The Making of C S Forester's Horatio Hornblower [Paperback]

Tom McGregor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 1999

Horatio Hornblower, young midshipman and gallant hero of C. S. Forester's epic novels, arrives as a raw recruit in Nelson's navy, but is destined to rise through the ranks. Amidst a wealth of bloody sea battles, he proves himself courageous in danger and resilient intimes of trouble. The Making of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower is a fascinating account of howForester's much--loved fictional hero was brought to the screen to create one of the most ambitious and lavish productions on TV. Filled with in-depth interviews with the stars and crew, The Making of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower captures the excitement and complexities of filming in its two foreign locations,the Crimea and Portugal. It contains more than 100 full-color photographs and illustrations charting all stages of production and shows exactly how navy life in the Napoleonic era was re-created through authentic costumes, makeup, sets, naval design, and special effects. It also gives an exclusive insight into the building of the HMS Indefatigable--a 125-foot, 22-cannon replica of a 1750s vessel, and the first British frigate to be handcrafted from wood in the last 140 years. Containing background historical information as well as on-set anecdotes and a behind-the-scenes look at key action sequences, The Making of C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower is essential reading for all of Forester's Hornblower fans.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA-A detailed account, loaded with photographs, of the filming of the made-for-TV special. Background material on the project includes a brief discussion of Forester's original novel. Descriptions of the weather, the filming conditions in the Crimea, and differing cultural standards highlight the crew's many challenges. McGregor adds enough historical background for the story to provide basic knowledge of the era and naval matters of the time. Details about the filming process, the costumes, and the major characters make up the remainder of the book. The last chapter contains a synopsis of the four episodes that make up the special production. Some of the forays into British slang and humor may give readers momentary pause, but none of them distract from the text or the content in an appreciable manner. An interesting look at the requirements and skills needed to film an epic-styled naval adventure and a supplementary introduction to Forester's classic.
Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (February 3, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061073571
• ISBN-13: 978-0061073571
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,525,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful behind-the-scenes story of a fabulous miniseries!, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Making of C S Forester's Horatio Hornblower (Paperback)

I first decided to watch A&E's Horatio Hornblower because I had caught a glimpse of Ioan Gruffudd, and thought he was very handsome. But, as I watched, I got caught up in the movie, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole series. Then, when I learned there was a behind-the-scenes book availiable, I knew I had to have it. I tried all the local bookstores (and some not so local, too) with no luck. Then I tried Amazon, and I finally got my book. It is a great book, with loads of candid pictures and still frames from the filming of the series. I enjoyed learning how all the battle scenes were filmed, about the use of scale models, and all the hard work put into the filming of Horatio Hornblower. I would definately reccommend this book to anyone who liked the series. It is a wonderful, informative, and captivating look at the behind-the-scenes action of the best miniseries I have ever seen, Horatio Hornblower.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse of the Hornblower Movies!, May 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Making of C S Forester's Horatio Hornblower (Paperback)

If you enjoyed the adventures of Horatio Hornblower shown on television in April, you'll love this fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the making of the four movies. The author includes chapters on the location shoots in the Ukraine and Portugal, construction of the "Grand Turk" (one of the ships used in filming), interviews with the principal cast members, and synopses of each movie. Throughout is wonderful information on the genesis of the project, the complexities of shooting in multiple locations, historical accuracy, special effects, casting, and adapting the Forester books into screenplays. McGregor writes in a relaxed conversational style that is very readable. The chapter on filming in the Ukraine and the difficulties encountered there by cast and crew is most interesting. The book contains numerous photographs and illustrations in full color. The Making of Horatio Hornblower is a must-have book if you loved the movies or own the videos. I highly recommend it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling behind-the-scenes tales from an TV epic, May 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Making of C S Forester's Horatio Hornblower (Paperback)

For anyone who loved A&E's "Horatio Hornblower" four-movie series, this is the book for you. With tons of color photos and the dry wit of British writer MacGregor, this is an information-packed volume that takes you behind the scenes, telling you exactly how they filmed all those realistic-looking ship battles. There are interviews with each of the major stars (particularly good ones with up-and-coming Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, who fits perfectly into the role of young Hornblower, and the wonderful Robert Lindsay, unforgettable as gruff-but-kindly Captain Pellew). Anyone who is a fan of the Hornblower novels, as I am, must have been a little fearful of what TV would do to our beloved hero -- but this mini-series of epic movies did both Horatio and C.S. Forester proud. I imagine C.S. is sitting on his cloud somewhere, smiling because a whole new generation is now going to discover Horatio Hornblower. Three cheers for A&E -- and definitely read this book!