Hornblower: Loyalty

Hornblower: Loyalty is the seventh 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. Shortly after being promoted to Commander and given command of his own vessel, Britain and France sign the Peace of Amiens. During the peacetime period of 1802-1803, Hornblower - demoted and languishing without a posting and on half-pay - makes ends meet by gambling in officer's clubs and staying at a cheap lodging where his landlady's daughter is rather taken with him. As a renewal of war looms, his old superior Admiral Sir Edward Pellew reinstates Hornblower as Commander to captain a sloop, the HMS Hotspur, with orders to sail to French coast for a reconnaissance mission. With a new ship and (mostly) new crew - among them a French noble and spy assigned as an officer in England's army - they set sail to perform this covert assignment. However when suspicious events occur, it is not clear just whose loyalties lie exactly where. Hornblower must determine who is with Britain's cause and who isn't as he discovers the extent of a new French threat to Britain.
The film is mainly based on the the final chapters of the novel Lieutenant Hornblower and the novel Hornblower and the Hotspur, with some new elements introduced for this adaptation.
 
 
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= Pistols =
== Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistol ==
Heavy Dragoon Flintlock Pistols are seen in hands of Commander Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Lieutenant William Bush (Paul McGann), Midshipman Charles Orrock (Jonathan Forbes), Captain Hammond (Ian McElhinney), and Major Andre Côtard (Greg Wise). Boatswain Matthews (Paul Copley), Styles (Sean Gilder) and some other seamen also carry Heavy Dragoon pistols, unlike the previous films where they are armed with New Land Pattern pistols.
== Dueling Flintlock Pistol ==
When Commander Horatio Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd) and Major Andre Côtard (Greg Wise) reconnoiter on the French coast, disguised as fishermen, they carry identical Flintlock Pistols. Judging by the shape and angle of the grip and by the faceted barrel, these are dueling pistols, very similar to French Boutet pistols, exceptionally high quality guns manufactured in Versailles from 1792 until at least 1818. Like other guns in Hornblower films, these pistols are supposed to be modern replicas; the exact manufacturer is unknown. Côtard continues using one of these pistols during the raid on the French semaphore station. Due to continuity errors, this pistol in Côtard's hands several times switches to a Heavy Dragoon pistol and back.
== Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol ==
Thomas Wolfe (Lorcan Cranitch) carries a Saint Etienne Model An XIII Cavalry Pistol pistol. It was introduced only in 1810, thus its usage in 1803 is incorrect. The ramrod of the pistol is poorly fixed on place and sometimes extend beyond the end of the barrel.
= Muskets =
== Brown Bess Flintlock Musket ==
Royal Marines are armed with Brown Bess Flintlock Muskets.
=== Brown Bess Prop Bayonets ===
== Charleville Flintlock Musket ==
French soldiers are armed with Charleville Muskets. In several scenes Hornblower (Ioan Gruffudd), Côtard (Greg Wise) and Styles (Sean Gilder) arm themselves with captured French muskets.
= Other Weapons =
== Swivel Gun ==
Swivel Guns are seen on several ships of the Royal Navy.
 
== Naval Cannons ==
Sloop-of-war HMS Hotspur carries relatively small cannons. According to the novel, they must be 9-pounder long guns. Heavy cannons are mounted on the French coastal battery.
== Field Cannons ==
When Captain Hammond's landing party is ambushed by French troops, several muzzleloading field guns are deployed against the Britains. They probably represent 4- or 8-pounder Gribeauval cannons, as they look too small for 12-pounder gun.
 
== Congreve Rocket ==
During the British raid on the French semaphore and the coastal battery, Hornblower's and Hammond's men carry small Congreve Rockets for signalling. Hornblower orders to use a signal rocket to detonate the powder charge from safe distance which Styles (Sean Gilder) does successfully.
 
 
Category:Movie
Category:Adventure Movie
Category:War
Category:British Produced/Filmed
Category:C. S. Forester