I Remember Nelson

"I Remember Nelson" was a short, less-than-brilliant film plagued by the common problems of made-for-TV movies. From the perspective of a common gunner on the HMS Victory, the film attempts to portray how this great man was remembered by his common sailors. All in all, it falls short of the mark, delivering a rather choppy version of events made worse by bad acting and even worse effects. Disregarding these faults, the story itself is interesting. Being privy to Nelson's final words and seeing his last moments brings forth empathy, despite the less than astounding theatrical performance. The film brings the ordinariness back to Nelson, cutting through the aura of brilliance and exposing the mortal within. Whatever the repercussions the death of this great man on a global scale, his last breath is still that of a dying man, great or small, important or obscure.

Ramage at Trafalgar

            Dudley Pope’s Ramage at Trafalgar is a well-written fictional account surrounding the pivotal victory in England’s defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. Pope creates a likable character that his readers are quickly drawn to. Despite being the 16^th book in a very long series, the tale is isolated and interesting without relying on previous events.

Horatio Nelson

            Pope first introduces Lord Nicholas Ramage at the reading of his uncle’s will. Ramage is quickly established as an intelligent and sensible man, without the pomp and arrogance of his contemporaries. His wife, Sarah, is also present at the reading. Recently married and obviously quite happy, the Ramages have a surprisingly modern relationship. Sarah seems to possess certain frankness that is absent in most women of the time, making her more relatable to Pope’s readers.

            Pope takes his story a step further. On top of creating likable fictional characters, he personally introduces his readers to the legendary Horatio Nelson. Bringing this naval hero down from legend is a difficult task, one that Pope does with surprising skill. He even gives a good look at Nelson’s mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, widow of his friend Lord Hamilton and mother of his “goddaughter,” Horatia Nelson Thompson.

Pope’s characters voice their opinions concerning Nelson and his mistress. Nicholas holds the greatest respect for the commodore, and Sarah likes his wife so much, she stands up for Lady Hamilton at dinners where gossip runs rampant.            

            Beyond the social atmosphere is the actual battle of Trafalgar. Pope creates an advantageous read by creating a character with authority and feeling to observe and participate in such a monumental event in history. Having Nicholas Ramage pick a fight with a French frigate is adventurous in and of itself. He creates a somewhat suspenseful turn of events, having Ramage’s frigate, the Calypso, break through the line following one of his own ships of the line. The short scuffle with the French frigate is exciting and well written, including the nerve-racking turnabout to use the Calypso’s sister ship as a shield against the French ship of the line intent on blowing Ramage’s boat out of the water.



The HMS Victory



            But perhaps most important concerning Pope’s fictional work is the witness to the death of Nelson. By creating a character with a vested interest in all that occurred, both in battle and afterwards, Pope gave true insight into what it was like to come to the realization that the great Nelson had died. The undeniable certainty, knowing what it means to have Nelson’s flag hauled down from the Victory’s mast. How unfair, how cruelly ironic, that the great commander had been shot down in his moment of triumph, his greatest foe defeated.

            Pope gives his readers a lens to the past, blurred by the tears of Nelson’s admirers and faithful soldiers. Through it, one can truly appreciate the man behind the medals and titles.

Master and Commander

Master and Commandergives a cinematic look into the duty of a British ship during the war with Napoleon. Led by the strong and stubborn Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey, the HMS Surprise is given orders to hunt down the French ship, Acheron, to prevent her from stretching Napoleon Bonaparte’s reach to the far side of South America.

HMS Surprise

            Aubrey quickly realizes that he’s outgunned and outmaneuvered by the French ship, as it sneaks up behind the Surprise in a fog and delivers a pounding to the British ship. Aubrey manages to lose the Acheron in the fog with a clever ruse involving a miniature ship with lanterns aboard floating away from the Surprise. After repairing his ship, Aubrey resumes the pursuit, seemingly more because of the insult to his person and ship rather than his duty to his country.



            The wisdom of this chase is questionable, as the Acheron hides in a bay in the coast and sneaks behind the Surprise once again. Aubrey and his crew manage to escape yet again, and “Lucky Jack” vows that there will not be a third such encounter. His brilliant idea to capture the French vessel is inspired by his friend, Stephen, explaining how a stick bug evolved to look like a stick in order to evade predators.



Jack Aubrey, played by Russell Crowe



            The fascinating deception that Aubrey pulls off is truly quite amazing. Disguising his ship as a whaler, Aubrey basically orders his ship to sit and wait, drawing the Acheron to him before running out the guns and beating her into submission.

            The movie was engaging and suspenseful, as well as clever and intelligent. The sound and effects were astonishingly realistic, adding to the overall feeling of dashing headlong into the Pacific Ocean after a ghost of a ship.

Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor

Although this made-for-TV movie is slightly lacking in both effects and actor talent, the story of the great American traitor is told in its entirety fairly eloquently. Many Americans know Benedict Arnold only as a traitor. Few know the circumstances that drove him to treason.

Arnold is clearly depicted as a fiery and stubborn man, quick to anger and even faster to challenge offenders to a duel. His actions at Saratoga make him a hero, but his praise is bestowed upon his superior officer, Horatio Gates, whose orders he had to defy to win the day. Shot in the leg and permanently crippled, the wound is clean but bitterness festers in his soul.

The film portrays Arnold’s increasing frustration with Congress and his country with surprising skill. When George Washington makes Arnold the military governor of Philadelphia, his anger is appeased somewhat, and he sets about doing what is asked of him: diffusing tension between Loyalists and rebels. The movie makes his unconventional solution to this problem, a banquet, amusing as well as tense, probably an accurate depiction. The only point on which a viewer may be critical is Arnold’s excessive and, to be honest, sickening flirtatious nature when around the future Mrs. Arnold. Yes, he was infatuated. No, the producers did not do well in attempting to duplicate his 18^th century pick-up lines.

As a whole, Arnold’s bitterness was well-shown throughout the film. Knowing the inevitable conclusion only made it more horrible to watch General Washington hand over West Point to his most trusted officer. Mrs. Arnold’s influence was certainly marked. Had it not been for her, Benedict Arnold may very well have died an American hero. But then again, the film made a psychic out of Arnold’s British commander by having him comment that Arnold’s betrayal had united the country in a way that would ensure its eventual victory over Great Britain.

All in all, “Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor” was an interesting watch if not brilliantly filmed.