Captain Horatio Hornblower - 5 out of 5 stars

This to me is the greatest "swashbuckling"epic ever made.It spans the Americas with England's aid to rebel enemies of Spain and then to Europe and the French. Made in 1951 at 117 minutes,and set in the Napoleonic era, it's what the golden age of adventure at sea with love and honor duty was all about.Gregory Peck is outstanding as Hornblower as is Virginia Mayo as Lady Barbara Wellesley .Look for a small role by Christopher Lee of Hammer films and Star Wars fame ,as a Spanish Captain.The story opens with Hornblower sailing around the Cape to the Pacific to deliver arms to locals who are rebelling against Spain,which was allied with France in war against England.Upon learning there is a large Spanish man of war heading to the rebels fortress,Hornblower agrees to capture it and turn it over to rebels even though they are really a psychotic group. After that successful engagement they sail for Panama to help the rebels set up a blockade.Then they learn from the Spanish they are and have become allies AGAINST the French  for a few weeks now.WELL,that's it.Hornblower must now retake that Spanish man of war,that outguns him 100 to 30,before the rebels slaughter everyone in Panama. After that Hornblower heads back to England with Lady Barbara Wellesley,yes the Duke's sister,and well,then the adventure REALLY starts.The dialogue is really snappy and at times quite funny but always fits the mood.It's really hard to try to describe how authentic this film really is.From a disciplinary flogging before ships company,to a young 16'ish Royal Navy officer,and the use of a knotted heavy rope to tell speed"knots"Navigating from star to star and finally the classic ship to ship broadside battle.There are scenes of sorrow and sacrifice as well.Hornblower returns to England to  learn his wife had died giving him a son.The 16'ish young officer dies while being nursed by Lady Barbara after battle.
There is too much to explain as this movie was filmed as it was a book.No detail was unimportant or too small.AND I haven't even gotten into the battles with the French nor the romance between Hornblower and Barbara.
As always,the URL to the trailer is below the pix.

 
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1502872857/