Director Raoul Walsh
Starring Gregory Peck, Virginia Mayo, Robert Beatty
Rated 5/6
Score G

During the Napoleonic wars, a British Navy Captain has adventures in Central American waters.

The film is based on three of C. S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower novels: The Happy Return (Beat to Quarters in the United States), A Ship of the Line, and Flying Colours. It should also be noted that Forester is credited with the screen adaptation.

Okay, this is the first review for the second part of the Literary Military Movie Marathon and the reason why I started with the bonus movie was because it was first released in Australia on December 26th in 1952.

Despite the movie having a somewhat dated look (some people might refer to it as classic) is a very watchable movie. Considering that this was an American adaption this wasn’t a movie that I would describe as being too much of a swashbuckling adventure, though as you would expect it did have its feats of daring do. Though it has been awhile since I have watched the Hornblower series from the late 90’s it should be noted that by dated I mean that there is a noticeable difference between how colour is used in the 50’s and in the late 90’s.
Now by today’s standards I have feeling Alec Mango’s performance could be considered highly inappropriate bordering on racist judging on comparing pictures of him from his IMDB profile and comparing that with his character in the movie. However, that being said I would think that Mango might be minor league when compared to Mickey Rooney’s performance as Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. I thought that it was a good move by Gregory Peck not to try and hide his accent. I also loved the chemistry between Peck and Virginia Mayo.