'

Captain Horatio Hornblower

Play trailer

Captain Horatio Hornblower

1951

1h 57m

Adventure

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Capt. Horatio Hornblower (Gregory Peck) helms the HMS Lydia for a treacherous transatlantic mission near the dawn of the 19th century, during which his faithful crew battle both a Spanish warship and a ragged band of Central American rebels. In the process, he also saves Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), whose brother is the Duke of Wellington. Though the couple fall in love during their return to England, she is betrothed to Hornblower's rival, Rear Adm. Leighton (Denis O'Dea).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Excellent adventure stuff.

Aug 5, 2019

Full Review

Jay Carmody

Washington Star

It is unlikely that even the most intense of Hornblower admirers will find anything to complain of in Peck's portrait of the lion-hearted captain, or of Miss Mayo's impersonation of the fiery, lovely Lady Barbara.

Aug 20, 2021

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Breathtaking

Mar 7, 2010

Full Review

Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Brilliant adventure film with rich visual style.

Jul 17, 2009

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Captain Horatio Hornblower showed the 64 year-old director Raoul Walsh still able to conjure up a rousing good action picture, even in color and with a largish budget.

May 15, 2009

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A thinking person's swashbuckler.

Rated: B

Oct 16, 2008

Full Review

Read all reviews

Russ G

Miss Mayo is lovely, perfectly coiffed and made up while withstanding the rigors of 19th Century seafaring, and Peck is handsome and dashing in this lightweight role. Good model ship action and excellent practical effects for the time; the sea battles are Old Hollywood magic and it's a wonder no one was actually killed during their filming. It would leave modern youth audiences bored especially with the mushy stuff, but probably wowed 'em back in '51. All in all a decent two-hour distraction.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

12/25/24

Full Review

Steve D

A bit overblown but Peck saves it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Great film peck is perfect as the lead. Great costumes and battle scenes .

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I still enjoy this movie but it is dated with old acting style. Still enjoyable but with some old things not getting away with today. The Mexicans are darkened to look Mestizo (insults me as I am a Conquistador (white)). Mother and Grandmother in love with Peck so growing up saw this movie 2x a year.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

ashley h

Captain Horatio Hornblower is an excellent film. It is about Horatio Hornblower getting caught up in the shifting political tensions between Spain and England. Gregory Peck and Virginia Mayo give incredible performances. The screenplay is well written. Raoul Walsh did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and adventure. Captain Horatio Hornblower is a must see.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Played loose with the storylines of a few of the books and changed hey facts. However, the portrayal of the characters and events was good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Raoul Walsh

Director

Gregory Peck

Capt. Horatio Hornblower R.N

Virginia Mayo

Lady Barbara Wellesley

Robert Beatty

Lt. William Bush

Terence Morgan

2nd Lt. Gerard

Moultrie Kelsall

Lt. Crystal

The Flame and the Arrow

100%

59%

The Flame and the Arrow

Watchlist

The Prince and the Pauper

71%

61%

The Prince and the Pauper

Watchlist

The World in His Arms

100%

52%

The World in His Arms

Watchlist

Ivanhoe

79%

64%

Ivanhoe

Watchlist

Captain Blood

100%

90%

Captain Blood

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Capt. Horatio Hornblower (Gregory Peck) helms the HMS Lydia for a treacherous transatlantic mission near the dawn of the 19th century, during which his faithful crew battle both a Spanish warship and a ragged band of Central American rebels. In the process, he also saves Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo), whose brother is the Duke of Wellington. Though the couple fall in love during their return to England, she is betrothed to Hornblower's rival, Rear Adm. Leighton (Denis O'Dea).

Director: Raoul Walsh
Producer: Raoul Walsh
Screenwriter: Ivan Goff, Ben Roberts, Æneas MacKenzie
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 57m

Most Popular at Home Now