Hornblower loyalty

Loyalty
Starring	Ioan Gruffudd
Country of origin	United Kingdom USA
Original language(s)	English
Release
Original release	2003
Chronology
Preceded by	Retribution (2002 film)
Followed by	Duty (film)

Loyalty is the seventh film of the British TV film series Hornblower, based on the books by C. S. Forester, particularly Hornblower and the Hotspur. It was released on 5 January 2003, nearly four years after the first four films and nine months after the next two films.

The film starts out in 1803 in Cape Clear, Ireland, where the HMS Retribution, commanded by Commander Hornblower, has retaken the HMS Hotspur from the French. Near the end of the fighting, a cutter is spotted sailing towards the Hotspur, with news that the war with France is over. The peace lasts a year and the sailors and officers of the Royal Navy languish on half pay, unaware the French leader Napoleon is making plans across the channel.

In Portsmouth, Horatio has been demoted to lieutenant and is without a ship during the peace. By chance, he reunites with Lieutenant Bush, also without a ship. Later that night, Horatio and Bush play a game of cards with Captain Hammond, whose nephew Jack aspires to serve under Hornblower. Horatio's winnings from the game are enough to pay back debts to his landlady, Mrs. Mason; he is also shown to be romantically attracted to Mason's daughter Maria. Horatio is later called to Admiral Edward Pellew's ship, where he is informed that he has been given command of the HMS Hotspur. His orders are to sail to Brest to spy on Napoleon, as well as escort a Frenchman, Major Côtard, to speak with an acquaintance in France. Bush, appointed as Horatio's first lieutenant, hires a crew for the Hotspur, including Boatswain Matthews, Irishman Wolfe, and Boatswain's Mate Styles, who offers to serve as cook. Jack Hammond also volunteers as midshipman, though his eagerness is overshadowed by his apparent ineptitude and cowardice.

Off Brest, the Hotspur spots a semaphore reporting their presence. A passing French frigate salutes the Hotspur, but there is no sign of Major Côtard's contact. Wondering what Napoleon is doing on the coast, Horatio and Major Côtard investigate, disguised as fishermen. They discover an encamped French invasion force. They are then spotted by French soldiers and are forced to flee. The French frigate returns, this time to fight, but the crew of the Hotspur disable the enemy vessel before returning to England to warn Admiral Pellew of the invasion force.

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Wikipedia