The film is based on the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian and includes episodes from several novels in the series. The plot of the film, in which Aubrey in HMS Surprise chases an enemy frigate round Cape Horn into the Pacific, is based loosely on The Far Side of the World, but the American frigate USS Norfolk in the book becomes the French privateer Acheron in the film. The episode of deception of the enemy by means of a raft bearing lanterns is taken from from Master and Commander; the episode in which Maturin operates on himself to remove a bullet is taken from HMS Surprise.
The movie's success and the wide-open ending has led to credible speculation about a sequel, although it is not known whether Weir would wish to direct.
The film's DVD release contains behind-the-scenes material giving useful insights into the filmmmaking process. Some of the filming actually took place at sea on board Rose (a reproduction of the 18th centuryfrigate HMS Rose), while other scenes were shot on a full-scale replica mounted on gimbals in a large tank. A storm sequence was enhanced using digitally-composited footage of waves actually shot on board a sailing ship rounding Cape Horn. All of the actors were given a thorough grounding in the naval life of the period in order to make their performances as authentic as possible.
Trivia
The manoeuver consisting in setting up a decoy a night by planting a big fanal on a small boat was executed by the French privateer Robert Surcouf to successfully escape the British frigate HMS Sybille. The same is featured in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, where (ironically enough) it is the HMS Surprise which escapes the Acheron using this trick.
External links
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311113/) at the Internet Movie Database
Official 20th Century Fox web site (http://www.masterandcommanderthefarsideoftheworld.com/)
Feeds |
Contact