Horatio Hornblower » The Fire Ships

Posted by Samuel Walters

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The Fire Ships is, in many ways, the ideal Horatio Hornblower film. There is strong character development, intrigue, drama, and a healthy dose of action and adventure. In addition, The Fire Ships benefits from a much more focused story. And the story benefits from a diverse sequence of events that take us from Britain to Iran to Gibraltar. That the film maintains its focus so well is evidence of solid writing and performances.

We begin with Horatio, who is still on board the Indefatigable, as an acting Lieutenant. He seems to have a natural sense of authority and self assuredness about his new position. And he even seems to have the favor of his captain during a visit from a Spanish dignitary aboard ship. The dignitary is there to inform Captain Pellew that the Spanish are declaring neutrality in the war between England and France. And the scene is rather amusing both in terms of the pompous protocol as well as Pellew’s responses to the news. Horatio’s skills at diplomacy are also on display as he deftly translates his captain’s words into a more flattering version – in French, no less.

In between these exchanges is another scene involving an English supply vessel which carrying, in addition to its supplies, a rather important naval officer: Captain Foster (astute viewers will recognize the actor who played Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars films). Foster comes across as an arrogant, abrasive man who rashly engages an approaching Spanish warship instead of attempting to escape. The ship and many lives are lost, but Foster survives. Further emphasizing his dark character, during a fight in the water, he kills a sailor who drew a knife threatened him.

The two scenes set up two pivotal conflicts for the film: the English fleet at Gibraltar is short on supplies, and the Foster himself. The supplies problem becomes the larger conflict, the grand canvas on which the story plays out, while the Foster problem becomes a foil for Horatio’s developing character.

It seems that Horatio is rather starstruck when Foster is found with the wreckage of the supply vessel. That evening, at dinner, Foster and Pellew are at odds about how to have best handled the situation in which Foster’s ship was destroyed. Asks Pellew, “how many crew were lost?” Foster, intent on pressing the issue, resorts to asking Horatio’s opinion on the matter. And so Horatio finds himself with the first of many internal conflicts: does he side with his gut instinct and his admiration of Foster, or with the loyalty to his captain.

Horatio’s answer is to say that he is “pleased that the Spanish were deprived of the supplies” – a tacit endorsement of Foster. Foster appears impressed and Pellew quickly exits the dinner table. Horatio quickly realizes he made an error and seeks out his captain asks if he can apologize. Pellew briskly answers, “you may,” and walks off. It’s yet another lesson for the young Lieutenant – that daring and bravado come with a price and that command requires a measure of reserved judgment.

To further emphasize Horatio’s growing struggle with his command abilities, are two circumstances. First, he is selected to take an examination to make him a full-fledged Lieutenant. Second, is a crewman named Bunting who has finally snapped and is intent on leaving the service, dead or alive.

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Topics: TV Reviews
Filed under: Horatio Hornblower