Golden Radio Theater
Home/Adventure/The Adventures of Horatio Hornblower
Historical naval adventure · Syndicated

The Adventures of Horatio Hornblower

July 7, 1952 – July 17, 1953 · 54 broadcasts

Captain Horatio Hornblower rides the age of fighting sail in this half-hour naval adventure, adapted from C. S. Forester's beloved novels and carried by the cool, cerebral voice of Sir Michael Redgrave in the title role. Producer Harry Alan Towers made the series in Britain in 1952 through his Towers of London syndicate; when the BBC passed on it, Towers sent it out into the wider market -- Radio Luxembourg at home and, across the Atlantic, CBS, then ABC and Mutual in rebroadcast. Sidney Torch composed and conducted the sweeping orchestral score and Philo Higley wrote the scripts. The fifty-two episodes range freely across Hornblower's career rather than following the books in order -- a Pacific duel with the Natividad from 'The Happy Return' opens the run, and the young midshipman's first sea legs arrive only near its end. Blockades, cutting-out raids, courts-martial, the Baltic and the court of the Czar, prison in Napoleon's France and the tug of Lady Barbara: it is Forester's Royal Navy in miniature, with Redgrave's introspective hero at the center of every storm.

Collection status: 52 of 54 held (96% complete)
◆ ◆ ◆

Episode Spine

Grouped by year. Jump to the full list below, or open a season on its own page.

1952

July 7, 1952 Horatio Deals with a Mad King Listen (MP3)
Seven months at sea, the Lydia raises the volcanic coast of the Gulf of Fonseca, where Hornblower must court a self-styled 'divine' rebel to open a front against Spain.
July 14, 1952 Horatio Captures the Natividad Listen (MP3)
Uneasily bound to the deranged Don Julian, Hornblower gambles half his crew ashore against the chance a Spanish warship appears before he can take his prize.
July 21, 1952 Shaky Alliance with El Supremo Listen (MP3)
His orders force Hornblower to hand the captured Natividad to the murderous 'El Supremo' -- then to scheme to keep the tyrant from butchering his Spanish prisoners.
July 28, 1952 Battle Against El Supremo Listen (MP3)
Ordered to hunt down the very ship he once seized by stealth, Hornblower must now best the Natividad in a straight fight on the open Pacific.
August 4, 1952 Lydia Sinks the Natividad Listen (MP3)
Two shattered frigates drift apart in the swell, each crew bent only on patching up and crawling back to finish the kill -- the nightmare climax of Hornblower's Pacific duel.
August 11, 1952 Damaged Lydia Heads for Panama Listen (MP3)
The Natividad gone to the bottom, a crippled Lydia and her exhausted, thinned-out crew turn for Panama to refit.
August 18, 1952 Return to the Fleet Listen (MP3)
The poised Lady Barbara, a passenger aboard, quietly thaws the cold iron mask Hornblower wears before his officers and men.
August 25, 1952 Return to the Sea Listen (MP3)
Home again, Hornblower is torn between a tearful, pregnant wife and the sting of learning Lady Barbara has married the very admiral he now serves under.
September 1, 1952 Protecting the Convoy Listen (MP3)
Seasick and heartsick aboard an undermanned Lydia, Hornblower draws the thankless duty of shepherding six slow merchantmen.
September 8, 1952 Disguised as a French Ship Listen (MP3)
The luck of a tossed coin decides which of two captains sails north against the enemy shore -- with far-reaching consequences for Hornblower.
October 3, 1952 Guerrilla Action Listen (MP3)
Given three days to do all the harm he can, Hornblower snaps up a supply brig, levels a shore battery, and takes seven small craft.
October 10, 1952 Spanish Fail to Attack Listen (MP3)
On the eve of a joint operation, Hornblower broods under Admiral Leyton's suspicion that he was once Lady Barbara's lover.
October 17, 1952 Takes on the French Fleet Listen (MP3)
Warned of four French sail closing astern, Hornblower must weigh a tempting fight against the cooler discipline the moment demands.
October 24, 1952 Mutiny on the Flame Listen (MP3)
The mutinous crew of the brig Flame hold their captain hostage in the Bay of the Seine, threatening to hand the ship to France unless they win amnesty.
October 31, 1952 Disguised as the Flame Listen (MP3)
November 7, 1952 The Court Martial of Berry McCool Listen (MP3)
November 14, 1952 The Capture of Le Havre Listen (MP3)
November 21, 1952 Acting Governor of Le Havre Listen (MP3)
November 28, 1952 Barbara Joins Horatio Listen (MP3)
December 5, 1952 Napoleon Returns Listen (MP3)
December 12, 1952 Napoleon Is Defeated Listen (MP3)
December 19, 1952 A Prisoner in 1811 Listen (MP3)
December 26, 1952 Horatio Meets Marie and Escapes Listen (MP3)

1953

January 2, 1953 Horatio Captures a Ship Listen (MP3)
January 9, 1953 Rejoining the Fleet Listen (MP3)
Hoisting his flag at last, Hornblower leads a fleet into northern waters against Denmark and Sweden.
January 16, 1953 Horatio Is Court Martialed Listen (MP3)
Escaping Napoleon's France in a boat he builds himself, Hornblower reaches England to find a court-martial -- and a grieving wife -- waiting.
January 23, 1953 Into the Baltic Listen (MP3)
A single hidden sandbar nearly wrecks Hornblower's audacious plan to slip a squadron into the guarded waters of the Baltic.
January 30, 1953 Chasing the Blanche Fleur Listen (MP3)
February 6, 1953 Alliance with Russia Listen (MP3)
February 13, 1953 Reception with the Czar Listen (MP3)
At the Czar's palace Hornblower foils an assassination and very nearly loses himself to the charms of a too-friendly countess.
February 20, 1953 Attack on Fort at Fisher's Half Listen (MP3)
February 27, 1953 Port of Riga Listen (MP3)
Hornblower fights the French for the harbor of Riga while the ballet-mad Russians look on with maddening indifference.
March 6, 1953 Delaying the French Listen (MP3)
March 13, 1953 The French Are Stopped Listen (MP3)
March 20, 1953 The Duel Listen (MP3)
Having beaten back a privateer, Hornblower is driven to press-gang 120 unwilling hands off passing East Indiamen.
March 27, 1953 The Spanish Leave Napoleon Listen (MP3)
Hornblower presses home an assault on a Spanish warship and its shore fortress.
April 3, 1953 Hornblower's First Command Listen (MP3)
April 10, 1953 Prisoner of the French on the 'Peek' Listen (MP3)
April 17, 1953 With the 43rd Marines Listen (MP3)
April 24, 1953 Spain Becomes Neutral Listen (MP3)
May 1, 1953 Exam for Lieutenant Listen (MP3)
A sudden Spanish attack turns young Midshipman Hornblower's examination for lieutenant into a real test of nerve.
May 8, 1953 Quarantined for the Plague Listen (MP3)
May 15, 1953 Chasing the Papillion Listen (MP3)
May 22, 1953 Command of the La Mouche Listen (MP3)
May 23, 1953 Spanish Leave Napoleon
May 29, 1953 Prisoner and Rescue of Spanish Listen (MP3)
May 30, 1953 Mutiny on the Flame
June 5, 1953 First Meeting with Bush Listen (MP3)
June 12, 1953 Planning Mutiny on the Renown Listen (MP3)
June 19, 1953 First Attact on Haiti Fails Listen (MP3)
June 26, 1953 Attack on Haitian Fort Listen (MP3)
July 3, 1953 Yellow Fever Listen (MP3)
July 10, 1953 Fighting the Spanish on the Renown Listen (MP3)
July 17, 1953 Promoted to Captain of the Retribution Listen (MP3)
The Story

Captain Horatio Hornblower rides the age of fighting sail in this half-hour naval adventure, adapted from C. S. Forester's beloved novels and carried by the cool, cerebral voice of Sir Michael Redgrave in the title role. Producer Harry Alan Towers made the series in Britain in 1952 through his Towers of London syndicate; when the BBC passed on it, Towers sent it out into the wider market -- Radio Luxembourg at home and, across the Atlantic, CBS, then ABC and Mutual in rebroadcast. Sidney Torch composed and conducted the sweeping orchestral score and Philo Higley wrote the scripts. The fifty-two episodes range freely across Hornblower's career rather than following the books in order -- a Pacific duel with the Natividad from 'The Happy Return' opens the run, and the young midshipman's first sea legs arrive only near its end. Blockades, cutting-out raids, courts-martial, the Baltic and the court of the Czar, prison in Napoleon's France and the tug of Lady Barbara: it is Forester's Royal Navy in miniature, with Redgrave's introspective hero at the center of every storm.

Full story — coming soon while it's being curated.
Gallery
Art pending