Captain Horatio Hornblower
1951 · Movie · NR · 117 min · ★ 6.9 · 95% critics
A disciplined naval captain leads a British warship on a dangerous mission during the Napoleonic Wars, crossing the Atlantic to deliver vital supplies to an uneasy ally. Along the way, shifting loyalties and unexpected complications force tough choices, as the crew faces enemy ships, political intrigue, and mounting danger at sea.
Where to watch
Streaming on HBO Max.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Original title
- Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.
- Years
- 1951
- Release date
- 1951-04-10
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 117 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (143 votes)
- Box office
- $5,333,000
- Budget
- $2,462,000
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a classic, family-friendly high-seas adventure with plenty of naval action, duty, and romance; Not for you if you need deep character work or modern realism like The African Queen.
Pros: exciting sea battles; brisk adventure pace; strong shipboard camaraderie | Cons: uneven romance subplot; thin character depth; dated stereotypes
Themes
- battle
- napoleonic wars
- sea battle
Cast & crew
Gregory Peck
as Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N
Virginia Mayo
as Lady Barbara Wellesley
Robert Beatty
as Lt. William Bush
Moultrie Kelsall
as Lt. Crystal
Terence Morgan
as 2nd Lt. Gerard
James Kenney
as Midshipman Longley
James Robertson Justice
as Seaman Quist
Denis O'Dea
as RAdm. Sir Rodney Leighton
Richard Hearne
as Polwheal (Hornblower's Batman)
- MD
Michael Dolan
as Surgeon Gundarson
Directed by Raoul Walsh