Introduction
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World is a 2003 American epic period war-drama film co-written, produced and directed by Peter Weir, set in the Napoleonic Wars.
The film’s plot and characters are adapted from three novels in author Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey–Maturin series, which includes 20 completed novels of Jack Aubrey’s naval career.
During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.
The film stars Russell Crowe as Jack Aubrey, captain in the Royal Navy, and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, the ship’s surgeon.
Outline
During the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Jack Aubrey of HMS Surprise is ordered to fight the French privateer Acheron. Acheron ambushes Surprise, off the coast of Brazil causing heavy damage, while remaining undamaged by the British guns. The ship’s boats tow Surprise into a fog bank to evade pursuit. Aubrey’s officers tell him that Surprise is no match for Acheron, and that they should abandon the chase. Aubrey points out that Acheron must not be allowed to plunder the British whaling fleet. He orders Surprise refitted at sea, rather than returning to port for repairs. William Blakeney has his arm amputated due to injuries sustained in battle. Shortly afterwards, Acheron again ambushes Surprise, but Aubrey slips away in the night by using a decoy raft and ship’s lamps.
Following the privateer south, Surprise rounds Cape Horn and heads to the Galapagos Islands, where Aubrey is convinced that Acheron will prey on Britain’s whaling fleet. The ship’s doctor, Maturin, is interested in the islands’ unique flora and fauna, and Aubrey promises his friend several days’ exploration time. When Surprise reaches the Galapagos, however, they recover the survivors of a whaling ship destroyed by Acheron. Aubrey hastily pursues the privateer, dashing Maturin’s expectation of more time to explore.
Surprise is becalmed for several days. The crew becomes restless and disorderly. Midshipman Hollom, already unpopular with the crew, is named a “Jonah” by the sailors (someone who brings bad luck to a ship). As the tension rises, crew member Nagle refuses to salute Hollom on the deck, and is flogged for insubordination. That night, Hollom commits suicide by jumping overboard with a cannonball. The next morning, Aubrey holds a service for Hollom. The wind picks up again, and Surprise resumes the chase.
The next day, Royal Marine officer Captain Howard attempts to shoot an albatross but accidentally hits Maturin instead. The surgeon’s mate informs Aubrey that the bullet and a piece of cloth it took with it must be removed soon, otherwise they will fester. He also recommends the delicate operation be performed on land. Despite closing on Acheron, Aubrey takes the doctor back to the Galapagos. Maturin performs surgery on himself using a mirror. Finally giving up the pursuit of the privateer, Aubrey grants Maturin the chance to explore the Galapagos islands and gather specimens before they head for home. While looking for a species of flightless cormorant, the doctor discovers Acheron on the other side of the island. Maturin abandons most of his specimens and hurries to warn Aubrey. Surprise readies for battle once more. Due to Acheron’s stronger hull, Surprise must be at close quarters to damage her. After observing the camouflage ability of one of Maturin’s specimens, Aubrey disguises Surprise as a whaling ship; he hopes the French will be lured in to capture the valuable ship rather than destroy it. Acheron falls for the disguise and Surprise launches her attack. With the back wheels of the cannons taken off, the cannons are able to fire upon Acheron’s mainmast while Captain Howard’s Marine sharpshooters pick off the crew of Acheron from above. Acheron is disabled when the mainmast snaps and falls into the sea. Aubrey leads boarding parties, engaging in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Upon capturing the ship, Aubrey is informed by the ship’s doctor that the French captain is dead and is given the Captain’s sword.
Acheron and Surprise are repaired; while Surprise remains in the Galapagos, the captured Acheron is to be taken to Valparaíso. As Acheron sails away, Maturin mentions that their doctor had died months ago. Realising the French captain deceived him by pretending to be the ship’s doctor, Aubrey gives the order to change course to intercept Acheron and escort her to Valparaíso, and for the crew to assume battle stations. Maturin is once again denied the chance to explore the Galapagos, but Aubrey wryly notes that since the bird he seeks is flightless, “it’s not going anywhere”, and the two play Musica notturna delle strade di Madrid by Luigi Boccherini as Surprise turns in pursuit of Acheron once more.
Cast
- Commissioned Officers:
- Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey.
- James D’Arcy as First Lieutenant/Acting Captain Thomas Pullings.
- Edward Woodall as Second Lieutenant William Mowett.
- Chris Larkin as Captain Howard, Royal Marines.
- Warrant and Standing Officers:
- Paul Bettany as Dr Stephen Maturin, Surgeon.
- Robert Pugh as John Allen, Master.
- Max Benitz as Midshipman/Acting Third Lieutenant Peter Myles Calamy.
- Max Pirkis as Midshipman Lord William Blakeney.
- Jack Randall as Midshipman Boyle.
- Lee Ingleby as Midshipman Hollom.
- Richard Pates as Midshipman Williamson.
- Richard McCabe as Mr. Higgins, Surgeon’s Mate.
- Ian Mercer as Mr. Hollar, Boatswain.
- Tony Dolan as Mr. Lamb, Carpenter.
- HMS Surprise’s Crew:
- David Threlfall as Preserved Killick, Captain’s Steward.
- Billy Boyd as Barrett Bonden, Coxswain.
- Bryan Dick as Joseph Nagle, Carpenter’s Mate.
- Joseph Morgan as William Warley, Captain of the Mizzentop.
- George Innes as Joe Plaice, Able Seaman.
- William Mannering as Michael “Faster” Doudle, Able Seaman.
- Patrick Gallagher as Awkward Davies, Able Seaman.
- Alex Palmer as Nehemiah Slade, Able Seaman.
- John DeSantis as Padeen Colman, Loblolly Boy.
- Ousmane Thiam as Black Bill, Steward’s Mate.
- Other:
- Mark Lewis Jones as Mr. Hogg, Master of the Whaler Albatross.
- Thierry Segall as Captain of the Acheron.
Trivia
- The film, which cost $150 million to make, was a co-production of 20th Century Fox, Miramax Films, Universal Pictures, and Samuel Goldwyn Films, and released on 14 November 2003.
- The film grossed $212 million worldwide.
- At the 76th Academy Awards, the film was nominated for 10 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.
- It won in two categories, Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing and lost in all other categories to The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Production & Filming Details
- Director(s): Peter Weir.
- Producer(s): Samuel Goldwyn Jr, Duncan Henderson, and Peter Weir.
- Writer(s): Peter Weir and John Collee.
- Music: Iva Davies, Christopher Gordon, and Richard Tognetti.
- Cinematography: Russell Boyd.
- Editor(s): Lee Smith.
- Production: 20th Century Fox, Miramax Films, Universal Pictures, and Samuel Goldwyn Films.
- Distributor(s): 20th Century Fox.
- Release Date: 14 November 2003.
- Running time: 138 minutes.
- Country: US.
- Language: English.
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