Hornblower: Loyalty (2003)

At the heart of a precarious peace, British sea captain Horatio Hornblower, portrayed with convincing vigor by Ioan Groffudd, finds himself navigating uncharted waters in Hornblower: Loyalty. Stripped of his rank and confined to the shores, Hornblower trades the turbulent seas for a life of forced frugality, surrendering his prized overcoat and sword to the relentless grip of poverty. His home, a humble boarding house, becomes the backdrop for an unexpected romance as Maria, the owner's daughter, casts yearning glances in his direction. As the tranquil veneer of peace begins to crack, whispers of Napoleon's resurgence stir the winds. Fortune intervenes when Hornblower's mentor, Sir Edward Pellew, offers him a new command—the HMS Hotspur. Enlisting his trusty shipmate Lt. Bush and loyal crewmen Matthews and Stiles, Hornblower embarks on a covert mission to ferry a French informant to his homeland. The tides of fortune, however, prove to be treacherous. Hornblower and his crew are ensnared by a burgeoning French military force, their capture facilitated by a traitorous crewman. Amid the chaos, the indomitable spirit of the British navy shines through, propelling a thrilling rescue mission that, while daring, promises a glimmer of hope. Hornblower's turmoil extends beyond the battlefield, as he grapples with the possibility of betrayal in his ranks and the implications this has on the British cause. Upon his tumultuous return to England, Hornblower learns of Maria's financial plight. Compelled by a sense of duty, he offers assistance, inadvertently entangling himself in an emotional commitment his heart may not wholly endorse. Hornblower: Loyalty is a saga of war and love, of betrayal and courage, where every ripple of loyalty and deceit can change the course of a nation’s destiny.

Hornblower: Loyalty is an adventure movie featuring Julia Sawalha and directed by Andrew Grieve.

Hornblower: Loyalty is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on The Roku Channel.