C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower: "Loyalty" & "Duty" A&E Network Miniseries Review

Title: C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower: “Loyalty” & “Duty”

Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Paul McGann, Paul Copley, Sean Gilder, Julia Sawalha, Greg Wise, Christian Coulson, Lorcan Cranitch, and Barbara Flynn

Writers: Niall Leonard and Stephen Churchett

Based on the Novel “Horatio And The Hotspur” By: C.S. Forester

Series Developed By: Celtic/Picture Palace For Meridian

Director: Andrew Grieve

Executive Producer For A&E Network: Delia Fine

Executive Producer: Michele Buck

Horatio Hornblower: “Loyalty” Running Time: 91 minutes without commercials

Horatio Hornblower: “Duty” Running Time: 91 minutes without commercials

Media: A&E Network Miniseries (NTSC VHS Screener)

Horatio Hornblower: “Loyalty” Premiere: Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at 8pm (ET)/ 7pm (CT)

Horatio Hornblower: “Duty” Premiere: Wednesday, December 3, 2003, at 8pm (ET)/ 7pm (CT)

Network: A&E Network Television (Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)

TV Rating: TV-PG

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Ioan Gruffudd returns in what is perhaps his best-known television role on both sides of the Atlantic as “Horatio Hornblower” in the third exciting miniseries presentation on A&E of “Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty And Duty.” The two TV movies also bring back Robert Lindsay as “Admiral Pellew,” Paul McGann as “Lieutenant Bush,” Paul Copley as “Matthews” and Sean Gilder as “Styles.”

Based on C.S. Forester’s “Horatio Hornblower And The Hotspur,” the first film in the two part series entitled “Duty” follows Horatio as he is promoted to Captain in command of the HMS Hotspur on a secret mission to ascertain if Napoleon’s truce with England is a ruse for a sneak attack. Onboard the ship is a French National, whom Hornblower does not trust. When Hornblower discovers evidence of an all out attack being planned deep within enemy territory, he is captured and the fleet is put in jeopardy not only from Napoleon’s cannon fire, but from traitors strategically placed in the British Navy. The second part entitled “Loyalty” continues the storyline beginning with Hornblower’s marriage to Maria (Julia Sawalha), a daughter of an unfriendly landlady, who he has developed second thoughts about especially in a time when England is once again at war. The day after his wedding he is off to sea again and soon takes on passengers from a rowboat in distress containing none other than Napoleon’s brother Jerome Bonaparte and his new American bride. Soon Hornblower learns of a large enemy military operation under way and is determined to discover exactly what it is.

Fans of the first two miniseries should find these this third installment entertaining with Ioan Gruffudd embodying his signature role with a heroic quality and honor that almost makes one wonder where “Hornblower” ends and Gruffudd’s own personality begins? This is meant to be a compliment and not an insult regarding the young Actor’s talents. Paul McGann and Robert Lindsay turn in good supporting roles with McGann in particular injecting a bit more extra dimension than one might expect. I personally love the great Actors who play Hornblower’s crew and in some ways I find their characters to be the most human and vividly drawn in the miniseries. Lorcan Cranitch plays a great screen villain for this miniseries and Julia Sawalha adds a sweet beauty to her portrayal of Hornblower’s wife “Maria.” The stories contain some nice twists and literary comparisons particularly between Hornblower and his wife’s relationship and Bonaparte’s brother and his wife’s relationship given the stark reality of the war around them and their respective responsibilities. Following the premiere of this new miniseries, A&E Home Video will release “Horatio Hornblower: The New Adventures” as a two-pack DVD box set containing both of the new films as well as Director and Costume Designer audio commentary tracks, galleries, and an anamorphic widescreen presentation.

I must confess a weakness for these period stories. I saw the original miniseries a few years ago and enjoyed this one a lot. In some ways they remind a bit of the three “Kent Family Chronicles” period novels written by John Jakes that were adapted for television in the 1970s. I wish A&E could air those. “Horatio Hornblower: Loyalty” will debut on A&E on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at 8pm (ET)/ 7pm (CT) with “Horatio Hornblower: Duty” following on Wednesday, December 3, 2003, at 8pm (ET)/ 7pm (CT). Tune in and embrace the adventure!

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