Digitally re-mastered for the very first time.
Epic award-winning films based on C.S. Forester’s classic
adventure stories. Set during the 18th century Napoleonic Wars,
Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), a young and shy midshipman,
rises through the ranks to become an admiral, braving bloody
engagements at sea and close quarter encounters with passionate
ladies every bit as tenacious as his treacherous foes.
Episodes include:
The Even Chance
The Examination For Lieutenant
The Duchess And The Devil
The Frogs And The Lobsters
Mutiny
Retribution
Loyalty
Duty
Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, John Woodvine & Cherie
Lunghi
The Even Chance
Horatio Hornblower, a new midshipman joins the British Royal
Navy, and his immediate problems stem from his seaness and a
shipmate, Simpson, a bully whose own failings make him jealous of
the new recruit. The antagonism leads to a duel with tragic
results.
The Examination For Lieutenant
Hornblower is now a member of the crew under Captain Pellew on
HMS Indeigable, and Britain is at war. Trying to study for the
forthcoming examination to become a Lieutenant, Hornblower must
face deadly problems and come through with his life--if he can.
The Duchess And The Devil
Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower is sailing home in a captured ship,
La Rêve, carrying secret papers and escorting a duchess, when
they themselves are taken prisoner by the Spanish. How can he
escape with his top secret charge, the other prisoners, and above
all, a duchess whose behaviour is becoming increasingly
suspicious?
The Frogs And The Lobsters
When Hornblower is charged with taking some British Redcoats (the
Lobsters) and French nationalists (the frogs) over the English
Channel to assist in the fightback against the French Revolution,
he is overcome with horror at the brutality of their behaviour,
and must defend the honour of a young French woman.
Mutiny
Hornblower is 4th junior Lieutenant aboard the 4- frigate HMS
Renown, en route to a secret location. Her captain, Sawyer, is a
war hero, but he is also dangerously unstable. Hornblower becomes
aware that action of some kind has to be taken but he and the
other officers are only too aware of the consequences. Anything
they do would be construed as a mutinous action and be punishable
by death. Dr Clive, the surgeon, is equally worried and cannot be
brought to declare the captain unfit for service. But Sawyer is
informed that his officers are planning mutiny, he flies into a
rage, and hunts them down, only to end up severely incapacitated.
The Renown is left without a captain, or any clear idea of what
its destination or mission are.
Retribution
With Sawyer dead, Buckland takes control of the ship, but he is
not up to the task, and decides to sail to Jamaica, despite the
failure of the mission to capture the Spanish fort on Samana Bay.
Hornblower suggests another plan of attack which goes well,
although Buckland takes all the credit for the raid's success.
But the Spanish capitulation isn't all it seems, and Hornblower
will have to come to Buckland's rescue once more before they
reach Jamaica.
Loyalty
1803 Portsmouth. We find Hornblower reduced to the rank of
lieutenant as a result of the peace treaty with France. He is
forced to earn his living at the card tables and lodges with Mrs
Mason. A chance encounter with Lieutenant Bush reignites their
friendship and indeed, it is Bush who first notices Hornblower
has an admirer: Mrs Mason's daughter, Maria. Soon, Admiral Pellew
promotes Hornblower to Commander of the Hotspur, his mission--to
strike a pre-emptive blow against a French fleet. But there is a
traitor in his camp--a very surprising traitor.
Duty
Hornblower is filled with trepidation on his wedding day, but he
has given his word - how could he dishonour his bride Maria and
live with himself? Admiral Pellew gives Hornblower little time to
ponder his new state of matrimony as he sends him off immediately
to search for the missing sloop Grasshopper, captained by their
old friend, Bracegirdle. En route, Hornblower rescues two
strangers caught in a storm off the coast of France, but he is
less than convinced by their explanations. The ultimate
revelation of their identity is both shocking and dangerous to
all concerned.