by Richard Gilliam
review
Captain Horatio Hornblower features several nicely staged battle sequences and an excellent performance from Gregory Peck as the title character. Brought to the screen by veteran director Raoul Walsh and a fine Warner Bros. production team, the tale of honorable military service and heroism was well-suited to post-World War II audiences. Peck brings his customary aura of intelligence and moral authority to the role. If the film has a fault, it's that it spends too much time on Hornblower's uninteresting relationship with Lady Barbara Wellesley (Virginia Mayo); the scenes seem tacked-on, detracting from the naval drama.
