Love that movie, but this time I caught an error is script. Well perhaps not an error but it wasn't the right dialog. The Captain was giving lessons to his midshipmen off the coast of Brazil. So they were very close to the Equator. The lesson was on Navigation using the sextant. When he got to the point of telling them how to determine time of noon, when the Sun is observed at the zenith of it's arc across the sky, I cringed! It is damn near impossible to determine when it is at it's highest point at these latitudes where the elevation angle to the sun is close to 90 degrees. A savvy Captain would teach this lesson at that latitude, not how to do it. Edit Sexton corrected to Sextant.
I haven't seen the movie...read the first two books. Never had that problem, as the only time I've ever been near the equator was on a French ship. That crossing was...anticlimactic. No shellbacking there, just opened up the nice wine for dinner that night.
Well then, you are not a shellback. Must kiss Davey's belly before you are a member. uhh! And other unpleasantries. I have my official Navy certificate hanging on the bulkhead in MarAzul.
I own that film...watch it multiple times...beautiful piece of work..I've read a few of the novels...good reads........a lot of the film was put together in Corvalis..won awards I believe for cinematography I believe or effects...maybe both
Do they even deploy to the southern ocean? Well anyway, doing the ritual below decks just doesn't seem right.
Patrick O'Brian, CBE (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and centred on the friendship of the English naval captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen Maturin. The 20-novel series, the first of which is Master and Commander, is known for its well-researched and highly detailed portrayal of early 19th-century life, as well as its authentic and evocative language. A partially finished 21st novel in the series was published posthumously containing facing pages of handwriting and typescript. O'Brian wrote a number of other novels and short stories, most of which were published before he achieved success with the Aubrey–Maturin series. He also translated works from French to English, and wrote two biographies. His major success as a writer came late in life, when the Aubrey-Maturin series caught the eye of an American publisher. The series drew more readers and favourable reviews when the author was in his seventies. Near the end of his life, and in the same year he lost his beloved wife, British media revealed details of O'Brian's early life, first marriage, and post-war change of name, causing distress to the very private author and to many of his readers at that time.
I can neither confirm nor deny that patrol areas seem to be centered in the north pacific ocean... And when fast attacks cross the line, I've been told they generally surface, and do a below-decks portion and a Steel Beach portion. Then bbq afterwards.
Anachronisms Lord Nelson is spoken of very fondly and respectfully among officers and crew. Yet, by the time the movie is set, Nelson had fallen into public disgrace because of his illicit and open affair with Lady Emma Hamilton, the wife of the British ambassador to Naples. The Admiralty and fellow commanders felt that Nelson had put his personal life before of his duties and was heavily criticized by it, even being cold-shouldered by the king George III himself and at one point his removal of command was considered. The open admiration the crew in the movie expresses was more likely to happen in 1812, after Nelson's death and when the original novels are set. In the closing scenes, as the dead are buried at sea, the crew is saying the Lord's Prayer (at around 2h 00 mins). Given the year, they would be using the version known by all from The Book of Common Prayer (1662 edition): "Our Father, which art in heaven..." Instead they say, "Our Father, who art in heaven..." the first instance of which actually appeared in the American Book of Common Prayer (1892 Revision). As a ship of the King's Navy, the established Anglican Book of Common Prayer would be the normative source of liturgy and prayer. The film is set in 1805, yet the book handed to Blakeney by the Captain was actually written in 1806: The Victories of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson, by Archibald Duncan. The distinctive Pinnacle Rock seen in the Galápagos was created by the US Navy using it for target practice in World War II. The captain and his dinner guests sing "Don't Forget Your Old Shipmate" (at around 59 mins), a song composed by Richard C. Saunders, an officer in the Royal Navy who was not born until 1809. When Hollom has a panic attack after being menaced by the crew, Midshipman Blakeney asks (at around 1h 20 mins) "Are you O.K. Mr. Hollom?" Although the movie is set in 1805, according to the Webster New World Dictionary of the American Language (second college edition) "O.K." is an American colloquialism which was first used March 23, 1839 by C.G. Greene in the Boston Morning Post (Webster New World Dictionary of the American Language (second college edition) p. 989.) During the cricket match on the Galapagos, the bowler is shown delivering the ball overarm (at around 1h 30 mins). A technique that was illegal under the laws of cricket until 1864, in 1805 only underarm bowling was deemed legal. Captain Aubrey rejects sailing into the "rain forest" of Brazil for a new mast (at around 23 mins). The word "rain forest" was brought into English by a literal translation of the German word "regenwald" from a book written in 1898 and translated into English in 1903. Throughout the fighting, pistols are seen to function well. During this time period, flintlock pistols failed to discharge up to 50% of the time, and were considered a secondary weapon in close combat. While Dr. Stephen Maturin describes the iguana-like lizards that live in the Galápagos as "vegetarians", a word not coined until 1842. The silverware used at the Captain's table and during the brain surgery scene (spoon at 00:24:11) is machine made and of a style that would not have been used till after the late 1830s when techniques for smithing changed. Spoons of that era would likely not be molded in one piece. Following the first encounter with the Acheron, Captain Aubrey inspects a chart using a magnifier. In the magnified image, a pattern of ink overspray is visible surrounding each letter in the phrase "Hidden Reef" as the magnifier is panned over it (at around 18 mins). Such a pattern is precisely characteristic of modern-day inkjet printers, but of neither quill pens or the printing presses of the period. A statement was made around the dinner table that Nelson was an exception to "the rule that authority corrupts." At the time of Nelson and Napoleon, no such saying existed. Lord Acton became famous for his adage that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" by taking an earlier, more nuanced saying of William Pitt the younger's, who said, "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it; and this I know, my lords, that where laws end, tyranny begins." Despite his abundant talent and the hard work he put in to learn the violin, it is apparent on several occasions that Russell Crowe is miming the violin part. Traditionally, toasts in the British Navy are not preceded by "to". For example, "Lord Nelson" not (at around 20 minutes) "To Lord Nelson". When Captain Aubrey orders the Surprise due South after battling around the horn, Lieutenant Pullings says, "Due South, Mr Bonden," to Barrett Bonden, who is at the wheel. The prefix "Mr" was used only for officers and would not have been used to refer to Bonden, who was the captain's coxswain and so not an officer. Dr. Stephen Maturin observes the Galápagos marine iguana and later captures specimens of various local flora and fauna. The iguana he captures and then releases later on are green iguana, one of the most common types of iguana, a land animal that isn't found on the the Galápagos islands. This can be explained by the fact that marine iguana are a rare species, while many green iguana live in captivity and as pets. While the crew of the H.M.S. Surprise are practicing firing the cannons, Jack encourages them to do better by rhetorically asking "do you want to call Napoleon your king?" Even if the crew were defeated by the French, they certainly wouldn't call Napoleon "king", since Napoleon was the Emperor of France and not its king. He was also the King of Rome, but that wasn't his first title. In the opening scene when Surprise is attacked by Acheron, Captain Aubrey gives to command to "run out the starboard battery" (at around 28 mins). We then cut to the gun deck showing the guns not yet run out (at around 38 mins). However, Calamy ordered beat-to-quarters at 06:20 and while the boats were being lowered at 08:18 the port guns can be seen already run out and in a long shot from the stern at 08:24 the starboard guns appear to have been run out as well. Prior to the first encounter with the Acheron we see the watch glass turned and eight bells struck (at around 3 mins). A few moments later (at around 26 mins), we see the glass turned again and six bells is struck which would mean that three hours had passed, yet the ship is still clearing for action - something which would have taken ten to fifteen minutes. When Maturin is wounded, the bullet is removed from his left side (at around 1h 30 mins). However, when he and Aubrey are discussing the length of their stay at the Galapagos, he is holding his right side and using a cane on that side as well (at around 1h 35 mins). When Aubrey decides to follow the Acheron into Valpariso, he order's the crew beat to quarters (at around 2h 06 mins). As a result, we see crew members and Royal Marines climbing the rigging into their assigned places on the mast (actually, repeated shots from beat-to-quarters responses from earlier scenes). However, in the overhead shot of the Rose/Surprise, there are clearly no men positioned anywhere above the deck (at around 2h 07 mins). Reflections of studio light visible on the brass edge of Mr. Hollom's spy-glass in the beginning of the movie when the ship is inside of a fog bank. Throughout the movie, Captain Howard of the Royal Marines is referred to as "Captain Howard". British Naval Tradition would have dictated that he would have been given a "courtesy promotion" to Major. This "courtesy promotion" would not have been a permanent promotion, but rather just a change in wording to avoid confusion between the ship's captain and the Marine captain. As the "Surprise" sails around the Horn and the weather deteriorates, the ship begins to ice up. However, in one shot the icicles on the bow of the ship are hanging straight down (at around 57 mins), which could not happen unless the "Surprise" was becalmed. At the beginning of the movie, Midshipman Calamy issues the order to "beat to quarters". This would not have been ordered by a midshipman. He would have reported to the officer of the watch (one of the lieutenants or the Master, certainly not another midshipman, as was shown) who would then have woken the Captain and reported that a sail had been spotted. It would then be up to the Captain to give the order. Unlike the Army, the Royal Marines used adults as drummers, not children. The Acheron is supposed to be a 44-gun frigate built in America and sold to a French privateer. No large American-built warship was sold to any foreign concern (nation or individual) during this time period (except the 74-gun ship-of-the-line "America" given to France after the Revolutionary War). American-built warships did not have a good reputation in Europe (something reinforced by the poorly built "America"). It was not until the War of 1812 that the large American frigates proved the superiority of their design. The use of a large American-built frigate in the story is apparently a holdover from the book in which it is an American warship which is pursued. Dr. Maturin presents Captain Aubrey a "stick insect" (order Phasmatodea) collected on the Galapagos. No species of Phasmatodea has ever been recorded as native to the Galapagos or otherwise established there. In many scenes HMS Surprise/HMS Rose is clearly motoring, as the sails are either hanging limp or aback. In one scene the ship seems to be making at least 5 knots with all sails backed (at around 1h 12 mins). Just after the beginning of the movie we see and hear eight bells being struck (at around 3 mins). This signals the end of a watch, however, it is clear from the scenes below decks that the watch is not actually being changed. During the first encounter with Acheron, the order is given to beat to quarters, but during the first scenes when Mr. Calamy is searching the fog with his glass, the gun ports are open and the guns have been run out. This indicates that Surprise was already at quarters. At the end of the movie, when Aubry calls Mowett into the Captain's cabin to order them to follow the Acheron he also orders Mowett to "beat to quarters". Aubry and Maturin then continue to play their instruments. In a frigate that has 'beat to quarters' and is 'cleared for action', the Captain's cabin would be opened up to the rest of the ship and gun crews would be manning the guns in the cabin. There would be no way Aubry and Maturin could have remained there. The opening text of the film sets the date of the events as April, 1805 and says that "Napoleon is master of Europe", but this assessment isn't very accurate, since at this point in time Napoleon didn't exert nearly as much influence over Europe as he would a few years later. From 1805 onwards he would fight multiple campaigns against Austria, Russia and Prussia. Napoleon was only truly "master of Europe" in 1810, after marrying an Austrian princess and having all of continental Europe (except Spain) under either his influence or direct control. From 1809 to 1813 there were no campaigns set against him, but from 1805 to 1809 there was several. In the credits, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams's name is spelled "Ralph Vaughn Williams". Mr. Blakeney has his right arm amputated after the first encounter with the Acheron, but later when Captain Aubrey is teaching the midshipmen how to work their sextants to determine noon, it appears that Mr. Blakeney still has both hands on his sextant (at around 38 mins). However, Captain Aubrey is assisting the midshipman by holding the sextant upright while Blakeney makes adjustments. Some of the signal flags hanging from Surprise when under the sun did exist in the Napoleonic era as per the contemporary "Telegraphic Signals or Marine Vocabulary" created by Sir Admiral Home Popham and published throughout the period of the Napoleonic War. An original scan of the 1803 version is online and an 1806 version can also be found. However, utilizing the codes, it seems they possibly signal starting at the mizzenmast: "Telegraphic Signal (red/white diagonal) then send "392" ended with a "substitute" flag. Possibly standing for "impossible-ility" the flags on the mainmast seems to indicate "602" or "part-ed-ing-ition" without a "Finished" flag as per the 1803 and 1806 code books referenced above. This doesn't seem to mean much of anything and may have been the crew hanging random flags. As an aside, Popham's Signals were famously utilized by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar when he signaled: "England expects that every man will do his duty." During the after action meeting in the Captains Galley, Mr. Allen says, "heavy frigate like that in the Pacific". This does not imply that they are in the Pacific at that moment - indeed, the opening scene showed the Admiralty's orders to Captain Aubrey to prevent the Acheron from reaching the Pacific. The line is merely to demonstrate why it is imperative they stop the Acheron from reaching the Pacific, Further, the ensuing chase around Cape Horn would show they are going from the Atlantic to Pacific.. When the crew is shown battling a leak below the waterline, the boat is pitching on the sea. However the water is not sloshing back and forth in the bilge/hold because the "pitching" of the boat is simulated by camera movement. In the closing credits there are two credits for the recorded cannon sounds. In both instances the word 'artillery' is misspelled 'artillary'. At about 65 minutes in, while in the Galapagos island, when the Surprise picks up the sailors from the Albatros from the small life boat, Captain Aubrey orders "food and water for these men." While the Captain of the Albatros is telling his story, the camera pans to the right, and targets a sailor who is drinking from a cup. When the cup is raised to his mouth, one can clearly see his lips are firmly closed. When the Surprise, while disguised as a whaling ship, is being chased by the Acheron, the smoke from the Surprise is trailing behind her (at around 1h 45 mins). That would only be possible if the wind was coming from dead ahead, which is impossible in a sailing vessel. Incorrectly regarded as goofs To pretend to be a whaling ship, Surprise removes its topgallant masts, apparently to change its appearance. Drawing and paintings of whaling ships show them to have been rigged in the same manner as any ships of their era; that is, with main, top, and topgallant masts. Thus there is no reason for the modification shown, and it would be far more likely to make the Acheron cautious because of the odd modified appearance of the Surprise. However, the HMS Surprise was outfitted with a mainmast of a size usually specified for a larger 36-gun frigate. This unusually large mainmast gave her a rather distinct and recognizable appearance. Housing the topgallant masts would hide this unique feature from the officers of the Acheron. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311113/goofs/?tab=gf&ref_=tt_trv_gf
Ha! All right! uh, none of those guys look like a suitable candidate to play DaveyJones! We had Chief Lunta. Probably actually a Wookie or Sasquatch, big hairy disgusting belly... Made it a real trial.
I am not so sure this one is wrong. Bonden seem to me to be the Sailing Master in this scene. He could also be the captains coxswain. As the Sailing Master, a Warrant Officer, Mr would be correct. The Sailing Master sails the ship as the Captain directs, the Captain fights the ship.
Watched that movie years ago and couldn't understand a word said. Years later we watched it again with a good surround sound system and it was awesome.
