Retribution (2002 film)
| Retribution | |
|---|---|
| Starring | Ioan Gruffudd |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom USA |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Release | |
| Original release | 2002 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Mutiny (2002 film) |
| Followed by | Loyalty (film) |
"Retribution" is the sixth episode of the British film series Hornblower. It was released on 25 March 2002; nearly 3 years after the first four films and the day after the fifth episode "Mutiny". It is based on the book Lieutenant Hornblower by C.S. Forester. Retribution is a continuation of the fifth episode.
The film starts In Kingston, Jamaica, where the court martial for Horatio and the other lieutenants begins. It is seen that Lieutenants Bush and Kennedy are locked away in the prison sickbay and only Lieutenants Buckland and Hornblower are at the trial. The tribunal of the court includes Commodore Pellew, Captain Hammond, and Captain Collins.
The film then flashes back to six months earlier, where the Renown is retreating from the Spanish fort. While the captain is still locked in his cabin, the dead are buried at sea. Despite the acting captain's desire to sail to Kingston, Hornblower and Kennedy suggest they launch a surprise night attack on the Spanish fort by land and then trap Spanish ships in the nearby bay.
The film then goes back to present day, where the tribunal is questioning Dr. Clive about his decision that Captain Sawyer was unfit to command.
Six months earlier, a group of sailors, led by a man named Randall, choose to desert the Renown during the night rather than serve under mutineers. Randall offers to let Hobbs come with them, but Hobbs states he is too loyal to Captain Sawyer to abandon him now, so Randall knocks him out and leaves.
The court martial tribunal asks why Buckland decided to continue with the mission, despite a deserting crew and an injured captain. Captain Hammond claims it was for glory, but Hornblower disagrees.
Back to six months earlier, Matthews discovers Randall's desertion. Because 33 others deserted with him, Acting Captain Buckland agrees to attack the fort. The landing force, led by Hornblower, Kennedy, and Bush, discovers Randall and the deserters all killed.
During the tribunal's recess, they agree Captains Sawyer's good name should be preserved, but need a clear outcome for the lieutenants. So they decide if found guilty, they will only hang one man, but do not yet know who.
After finding the dead deserters, Hornblower concludes it was not the Spanish who killed them, so they continue on, with no time to bury the dead. Meanwhile, rebel slaves take out the sailors guarding the lifeboats. On the ship, Captain Sawyer asks Acting Captain Buckland to release him and, in exchange, he will speak for Buckland at the court martial in Kingston, but Buckland refuses the offer. Buckland is called on deck as rebel slaves, who are revealed to be the ones behind the killing of Randall and the other deserters, have taken one for the lifeboats and are demanding the Renown leave Santo Domingo, claiming this is not the Renown's fight. As the landing party approaches the fort, a clash occurs between the British and the rebel slaves, which alerts the Spanish to the presence of the landing force. As the landing party comes under heavy fire from the garrison, Hornblower discovers a series of underground tunnels, used by the Spanish during the fighting. Using the same tunnels, Horatio helps the landing party capture the fort. Using hot shot, the landing party uses the fort's cannons to fire on the Spanish ships in the bay.
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