The Even Chance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Even Chance is the first film in the newest sets of films created from C.S. Forester's character Horatio Hornblower.
The Even Chance is the name given the first film in the United Kingdom, while in the United States it is known as "The Duel". Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd plays the title role.
[edit] Plot
The film begins in January of 1793 as a youthful Horatio joins ship of the line, Justinian. During the sequence of events, Hornblower is introduced to his shipmates, one of whom is the ruthless Jack Simpson, who rules the midshipman's berth as the bully he is.
Hornblower becomes suicidal under his malignant rule and finally finds opportunity to challenge him to a duel. An older midshipman, Clayton, is shamed for not doing something about Simpson himself, clobbers Horatio on the head, and takes his place in the duel. Clayton dies from his wound, while Simpson recovers to fight another day. Horatio goes on to join the frigate, Indefatigable, under the command of Captain Pellew. Midshipmen Kennedy, Hether, and Cleveland go with him, as well as Simpson's old division which due to Pellew's ire becomes Hornblower's division.
Hornblower eventually wins the respect and loyalty of the men of his division. Simpson accidentally joins Indefatigable (familiarly known as the Indy) when Justinian is sunk by a rogue French ship called Papillon. The Indy and her crew take on a cutting out expedition, take Papillon, and sail to rejoin Indefatigable. Simpson gets up to his dirty deeds during the cutting out. He sets Kennedy adrift and tries to kill Hornblower.
The French Ship, Papillon, now under the capture of the British is sailing back to the Indy when the Indy comes under fire from three French ships. On the way back to the Indy, the Papillon comes under fire from shore batteries, killing the two officers outranking Hornblower and Simpson. Shortly before the most senior officer is killed, he tells Hornblower to take command. Simpson and Hornblower then argue over who should take command. Hornblower tells Mr Bowls (the ship's master), that if Mr Simpson resists "you have my permission to shoot him". Simpson is then taken below whilst the Papillon sails back to the Indy.
The Indy is now taking heavy fire from the three French ships, and Hornblower orders the Papillon not to lower its French colours. The Papillon then engages the French ships forcing them to surrender. After the battle, Mr Simpson and Hornblower are called to the Captain Pellew's cabin, where Simpson Challenges Hornblower to a duel, which he accepts (after receiving permission from Pellew).
A second duel then takes place. Simpson and Hornblower then aim their guns at each other, but before they are told that they may fire, Simpson shoots Hornblower, who falls to the ground. Simpson then asks if he has killed him, claiming a misfire, but Hornblower is not dead. Simpson is then told that he must stand his ground and take fire, where he then begs Hornblower not to shoot him. Hornblower fires into the air, claiming he's "not worth the powder". Simpson then grabs a knife and runs towards Hornblower, but is shot just before he reaches Hornblower by Captain Pellew who is standing on some rocks above the duel. Mr Bowls is standing with Pellew, saying "an exceptionally fine shot sir, if I may say so sir". Pellew replies by saing "you may Mr Bowles, you may".
Hornblower and Pellew then talk whilst on the deck of the Indy, where Pellew informs him that if he continues in the service as he has begun, a bright future awaits him.
Retrieved from Hornblower
[edit] Related works
This episode does not represent the story of the same name by C.S. Forester in the book "Mr Midshipman Hornblower". This is odd in that the original story 'The Even Chance' is in reality an 'even chance', one of the duelling pistols being loaded the other empty and neither combatant knowing which is which. After choosing a weapon, each was to stand a yard apart and fire at each other - essentially point blank range. Forester, C.S, 'Mr Midshipman Hornblower',(Oxford University Press, 2000)
