Naval Historian Breaks Down 'Master and Commander' Movie | Deep Dives
Historian and naval expert, Dan Snow MBE, takes a deep dive into the historical accuracy of the one of the most acclaimed movies of all time, 'Master and Commander'.
00:00 Intro
00:22 Surprise Ambushed by Acheron - First Battle
09:31 Naval Surgery During Napoleonic Wars
12:34 Storm at Sea
16:53 Importance of Recreation at Sea
18:39 Respect and Insubordination
22:02 Punishment in the Royal Navy
24:06 Hollom and Burial at Sea
26:24 “This Ship is England”
28:53 Surprise Attack on Acheron - Final Battle
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android.
We're offering a special discount to History Hit for our subscribers, get 50% off your first 3 months with code KZhead: www.historyhit.com/subscripti...
#historyhit #navalwarfare #expertreview
I'm so glad this movie is getting some appreciation. It was not a box office success but is easily one of the most accurate and well-written period war films of its decade.
It merely had the misfortune to come out around the same time as Lord of the Rings lol
@@Blisterdude123LotR was why it didn't do great for awards, in the box office it had to compete with Pirates of the Caribbean, which let's be honest is much more fun
It actually did okay, but not enough for the planned sequels!
There's a few already on M&C, like History Buffs for instance. I devour ones on this film ravenously
I have the DVD which I like to rewatch occassionally
One thing Master and Commander does that I have never seen in any other movie, is having sound move slower than light, as shown the French frigate is seen in the distance and you see the flashes of the cannon and then after a delay you hear the sound. It's also the only movie I've seen that has actors of the right age, how crowded the decks were and the diversity (as the navy at the time was actually very diverse), it's the only time I've heard mention the standard practice of loading more than one cannon ball in the gun at a time, having the cannons fly backwards when fired and using the correct terminology throughout the movie.
They also don’t use loud music during the fighting, brings one much closer to the men
They also show the practice of bouncing cannonballs off waves to get greater distance. The French are doing that right at the start
Wdym diversity? The whole crew bar one are white males
@@SeminarioMAE as in you had sailors from all over the world.
@@SeminarioMAE Aren't all matelots lgbt characters?
Whenever I'm watching this movie and my wife happens to walk by, she'll say "Oh, again? What a surprise.", with emphasis on the word surprise, because she even knows the name of the ship because of me watching it so many times.
😂😂 99% of wives don't appreciate the quality of this movie 😂
She's what we lubbers call a "keeper".
“Surprise is on our side.”
Jack would be very proud of that pun. XD
It's a very rare movie where experts can watch it and have very little to quibble about. Master and Commander is a masterpiece of detail and accuracy.
Patrick O'Brien would've been proud, I feel
The adversary was American...O'Brien may have understood box office dynamics
I have a few quibbles. a/Russel Crowes fighting style is so ill suited to fighting aboard an 18th century man-of-war that he would never have survived long enough to make captain (or commander or whatever rank he has during this movie). Usually the officers had their sword in their right hand and a pistol in their left hand (which they also used as a club and a shield once they had fired it). B/ The ship surgeon would never be part of the boarding party. He would be busy amputating arms and legs in the sick bay. Having the surgeon take part in the combat is truly Bridgerton level historic inaccuracy. c/ The final ship battle the English crew fire at the French ships masts/sails/rigging, which is the French naval fighting style, and the French crew aim for the English ships hull, which is the English naval fighting style.
It uses a historical setting with historical accuracy to get a fictional story out
@@lilith3953In O'Brian's novels there is very little that is "usual" about the way Jack Aubrey fights. Maturin - the surgeon - was a crack shot and swordsman, so it's entirely plausible that he would have joined such a desperate fight as this. And the film makes much play of the Acheron's superiority in firepower and its reinforced hull, so a surprise disabling blow at the masts was likely the only winning strategy against such overwhelming odds.
Somehow I feel the lack of a sequel makes this film just that much more special. Leaving you on a cliffhanger like that makes the story really stick with you, keeps it in your mind. One of my favorite films, glad to see that it is incredibly accurate.
So true a blessing it wasn't ruined by a rushed sequel
If you are a reader that likes naval warfare during the Age of Sail, I strongly suggest the entire "Aubrey and Maturin" series by O'Brian. 20 odd books with these same characters.
@@TheJohn8765 I'm a fan of the Hornblower books by Forester
❤
I also think a sequel would've been difficult to pull off with a time-line that made sense, because they took stuff from all the books regardless of order. For example, Master and Commander is the first book but you can see Pullings already has the facial scar that he gets in the 8th book.
Master and Commander is still used to check the setup of surround sound systems. Filmed on real wooden ships, the rolling creaks that surround the viewer will quickly reveal a poorly placed speaker, or one that is out of phase, or improperly amplified.
Very cool.
How interesting!
You learn something new every day.
I am the world’s #2 surround sound expert and I’ve never heard this.
@@The_ZeroLine I'm the world's #1 expert. This is why you'll always be #2 pal.
"One must always choose the lesser of two weevils"......Nothing more need be said, fantastic adaptation of a fantastic series of books.
So simple yet so funny.
"He who would make a pun would pick a pocket!"
I wish english was my first language because I didn't fully get that one
@@benoitbergeron8858It's true, I recently watched a Czech translation of the film and waited eagerly for the joke... Could they do it?... NO! "The Navy always chooses the smaller of two beetles,"?!!!!? I nearly cried! For the writer of the comment, the two beetle larvae are known as weevils; it is a play on words as in " To choose the lesser of two evils". Hope that helps :-)
To the lesser of two weevils!!
Practically every frame in this film is like a painting. Not only is it fantastically true to the history, it’s also a masterclass in cinematography.
It beat out Return of the King for Best Cinematography.
@@ladyzapzap9514 Damn right, I remember seeing it in theatres as a kid, such a good movie. Its like the gold standard of historical movies as far as getting it accurate and right.
I swear i remember this is the same exact words from cinema buffs. 😂
Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World. One of the best films ever made, when the little blond midshipman says "Follow Me" and leads the men into battle. Epic. Simply Epic. I love that little dude.
My favorite part is where the boy realizes one sailor doesn't know his left from right and rephrases it as "your starboard hand". A born leader ❤
@birchlover3377 is that the same scene where he is trying to sow up the bag holding his friends body, and then he turns to the older sailor and says he needs help because he's only got one arm. Such a good movie.
@@mikeyloveshousemusicno, but that was another powerful scene! If I remember correctly the dialogue I mentioned was at the beginning of the battle scene where his friend is killed.
Lord Blakeney. The actor who played him was 13 at the time. My favourite scene was when Capt Aubrey gave him his personalised copy of Admiral Nelson's book, pointing out that the beloved admiral had also lost an arm in battle. In the scene you mention, after they blast a hole into the Acherons gundeck, he says "We must board them! Arm yourselves! Follow me!" and then jumps through the hole. One of the best characters (although Killick holds a special place "which it will be ready when it's ready")
Favorite scene for me as well! “ WE MUST BOARD THEM!” Goosebumps every time
Peter Weir, who directed and co-wrote the script for Master and Commander was renowned for his thorough planning and control of his movies, including finding talented collaborators. The visual tone is substantially due to cinematographer Russell Boyd who frequently worked with Weir over a 30 year period and won an Academy Award for this film. Sound Designer Richard King and Weir searched the Richard O'Brian novels for sound descriptions to include, found collectors with authentic cannons and recorded firing, cannonballs in flight, and striking wooden targets, and used classic sound eefects techniques to create a range of rigging sounds. The soundscape of the movie was assembled like a musical composition. King also won an Academy Award for sound editing for this movie.
FYI, Richard O'Brian wrote under the name of Patrick O'Brian. Just hoping it adds clarity incase someone wants to get into this fantastic series of books following Aubrey and Maturin.
@@nevar108 Thanks. I was having a senior moment after recently rewatching Rocky Horror Picture Show (Richard O'Brien).
@@IntrospectorGeneral You were correct calling him Richard O'Brian. He was born Richard Patrick O'Brian, he writes under his middle name first.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
Mine two wish they made more
Same here
Same here … alongside Waterloo and Gettysburg … the movie introduced me to the books so I will forever be indebted to the creative team behind this film …
Yep, it sucks that Peter Weir quit directing before he made any sequels. One of the best directors ever.
It’s one of the most perfect movies ever made.
As a former American Sailor I have always been amazed at how much of this movie resonates with my experience in the modern Navy. The bells, routine, morale, hierarchy, jargon, leadership, tradition its all there.
As Ex-RAN myself this hit very close to home for me aswell. Takes me back to sea.
You do know that in the original novel American sailors were the enemy?
Yes. That was a time when both British and French navies thought they could prey on American shipping with impunity. They were wrong.@@B-A-L
@@B-A-L How is that relevant? Where do you think we inherited our Naval customs? Now we have the fiercest Navy in history. Thank you Britain.
Most world militaries are absolutely lousy with traditions. I guess we can credit it to how long our species has been killing each other in a systematic manner.
Ooh I know this is going to be a banger of a video! Such an awesome movie. Hard to believe it’s 21 years old. Holds up better than 99% of historical period movies today.
If it was made today Aubrey would be a black woman 😂
@@lilrawri8446😂
Holds up better than 99% of movies today. Not just period movies. A testament to film.
@@combatwombat2134 I definitely agree!
@@lilrawri8446 Trans black woman
The sound design of this movie is absolutely amazing it's such a shame I never saw it in cinemas that would be one amazing experience
I would have to say, i was lucky enough to see it in the theater and that was quite an experience. I hope you get to see it at someones home theater or a re-screening somewhere.
Yep, I always crank this on my home theater subs
Went to sea it 3 times in the cinema it was pretty good
I saw it in the cinema and it was so good I went back the same week to see it again. The only film I've ever done that for.
It was amazing. I got a little seasick during the storm scene.
I’m currently re-reading the entire series, so this is a welcome “Surprise”! I still think my favorite lines (from the books) are “Jack you have debauched my sloth!”
One of the greatest lines in literature.
Said the bear... is always one that sticks with me. Such a good reveal. 😂
I’ve never read them. Any good?
"Stephen, your sloth, he is eating my hat." "So he is, too."
@@alexweeks3359difficult to read for most readers id say but gets easier as you go... Well worth the effort though simply the best age of sail saga ever put to paper :)
Another fact about the midshipman is that the officers were not to socialize (ie sing) with the crew as they needed to be seen as above the common crew.
I got to tour the Surprise, maybe 15 years ago, while visiting my cousin in San Diego. I had already been a big fan of the books and then the movie and it was a real thrill. The biggest “surprise” for me was how small the ship seemed. It would have taken brass intestines to sail in that boat across the Atlantic. Another part of the excursion was touring a Russian submarine, but that’s for a different episode of History Hits.
I love in San Diego. Are you telling me that H.M.S. Suprise us here in San Diego and I can go there to tour the vessel?? I don't believe yoh.
@@mikeyloveshousemusic it's at the maritime museum downtown next to the Star of India.
I had the pleasure of crewing aboard this vessel when she was named the (HMS) Rose the summer of 1979. At that time the Rose had no engines and we sailed on and off anchor as well as sailing her to the dock in New Bedford, MA. We had a crew of about 20. Of course Captain Richard Bailey being in command was key.
i met patrick obrien...he is the greatest historica novellist of all time..im ex navy and a naval historian ive all 21 novels
I visited The Rose in San Diego! As a history major who loved this era, it was a real treat!
How fortunate - I'm so jealous. (I'm also afraid of heights.)
@@dougearnest7590 plenty of work to do on deck. We also didn't have safety harnesses when we were aloft, truly one hand for yourself and one for the ship.
As someone who absolutely and dearly loves this film, I am always so proud and happy to see what a strong community of fellow fans this film has gathered, who share the same passions and reasons for loving this masterpiece of a movie!
The minute History Hit began the Deep Dive reviews of films, I knew Master and Commander would be on the list. Couldn't be happier. One of the best examples that proves historical accuracy can elevate a film to greatness. Also a great film of wholesome male bonding and comradeship that is badly needed these days with all the toxicity on KZhead. Please let me know that Das Boot is on the list of upcoming episodes, even if just for the pun.
I literally pick up a new historical detail every time I watch it, absolutely love it
It is ironic that the movie has become a model of depicting male bonding, with no female lead characters, though the book it is based on has more female characters at sea than any of the other books😊.
@Zajuts149 watch Disney if you want woke!
@user-hq8bh1rw1y you do realise that the source material has women aboard? It is a major plot point. Captain Aubrey hates having women aboard ship since it causes tension, and in most books, there are no women aboard ship. They chose to make a movie of the book with most women aboard, and even a chapter with a Polynesian craft crewed by only women. Get back when you pass basic reading comprehension.
@Zajuts149 having females in the film would have added nothing to the film,and as for the film being a "model depicting male bonding"that smacks more of a modern cry for feminism that it does for depicting a historical take on naval warfare,as I said if you want woke,stick with Disney.
O'Brian's books are so very rich in descriptive detail and period language. Thankfully, Weir and Collee were willing to include much of that detail in their screenplay. It also helped that the production was able to obtain an accurate replica frigate, HMS Rose, to play the part of HMS Surprise.
Dan Snow, a sailor here. When Capt. Sparrow tells his crew to handle the sails in a lubberly way, he is telling them to be sloppy in their work to appear more like a whaling crew instead of a well-trained navy crew. This was one more level to their deception they were trying to pull. And I agree totally that I too so wanted a sequel!! 🙂 Thanks for a great video!
There is no Captain Sparrow in this movie.
Probably my favourite film of all time. As well as one of my favourite series of books. And the film does a remarkable job of staying true to the novels, whilst also making itself into its own entity. Just brilliant.
I *adore* this movie. It's basically perfect from script adaptation from the books to camera work to effects to sound design to casting to accuracy to acting. It's a masterpiece.
Very glad to see you return to do a full review of this gem of a movie! Its one of my absolute favourites, and absolutely deserves a dedicated deep dive in itself! I very much like the sound of 'deep dives'. I would love to see more in depth reviews and breakdowns on individual movies, especially on some of the Great classics like Master and Commander is rightfully so.
I'm also a naval historian, and I'm glad to see this movie getting some love. While it's not a great adaptation of the books per se, I found it a fairly accurate representation of life in the Royal Navy at the time. My biggest complaint really is that the name 'Master and Commander' makes no sense. As you are aware, a 'Master and Commander' is a senior lieutenant given command of his own ship-almost always one that's too small to be rated. In the movie, Jack Aubrey is a Post Captain, hence no longer a Master and Commander. I'm also a little unsure that a 28 gun frigate like HMS Surprise could take on the USS Constitution and win, even if she's flying French colours and has a French crew. For those who don't know, the Acheron is based on the Constitution, even to the extent of 'being built in Boston'. When the sailors came in with the model to show Aubrey, I recognized those lines immediately. I grew up in Brookline MA as a child and I spent many MANY happy hours aboard Old Ironsides. The sailors acting as guides must have groaned when they saw me coming because I knew more about the ship that most of them. One of my very favorite details in this movie is the bows on shot of the Surprise as she's rounding Cape Horn. If you look carefully there's a sailor with his slops (trousers) around his ankles using the 'seat of ease' in the beakhead. I almost fell out of my seat laughing when I saw that.
The doctor telling the midshipman he’d never seen a braver patient gets me every time
One of my favorite movies and book series of all time. Such an interesting time period.
Should have mentioned that it's based on Patrick O'Brien's 'Master and Commander' series of novels. We haven't had a film sequel, but there are 20 rip roaring novels to binge on. And if you think they are boy's own fantasies: read one of the biographies of Thomas Cochrane.
Thomas Cochrane.
And I double checked it on Google, and still messed up. Thanks!
Love the score! Ralph Vaughan Williams, Bach, Boccherini
Cochrane was real gangster in the stuff he pulled. Easily the greatest single captain in british history as far as raw achievements.
Great video. I was an officer in the US Navy. Saw some very heavy seas in the NW Pacific. Also the first ship I was on was the USS Oklahoma City. She had teak decks that were holy stoned every morning.
12:43 they based a lot of the way the storm interacted with the ship off of a film called Around Cape Horn filmed by Irving Johnson in 1929, who sailed on a tall ship transporting cargo. The film is on youtube and it is a fascinating watch
Been waiting for this! Such an underrated movie, shadowed by other big movie releases. Thank you so much Dan and History Hit crew ;)
Such an amazing masterpiece of a movie and so underrated!
I’ve never seen it, but you’ve convinced me that I need to seek Master and Commander out. As another poster highlighted, Dan’s genuine passion for both this historical period and movie shines through. This deep dive contains so many interesting historical facts. Thank you, Dan. You’re very talented.
I envy you, getting to watch it for the first time =). It is such a great film. If you enjoy the film there is a whole series of books the film is based on you will probably like if you like the film.
Dan Snow is awesome! I can listen to him talk about history all day. The passion shines through.
one of the greatest movies of all time... its crazy to think that this movie never got a sequel while many lesser movies are in their 3rd, 4th iterations
One of my favorite movies all time, hands down! Absolutely brilliant film!
My all time favourite film, I'll watch it once a year and get emotional every time. A fantastic depiction of life at sea in the Royal Navy
Brilliant how he navigates through the details of 'Master and Commander'-just like a ship through treacherous waters! Really brings the film to life.
My father served in the Royal Navy abord the HMS Chieftain during the Suez. We had the good fortune to have a home theatre and man... this film was our favourite. This was on screen just as often as Star Wars was. The surround sound experience for this film cannot be expressed in a way that would rival experiencing it. Just phenomenal. It's good to see this film get the respect it deserves. This is one of the many reasons I pursued history as a profession. It still stands as the movie I reckon may be the most historically accurate large-format film to exist to this day. Thanks for putting this video together!
Dan is so at home with this movie you can see the passion as he describes the scenes
HMS Surprise is at the San Diego Maritime Museum (along with the Star of India). Beautiful, fascinating ships.
One of a handful of DVDs I held onto, favourite movie of its decade.❤❤❤
To me, the late 90’s and early 00’s were kind of a golden era of movies. Through Saving Private Ryan to Master and Commander, and more, there were some great movies made. Makes one wonder how we degenerated into the state of movies now.
@@CaveWyattagreed
Yes absolutely, this great movie and LOTR 's all at the same time!!
I read the Aubrey/Maturin series and loved it, then I saw the movie and was not disappointed. Master and Commander is a masterpiece and will stand the test of time.
That maybe 15 year old midshipman calling "steady" to his gun crew while splinters and shrapnel explode around them always gets me. They were hard men
There is something epic with two period ship engaging in battle like this.
Author Patrick O'Brian was a masterful and well researched writer, I cannot rec his 20-book series enough! Tragic that the movies could not have been extended.
21 i have them all and met him...im ex navy and a naval historian..he is the greatest historical novellist of all
@@highcountrydelatite20.5. 21 is hard to read because it just stops abruptly sucks he couldent finish.
@@Marti14141 never that issue as im ex navy. And im also a naval historian on the sideA nd ive the 21 books..sadly he died during the writing...
I remember 20 years ago seeing the battle scene played in a dark room behind one of the actual sails from HMS Victory used during the battle of Trafalgar, cannon ball holes and all, at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Do they still have that? It was an amazing installation.
I put this on some months ago for my sons. One of them lost interest pretty quickly, but the 10 year old was absolutely riveted. A true cinephile.
There are so many nods to the fans of the books series this movie is based on. One of the subtler nods is when Maturin is flexing his hand before playing the viola. That flexing is because he was tortured by the french and his hand was horribly abused before he was rescued and the flexing loosened the lasting trauma.
Thanks for the appreciation for this film. I do wish there had been a sequel.
Thank you so much for this! I enjoy all of your videos, but this just became my favorite. When I saw this movie in the theater, I was struck by how realistic it was. Not a naval historian myself, I could only speculate on the realism, but it sold itself well. Those cannonballs smashing through the wood almost hurt to watch. That large tourniquet tightening on that tiny arm...everything was so well done. I'm very pleased to learn that it was as excellent as I had expected.
The in-depth examination of naval history and its portrayal in cinema is both insightful and engaging. Kudos to the team for delivering such a fascinating and educational experience!
Its absolutely criminal that we never got a sequel to Master and Commander. Someone should have been flogged for that!
Peter Weir had committed in principle to make a sequel before starting work on this movie although he was not really interested and his experience was that a sequel would be unlikely . He combined elements of several books to make Master and Commander a complete story but added the final twist to provide a link to a sequel. The movie made a profit but not the megaprofit of other franchises like X-Men, Pirates of the Carribean, and Spiderman so the sequel never happened. Peter Weir has never made a movie with a sequel and had the experience of studios wasting time with sequel projects they were never going to make.
As a film about naval life during the Napoleonic era it’s an A++, as an adaptation of Patrick O’Brian’s work it’s a B-. Great film, great action, great sound design. I wish there were a dozen more.
I think it's an A- adaption of the characters and series as a whole, rather than a specific novel.
Great post Dan and an excellent movie. Growing up in Ireland in the 70s in Kilkenny surrounded by history and in troubled times, I am glad to still be around to view your History Hit videos, to re-visit so much of what I learned at school just through books and limited pictures at the time. What it would have been like to have the KZhead content available today, back then for my education. The hope that young people today learn from history, understand how life was and has improved. People today don't know what it was like to be cold all the time on these sailing ships, salt water burned into their skin, the clothes on their backs made from cotton, wool, flax or leather, rotting off their backs and leaving their homes in the UK for a couple of years in some cases. Different times, tough times, in some ways better times and exciting times. Too many people today are wrapped up in cotton wool !
Patrick O'Brian was a master of terms and details. It is sad they never did any other of his books. Would make a great series.
It probably wojld be a pain to adapt as he wasn't one for thinking about plot. Most of the books meander like real life so wouldn't work well adapted into a series. This film worked because peter weir knew his stuff backwards. Don't think anyone could do a better job
@@megan14.85 Also, the director would have to continue with having an Aubrey throughout like Crowe. Although Crowe is excellent, he is nothing like the Jack Aubrey of the books. And Maturin is too complex to portray on screen. Then there is the particular humour of )/Brian that would be hard to translate to screen without it becoming farce at times.
Dan you are probably one of my favourite history pundits, keep up the good work my man
I've been wanting a dive into Master and Commander like this for a long time! One of my favorite movies! They used this movie in my Naval Science class for a lesson in historical naval combat and life at sea because they got so much right.
My friend Gord Laco, former Royal Canadian Naval Reserve, officer was the technical advisor in this movie and the later Greyhound
Thank you for covering this movie. I like to think that Patrick O'Brian would have approved of the movie and how it sampled dialog and events from some 15 of the 21 Aubrey/Maturin series books. From the amazingly detailed ships, the events and the interactions of the crew, picked from so many of his books and melted into a trully moving story. Having started reading the series in the late 80's, anticipating each new novel as it was announced, it was very difficult to read 21, knowing that O'Brian did not live to finish it, and that we would have no more stories of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin. Watching the movie is always very moving. If anyone is new to the series, I highly recommend searching for the audio books narrated by Patrick Tull, who is also sadly no longer with us, and who brought so many thrilling book series to life, including Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series. He will forever be the voices of the Master and Commander series to me.
I watched this film M&C on dvd 100s of times in tech school, and continue to watch it. Its soothing feels like home. A great film to traspose yourself into another time
I love authentic movies like this , details are superbly done and the writing is brilliant and the acting is top notch .
Watched it many years ago, and still got hyped just by watching the small sequences in the video
I loved this movie, although it was difficult to watch at certain times. Very gritty. Hearing your commentary made me appreciate it even more. Thank you.
Capt Aubrey is hardcore - this film always gets my chest puffed up with British pride - every time.
actually his friend stephen is far more dangerous..if you read the books 21 of them
If you read some of the things about the British navy of the time (defender of the slave trade, and systematic r*p*r of enslaved black women, not to mention enabling the exploiting of India) you would probably change your mind - unless your a psychopath.
@@highcountrydelatite You know what , that's a splendid idea - thanks for the idea , I'm going to get the entire series.
@@tommyxbones5126 great books put in shelf with the movie and a shoo model and globe. You will find his friend Stephen far more dangerous deadlier. He is the admiralty highest valued spy . Unpaid. Rich beyond belief later. And so on. I'll let you enjoy
One of my favorite scenes of Aubrey’s leadership is after the mid has has arm amputated and is understandably down, the Capt presents him with a book about the God at Sea, Lord Nelson, who is depicted as also having lost an arm. The subtext and leadership is beautiful.
I love this movie, and it comes from my favorite books series of all time. That said, there are two details of the opening engagement that really bother me in the film, which I’m surprised the historian did not mention. 1. A midshipman could not possibly make the call to beat to quarters. Jack would have turned him before the mast for it. Not even the first lieutenant could make that call. The officer of the watch would wake the captain who would assess the situation. 2. A broadside at the range of that first one would be lucky to score even one hit, and that would be from a ball spent from skipping across the water.
you make the most complex subjects super relatable!
thank you so much for doing this. this is such a joy to watch some of this movie with your explanation. you did a fabulous job. you made my day.
I've seen this film many times, and while likely see it many times more. Superb piece of cinema.
Great commentary! A very under appreciated movie that is one of the best depictions of British naval action during that period.
34:52 I've always loved this little callback to the first battle scene, Captain Aubrey notices and heaves the midshipman to his feet once again.
If you would have watched it, (I have seen this film several hundred times) the reason they are rowing is not to being becalmed, but because their rudder was 'shorn away'. They have no steering. Greatest film of all time!
Fantastic film by a great director but it's Patrick O'Brien's attention to historical detail that gives the film its authenticity. Great score too, Vaughan Williams 'Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis' over the man drowning in the storm is incredibly moving.
Thank you! Love the movie, love the format!
Thank you for this wonderful analysis of one of the most wonderful and underrated movies of all time! I love Master and Commander (and have reread the entire book series a dozen times over the past 20+ years), and your enthusiasm for it is so wonderful to experience. I agree that the film is a masterpiece and the finest example of naval life and battles ever put on film (thanks largely to director Peter Weir).
This movie gives me chills and tears all at once. It's one of the all-time best out there!
It will forever be one of my favorites. Felt like I stepped aboard watching in theaters, I pretty much had the theater to myself, it was magical
Just in time! I showed this movie to my high school history students just last Wednesday and Thursday so I'm excited to share this with them tomorrow as well!
The first time I saw this movie it had a feel of authenticity for me. Thank you for explaining why this was the right feeling.
One of my top 3 of all time. Absolutely brilliant.
Loved this analysis. One of my favorite movies.
I saw this in the theater in 2003, and emerged feeling like I'd seen both a documentary and a great story. No other movie has done that as well. Watching it multiple times, it always feels fresh, and inspired me to read the rewarding series of novels it was based on.
Excellent! Great analysis. Thank you.
I love thos movie so much that every appretation of this one lightens my heart.... So i started reading the first book by Patrick O'Brian, called "Master and Commander" and fallen in love with it. But since i'm not a english mother tounge, i felt like Dr. Maturin and litteraly not understanding anything of the naval slangs and customs. Pretty sure this was indented. But now, after completing the first book and reading the next ones, these books are a gem among books. Recommended to everyone who likes the movie, who's interested in royal navy life during the napoleonic era, and likes good old adventures. :D Props to you, History Hit, great video and great channel. Keep doing so. ❤
great video Dan about a brilliant and often overlooked film
One of my all time favourite movies I’m glad Dan finds it historically accurate, it’s a masterpiece
This movie is a masterpiece. I rewatched last year and the thing I was struck by was the strength of the human drama. Yes there is action but this is not an action movie. The focus of the story is the men who constitute the ship. Taika Waititi was once asked what his favorite romantic movie was and he responded "Master and Commander". It's obviously a flippant and humorous response but there is something in that answer.
I have to admit when i first saw Dan he was with his Dad doing Battlefield Britain I think, and i thought he was riding his Dad's coattails, but then he did Empire of the Seas and I was sold. I love that Doc. I ripped it to audio and it's one of my all time favorite. It has to be in the thousands of times I watched or listened to it. and will continue. I love this stuff.
Sooooo good!!! Both the movie and the video. Dan Snow, you da Historyman
The last battle scene described in the segment around 30:00 is even more accurate in detail than Prof. Snow shows here. In the movie, in a long shot as the _Acheron_ bears down on the _Surprise_ we see that the French ship 's rigging is in "fighting trim". But _Surprise_ has *no top gallant masts* aloft at all! This would have been part of the disguise, since whalers did not carry top gallants. It's a tiny detail, but for those of us who've circumnavigated the O'Brian Canon multiple times, it is intensely satisfying. While I have serious issues with aspects of this movie -- how the plot was cobbled together from multiple books, that I think Bettany is miscast as Maturin (Gabriel Byrne would have been my first choice), etc. -- I love this film. The historical accuracy is astounding.
Another cool fact about this movie is they actually went aboard wooden ships and recorded actual ship noises both forward and aft. It makes for some impressive scenes. This movie deserves a lot of love. It's one of my favorite movies of all time.
A real shame the sequel was never made
No, I don't agree with that. I think this movie said it all.
All of what?! This is based on a series of books - there were many more stories to tell.@@giselematthews7949
@@giselematthews7949 Plenty of material left in the Aubrey-Maturin series of books. But maybe there's this bitter-sweet realization that as there will not be a sequel, which in a way elevates this one even more. Particularly considering most sequels are disappointing.
Excellent review of one of my favorite movies. It inspired me to buy and read all 21 books in the series!
One of my favorite films of all time
I saw this one on release. One of those nights where I decided to go to the cinema (because it wasn't necessary to take out a mortgage to do so, unlike now!) and, being a navy buff, picked Master and Commander to watch. Awesome to see it on the big screen when I had no idea what I was going to get :D
One of the greatest historical movies ever and so rewatch able. I’ve seen it like 20 times
Amazing Deep dive - thanks Dan
Awesome review!