The film starts off excitingly enough as Hornblower launches a successful surprise attack and captures the French supply ship La Reve.
Captain Pellew orders Hornblower to sail La Reve with important papers that must not fall into enemy hands, accompanying them is the the widowed Duchess of Wharfedale (Cherie Lunghi) who has a common manner of talking.
La Reve comes across the Spanish fleet and the crew despite their attempt to fool them are captured and imprisoned. The Duchess hides the dispatches and she also gets friendly with the Spanish commander of the garrison which gives Hornblower some privileges.
Hornblower meets up with Midshipman Archie Kennedy who was set adrift in the first film of the series and thought to have perished. He is ill and Hornblower wants him to recover his health before attempting to escape. This upsets the hotheaded Midshipman Hunter who is forced to something impulsive while Kennedy has come across the Duchess once before.
A fast moving opening segment which then slows down a lot unfortunately once the crew have been imprisoned. Hunter is portrayed rather two dimensional for my liking but the Duchess is fun and Hornblower is shown to be a sturdy, reliable and honourable sort of guy.
Captain Pellew orders Hornblower to sail La Reve with important papers that must not fall into enemy hands, accompanying them is the the widowed Duchess of Wharfedale (Cherie Lunghi) who has a common manner of talking.
La Reve comes across the Spanish fleet and the crew despite their attempt to fool them are captured and imprisoned. The Duchess hides the dispatches and she also gets friendly with the Spanish commander of the garrison which gives Hornblower some privileges.
Hornblower meets up with Midshipman Archie Kennedy who was set adrift in the first film of the series and thought to have perished. He is ill and Hornblower wants him to recover his health before attempting to escape. This upsets the hotheaded Midshipman Hunter who is forced to something impulsive while Kennedy has come across the Duchess once before.
A fast moving opening segment which then slows down a lot unfortunately once the crew have been imprisoned. Hunter is portrayed rather two dimensional for my liking but the Duchess is fun and Hornblower is shown to be a sturdy, reliable and honourable sort of guy.