Released – September, 1951 

Directed By - Raoul Walsh

Starring – Gregory Peck (Capt. Horatio Hornblower), Virginia Mayo (Lady Barbara Wellesley), Robert Beatty (First Lt. William Bush), Terence Morgan (Second Lt. Gerard).

Description – A faithful film adaptation based on three of C. S. Forestor’s Horatio Hornblower novels. The adventure begins with Captain Horatio Hornblower, commanding the 36 gun HMS Lydia, on a secret mission to deliver arms to aid a rebel against Spain, who at that time, was an ally of Great Britains’s enemy France.

The sea voyage is long and difficult, with Capt. Hornblower finding himself in the position of having to take on the much larger and powerful Spanish warship, the 50 gun Natividad. Surviving this encounter, Hornblower finds unexpectable complications that force him to change his plans and play the unwilling host to the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wellington.

Remarkable sea-battles and a touch of star-crossed romance highlight this very enjoyable adventure film.

Captain Horatio Hornblower

Literary Classics Collection (Madame Bovary (1949), Captain Horatio Hornblower, The Three Musketeers (1948), The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 and 1952 Versions), Billy Budd)

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Released – November, 1950 

Directed By - Compton Bennett, Andrew Marton

Starring – Deborah Kerr (Elizabeth Curtis), Stewart Granger (Allan Quatermain), Richard Carlson (John Goode), Hugo Haas (Van Brun).

Description – A classic adventure film about the ‘great white hunter’ Allan Quatermain guiding Elizabeth Curtis through the African jungle in search of her lost husband.  Elizabeth’s husband Henry had been searching for the legendary treasure of King Solomon.

A spectacular series of adventures occur that involve wild animals, dangerous tribesmen, and a booby-trapped cave.  Will the husband be found; will the treasure be found, and will Allan and Elizabeth fall in love?

NOTABLE: This motion picture won two Oscar’s; Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Film Editing.  The film was also nominated for Best Picture.

The location footage in this film, and many of the animal scenes were re-used dozens of times during the 1950’s.

Other than the beat of Africal drums, there is no musical score for this film.

Originally suggested for the role of Allan Quatermain, Errol Flynn turned down the role not wanting to spend location filming in a tent.

Personal Comment:  Growing up, I always had a love of Saturday Matinee jungle movies; this is a very good one.

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Released – July, 1950 

Directed By - Jacques Tourneur

Starring – Burt Lancaster (Dardo Bartoli), Virginia Mayo (Anne de Hesse), Robert Douglas (Marchese Allesandro de Granazia).

Description – A fun, light-hearted, and exciting Robin Hood like tale with Burt Lancaster playing an archer who helps the Italian’s in a rebellion against German tyrants. 

The tyrants are led by Count Ulrich, known as ‘The Hawk.”  The Count and Dardo are already familiar with each other, as the Count has already stolen Dardo’s wife, and now has taken his son.

There’s plenty of action and romance.

NOTABLE: This film was nominated for two Oscars; Best Cinematography, Color, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

The film take advantage of Burt Lancaster’s earlier experience in the circus to show just how acrobatic he was.

The Flame and the Arrow

Burt Lancaster – The Signature Collection (The Flame and the Arrow / Jim Thorpe All-American / His Majesty O’Keefe / South Sea Woman / Executive Action)

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