Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant DVD Cover Country UK Directed by Andrew Grieve Release Date 1998 Language English French Studio A+E Networks Ecou Films Meridian Broadcasting Distributor ITV A&E Main Cast Character Actor Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower Ioan Gruffudd Captain Sir Edward Pellew Robert Lindsay Mr. Tapling Ian McNeice Captain "Dreadnought" Foster Denis Lawson Matthews Paul Copley Styles Sean Gilder Bunting Andrew Tiernan Captain Hammond Ian McElhinney

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant (released in American broadcast as Hornblower: The Fire Ships) is the second 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. The Examination for Lieutenant depicts Hornblower as a newly-promoted acting lieutenant on the HMS Indefatigable that operates near Gibraltar. When attacks on British supplies force the navy into severe rationing, Hornblower is sent to Oran in Ottoman Algeria with a mission to buy grain and cattle for the fleet. But plague has broken out, and the schooner under Hornblower's command must be quarantined for three weeks at sea. Upon the happy return Hornblower attempts the examination for lieutenant which is interrupted when a Spanish fire ship attacks the anchorage. The film is mainly based on the chapters Hornblower and Noah's Ark and Hornblower and the Examination for Lieutenant from the novel Mr. Midshipman Hornblower.

The following weapons were used in the film Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant:

Pistols

New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol

Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Seaman Styles (Sean Gilder) and Oldroyd (Simon Sherlock) hold New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistols during the encounter with Spanish soldiers. Judging by the flat heel of the grip, these pistols match the East Indian Pattern. Its appearance is anachronistic as it was introduced in 1796 and came into widespread production only by 1802. Tower Sea Service pistols would be more correct for the Royal Navy personnel.

New Land Pattern Flintlock Pistol - .65 caliber

When the crew covertly goes ashore on the Spanish coast to procure water, Oldroyd holds a pistol.

Hornblower aims the pistol at the distraught seaman Bunting who makes an attempt to desert.

A close-up of the flintlock.

Styles carries a pistol tucked into his belt.

The grips of two Hornblower's pistols are seen.

Muskets

Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

Royal Marines are armed with Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets in several scenes. The muskets are claimed to be Pedersoli production.

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

The Marines in the ship's longboat hold Brown Bess muskets with attached bayonets.

The flintlock of a Brown Bess musket is seen at the right.

A Marine with a musket in hands escorts seaman Bunting who made an attempt to desert.

Marines drive back the crowd in plagued Oran.

Matthews (Paul Copley) takes a Brown Bess musket from a dead Marine during the shootout with Spanish soldiers.

He cocks the hammer.

Matthews holds a musket at the left.

Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) takes a musket from a Marine.

He shoots in air to give a signal.

Charleville Flintlock Musket

Spanish soldiers are armed with French Charleville Muskets (probably because no replicas of Spanish muskets are manufactured). These guns are also claimed to be Pedersoli production.

Charleville Mousquet Mle 1777 - .69 caliber

A Spanish soldier holds his musket during the shootout with the Hornblower's crewmembers.

A Spanish soldier aims at Bunting.

A slightly blurry close-up of the musket.

Other Weapons

Swivel Gun

Swivel Guns are mounted on English ships.

Swivel Gun

A close-up of a swivel gun seen in front of Captain "Dreadnought" Foster (Denis Lawson), mounted on a supply ship. Another swivel gun is seen at the background.

A swivel gun on the schooner Caroline.

Another swivel gun on the Caroline.

Naval Cannons

Numerous naval cannons are seen on HMS Indefatigable. These guns are replicas. Small powder charges are used for firing, enough to create a muzzle flash but producing only marginal recoil, as making the cannons to fly back of full recoil would be dangerous to actors.

Naval cannon - 18th century

A row of 12- or 18-pounder cannons on the top deck of the HMS Indefatigable.