People are voting emotionally.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This film could have been even greater had they spent more time with the escape of Horatio and his men from enemy France.The first part of the film was often tedious. Some momentum builds with the battle scenes. They really appeared to be quite authentic.Surprisingly, to me, Gregory Peck lacked the stamina for the part of Horatio Hornblower. It is only when the picture progresses that he really takes command of the title role. Virginia Mayo,as his love interest, first appears as if she is a dance hall queen. How surprising it is when Hornblower returns home to find out that he is widowed with a baby boy. There was never any hint whatsoever that he had been married while he cavorted with Mayo on board the ship.Too bad that Errol Flynn was regarded as too old for the part by 1951. While Peck wanted Margaret Leighton for his leading lady, she would have been entirely too regal. Susan Hayward, or Jean Crain should have been brought in. How about Deborah Kerr? After all, she was British.

Although directed by Raoul Walsh and adapted by C.S. Forester from his own work, "Captain Horatio Hornblower" will disappoint most who are familiar with the BBC series that starred Ioan Gruffudd. Admittedly the television series had more time to develop character and situations, but, early on, Walsh's film drifts into non-essential scenes that detail an unconvincing romance and the ego-maniacal rants of a madman with whom Hornblower must cooperate. However, after a faltering start, the film focuses on life aboard ship and thrilling sea battles and becomes gripping fun.When the ship's supplies run low after a long voyage around the Horn, fresh ham arrives in the persona of Alex Mango, who appears in full Latino makeup as the egotistical El Supremo. Once Mango has fully chewed the sets and viewers have become accustomed to the bronze gel that turned pale English extras into sun tanned South Americans, Christopher Lee emerges as a Spanish captain to dispel whatever credibility has crept into the film. But the silliness quotient reaches its zenith when Virginia Mayo boards the HMS Lydia fresh from the fastidious attentions of her hairdresser, makeup artist, and costume designer. Reportedly arriving from a small sailboat, where she and her maid were the only women, Mayo glides immaculately along the deck to greet the captain and trade witty asides. Untouched by the sea or the tropical sun, she appears regularly on deck baring her milky white décolletage and displaying her jewelry and silk finery for Peck and the crew, who have been woman-less at sea for months. Forester may have felt uncomfortable writing about women and emotions, because the scenes between Peck and Mayo are the weakest. Physically, Gregory Peck makes a fine Hornblower, but, while his performance is acceptable, perhaps Gruffudd's work has made him the definitive Hornblower.Fortunately, once the ham and Mayo are off the screen, the film regains its footing. The battles are well executed, and, even if most are models, the tall masted warships on the high seas are thrilling sights. When Hornblower attacks a French fortress, the film soars, and any lingering thoughts of Mango and Mayo fade with the smoking cannon, the falling masts, and the flashing swords. Guy Green's color cinematography is excellent, and, when the wind fills the sails and the canvas billows, any quibbles fade. "Captain Horatio Hornblower" becomes rousing entertainment, especially for younger viewers and those who love films from a less cynical time when sailors were chaste and loyal, women were pale and pure, villains wore mustaches and spoke with accents, and heroes looked like Gregory Peck.

Yeah, sure I missed Errol Flynn, but Gregory Peck is of course a more than great substitute. He plays a great and compelling character and I way only he could do. And just leave it up to director Raoul Walsh to make a good entertaining swashbuckler!The movie has a great adventurous historic story, about life on the sea. It isn't constantly action but still the movie constantly maintains a pleasant atmosphere. But still the movie also has some good action moments in it as well. The sea battles are truly great! But unfortunately the movie also feels the need to put in a love interest and love-story of course. The movie starts to go a bit downhill after the love-story kicks in, since it takes away lots of the pace and adventurous atmosphere of the movie. Luckily after that the movie soon starts to become fast and entertaining again. Because there are many different things happening in the movie, with changing characters and enemies, the movie feels much longer than its 'merely' 117 minutes, which is a real positive thing to say in this case. No, this movie really ain't no swashbuckler like the used to make in the '30's but nevertheless the movie has different qualities and is great to watch on its own, mainly because it's such a well made movie.The directing is great and so is the overall pace. You can really tell director Raoul Walsh is really comfortable within the genre. The effects are also very good and convincing looking for its time. Only problem is that the movie too often makes sudden leaps in time. The time-line of the movie doesn't always feel sensible.The movie truly benefits from Gregory Peck's presence. He uplifts the movie and he fits the role surprisingly well. It's fun that the movie also features a still young Christopher Lee as well, in one of his first small movie roles. At least he can say that he once crossed swords with Gregory Peck. Most other actors in the movie aren't really much impressive, including Virginia Mayo (who?).All in all a great movie to watch!8/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Raoul Walsh has many great films to his credit and once you see his name as director, you know the man has imbued his work with all the panache of a great artist. To his credit and well placed among his best work is the sea epic " Captain Horatio Hornblower." This story comes from the fertile and imaginative mind of novelist C. S. Forester who's famed hero has spawned a dozen books, films and T.V. specials. In this particular movie, we have legendary actor Gregory Peck playing the gallant and dashing swashbuckler aboard His Majestys' ship Lydia, Her secret mission is placed in the mists of the Napoleonic wars, charged to deliver guns and ammunition to a pint-size delusional dictator Don Julian Alvarado (Alec Mango) who greets him as a ally but later becomes a belligerent adversary. To help him in his quest is, Lt. William Bush (Robert Beatty) an admirable and courageous second in command. Lt. Crystal (Moultrie Kelsall) an excellent navigator. 2nd Lt. Gerard, Gunnery Officer (Terence Morgan) and Mr. Longley, (James Kenny) Midshipman and junior ensign. Together, with James Justice as 'Seaman Quist' they spend five years on the high seas, braving hunger, thirst and war time experiences, including saving beautiful Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo). A fine story fit for re-telling to any generation ****