Loyalty (film)

Loyalty is the seventh film of the British TV film series Hornblower, based on the books by C. S. Forester, particularly Hornblower and the Hotspur. It was released on 5 January 2003, nearly four years after the first four films and 9 months after the next two films.

Cast

Plot

The film starts out in 1803 in Cape Clear, Ireland, where the HMS Retribution, commanded by Commander Hornblower, has retaken the HMS Hotspur from the French. Near the end of the fighting, a cutter is spotted sailing towards the Hotspur, with news that the war with France is over. The peace lasts a year and the sailors and officers of the Royal Navy languish on half pay, unaware the French leader Napoleon is making plans across the channel.

In Portsmouth, Horatio has been demoted to lieutenant and is without a ship during the peace. By chance, he reunites with Lieutenant Bush, also without a ship. Later that night, Horatio and Bush play a game of cards with Captain Hammond, whose nephew Jack aspires to serve under Hornblower. Horatio's winnings from the game are enough to pay back debts to his landlady, Mrs. Mason; he is also shown to be romantically attracted to Mason's daughter Maria. Horatio is later called to Admiral Edward Pellew's ship, where he is informed that he has been given command of the HMS Hotspur. His orders are to sail to Brest to spy on Napoleon, as well as escort a Frenchman, Major Côtard, to speak with an acquaintance in France. Bush, appointed as Horatio's First Lieutenant, hires a crew for the Hotspur, including Boatswain Matthews, Irishman Wolfe, and Boatswain's Mate Styles, who offers to serve as cook. Jack Hammond also volunteers as midshipman, though his eagerness is overshadowed by his apparent ineptitude and cowardice.

Off Brest, the Hotspur spots a semaphore reporting their presence. A passing French frigate salutes the Hotspur, but there is no sign of Major Côtard's contact. Wondering what Napoleon is doing on the coast, Horatio and Major Côtard investigate, disguised as fishermen. They discover an encamped French invasion force. They are then spotted by French soldiers and are forced to flee. The French frigate returns, this time to fight, but the crew of the Hotspur disable the enemy vessel before returning to England to warn Admiral Pellew of the invasion force.

The British fleet arrives off Brest and Admiral Pellew, Captain Hammond, and Commander Hornblower make plans to attack the French fort, based on Horatio's report: the French fleet is anchored in the outer harbor with the entrance protected by a shore battery. All British movements are immediately reported by the semaphore. Admiral Pellew plans to launch a preemptive strike on the French fleet. Pellew decides Horatio will attack the semaphore and signal his success with a blue rocket while Captain Hammond will lead a party of Marines to take the battery and signal his success with two red rockets. As Horatio attacks the semaphore, he learns Wolfe, one of his crew, is missing. Although Horatio manages to destroy the semaphore and signal the fleet, he and his men are captured by French troops. Wolfe is revealed to be a senior French officer and a traitor, hoping to liberate Ireland from Britain with French support. Wolfe reveals that one of his agents is a senior member of the Royal Navy.

Captain Hammond's party lands, only to be greeted by Wolfe and his French troops, forcing Hammond to surrender. Horatio and the men captured with him escape, but are too late to stop Wolfe from firing Hammond's signal, telling the fleet the battery has been taken. As Admiral Pellew and the British fleet are shelled by the battery, Horatio organizes a surprise assault on the fort. His attempt is successful, but Pellew has already ordered the fleet to withdraw. Wolfe realizes what has happened and orders his men back to the battery. Before they can arrive, Horatio blows up the fort, allowing Pellew to re-launch his attack on the French fleet. Horatio and his men escape the battery before it explodes and reencounter Wolfe and Captain Hammond, who is revealed to be the other Irish traitor. Hammond tells Wolfe to kill Horatio and his men. Before the French can open fire, however, Bush arrives with reinforcements. A battle ensues; Midshipman Jack Hammond is among the dead. Wolfe escapes while Captain Hammond, distraught over the death of his nephew, commits suicide. Back with the fleet, Horatio's report reflects that Captain Hammond died heroically and honorably for England, as he is concerned that naming Hammond as a traitor might bring about unfair treatment of Irishmen in the Royal Navy.

Back in Portsmouth, Horatio visits the Masons but has an argument with Maria. As Horatio is about to leave, Mrs. Mason tells him Maria wept for Horatio while he was gone. Horatio then returns to Maria and asks her to marry him; she accepts.

References

External links

• Hornblower: Loyalty at the Internet Movie Database