons
Swivel Gun
Swivel Guns are mounted on HMS Renown.
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.
