MovieChat Forums > Hornblower: Mutiny (2001) Discussion > David Warner (Captain Sawyer) - Possible...

David Warner (Captain Sawyer) - Possible minor spoiler

posted 20 years ago by cawinnie
23 replies | jump to latest

Has David Warner (Captain Sawyer) ever played anything other than a nasty, mean antagonist? Talk about someone you love to hate.

Also, in the Mutiny (and Retribution as well), could anything have gone more wrong with poor Hornblower? I've never seen him put more to the test than in these two. I friend of mine thought Hornblower had a problem with pride (he hadn't seen Mutiny or Retribution when he told me that). Well, if he had pride, he did a good job swallowing it. I personally wouldn't have the stomach or the wits to keep me out of more trouble.

Kudos for C.S. Forrester for such amazing plots. The jaws of my wife and I kept dropping lower and lower every time something else went bad.

[–] musicguru2121 19 years ago

Actually, David Warner (Captain Sawyer) has played a good guy in at least one movie I've seen. In Wing Commander (basically a movie with the plot of a video game, but not as bad as some stuff Hollywood spits out) he plays the Commander of the entire space fleet (can't remember what it was called off hand) and he's a good guy. However, I don't recall seeing him play a protagonist in anything else. Hated him in Titanic, though, but he was second to Billy Zane's character in that one.

[–] macdaramcginty 19 years ago

he also plays a decent German officer in Cross of Iron with james Coburn in the lead role.

[–] teigeng 19 years ago

He's not a mean, nasty antagonist in the Omen, but I wouldn't really call him much of protagonist either

[–] teamwak 18 years ago

He has played many star trek charactures including the Cardasian that torures Capt Pickard for 2 episodes "There are 5 lights!!", but my favourite evil David Warner characture is the man servant of Billy Zane in Titanic. Great role.

[–] Kill_joy 18 years ago

How can you forget David Warner's most evil role of all, as the Evil Genius in Time Bandits?

[–] coulombe 17 years ago

Mr. Warner has played some "good guys" as noted in other responses. He was especially uplifting as Klingon Chancellor Gorkon. He has shown great depth of character in his ability to perform as a good guy, bad guy and a REALLY bad guy.

In fact, for my money, if they couldn't have got Sir Anthony Hopkins to play Hannibal Lecter, Mr. Warner could have done it handily. It would certainly not be the same as Sir Anthony's portrayal, but in the words of another Klingon, "It would have been glorious!"

Such are his magnificent abilities that I could easily envision David Warner playing Ferrari, Major Strasser OR Captain Renault in a "Casablanca" remake, for example..... Hmmmmmm.....

[–] phillyspice 18 years ago

Actually, David Warner plays a very likeable Bob Cratchit in the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol". That's the first movie I ever saw him in, so it was quite a shock to see him as such a meanie in this one...

[–] RamblerReb 18 years ago

Warner plays the human ambassador to the Planet of Galactic Peace in Star Trek V and the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon in ST VI, both sympathetic characters. Also, Dr. Alfred Necessiter, the bumbling brain surgeon in "The Man With Two Brains," whose greatest crime was his choice of interior decorator.

[–] loc234 18 years ago

I think David Warner also played a protagonist as Arago in "The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne". He was Verne's mentor I believe. :)

Hornblower, trouble with pride? Never. hehe. The man swallows it like nautious tasting cough medication, otherwise I doubt he would have been able to rise in ranks so quickly as he as. Though I would say he may have some trouble in terms of being a tad bit too modest at times, especially when he has committed acts of enormous bravery.

I agree that C.S. Forrester is an amazing writer. Not only are his plots amazing, but his character sketch for Horatio really is exemplery; it portrays the growth of a young man who has little to no experience of life at sea (as we already know from "An Even Chance") aside from books, into a leader of men. He is not a flawless character either, allowing us to see him to be more human and thusly subjected to the same emotions we would feel if we were presented in the same situation. But what he does do is push forward the admirable qualities of loyalty (to a certain degree of course :) And because this is a spoiler free thread, I won't voice my opinion on him in Mutiny/Rebribution ), honour, responsibility, and many more attributes associated with that of a good leader. All this is something that I find lacking in most of todays primetime television, I am not saying lacking completely, but there are few productions such as these and if there are, they're not advertised very widely. I do hope they continue to make more of Hornblower series after "Duty" :)

[–] lovecraftfan 18 years ago

DW was also the friendly father in the company of wolves

[–] lovecraftfan 18 years ago

. . . And the Dr Wren [shrink] from -in the mouth of madness

[–] billy_t_kid 17 years ago

I cant believ no-one has mentioned he played one of the best evil characters of the 80's, he was the MCP Programme in TRON!!

He had near enough total control of an tire computer world, he was brilliant!!

[–] SharonTheHarper 16 years ago

I agree that David Warner played the part of Capt. Sawyer brilliantly but this character wasn't actually evil - he was mentally ill.

The problem was that in his position no-one really had the authority to do anything about it. The Admiralty obviously never saw his erratic behaviour and complaints would have seemed to them like griping at hard work. Especially as his paranoia only extended to his officers - a very small number of people.

[–] Bernnard_Black 16 years ago

Warner also played a brillianly done Bob Cratchit in one of the many versions of "A Christmas Carol". Definately a good guy, there.

[–] JPfanatic93 16 years ago

As Chancellor Gorkon Warner is a very likeable guy, but when you've seen him as Gul Madred torturing Picard in vile ways that's the role that you'll remember the most.

[–] superturbo4 15 years ago

Ironically, warner is known for being in two titanic films. Both James Cameron's 1997 Titanic and the 1979; "S.O.S. Titanic". In S.O.S. Titanic he definitely plays a protagonist character, while in Cameron's movie he plays a rather nasty character all together!

Although he played villainous characters in most of his well known roles, i'd credit him for being a well balanced actor who's done science fiction/fantasy roles equal amounts of justice over the years and is generally knwon to be a great actor anyways!

The problem was that in his position no-one really had the authority to do anything about it. The Admiralty obviously never saw his erratic behaviour and complaints would have seemed to them like griping at hard work. Especially as his paranoia only extended to his officers - a very small number of people.

Agreed! Thats how it came across to me, when i saw The 'Hornblower' munity TV movie.

How exactly does one question authority in the old british Navy/Military, when there are heavy fines and harsh punishments protecting duty officers/lords and the rich folks back then, from the common hard working; working class types who serve under them who come under their often tyrannical rule and heavily bias attitudes!

Plenty of times, the officers of navel ships, abused their men and wrok force and got away with it even when ship capatains and officers weren't mentally ill or evil at all.

David Warner best roles....

* Evil Genius - Time Bandits

* The Photographer - The Omen

* Stark - Tron

* Henchman (can' remember character name off the top of my head) - Titanic

* Chancellor Gorkon - Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country

* Cardassian - Star Trek: TNG - Season 5 episodes

ST4

"He is one, we are three, it is the strength of three that will defeat him...together. General Zod"

[–] hranisius 15 years ago

Sorry, the most important question is not discussed yet:

WHO PUSHED CAPTAIN SAWYER DOWN INTO THE BOX?

[–] glovebox 15 years ago

Nobody - he was backing away from Hornblower and fell backwards down the hatch.

[–] superturbo4 15 years ago

Look at the 'End Credits', David Warner also voiced the MCP!

Different character yes, but still Warner did both roles. Voices can be manipulated in Post-Production!

ST4

"He is one, we are three, it is the strength of three that will defeat him...together. General Zod"

[–] jglapin 10 years ago

That is how I saw it. The unfortunate Midshipman attempted to grab him before he fell but the scene may have been left intentionally vague.

[–] glovebox 15 years ago

Er,no...actually he played Sark, the nasty boot-boy of the MCP, not the MCP itself. The MCP was a big spinning cylinder with huge nostrils, which also made a guest appearance in the 'Jew-scouts' episode of South Park!

[–] Conspirator_Slash 15 years ago

David Warner? He's THAT David Warner?

Looking at his pics as sawyer, I didn't recognize him. :D

Lovable character? Try The Ballad of Cable Hogue - he's a funny priest who um, forcinates a lot.

Starry Vere, God bless you!

[–] Sheriff_Of_Nottingham 15 years ago

Warner played Jack the Ripper in Time After Time.