| O.P.A.K. |
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| Organization for the Preservation of Archie Kennedy |
| Who the heck is Archie Kennedy? |
| Archie is the best friend/sidekick of Horatio Hornblower, the hero of the acclaimed miniseries of the same name. Having become an avid fan of the series this summer, I felt I needed a way to express my love of the films, and the net looked like the best outlet. Hence, this page. |
| Why Archie? |
| Archie is a particularly interesting character, first and foremost because he basically doesn't appear in the books. The author, C.S. Forester, mentions a certain Midshipman Kennedy, but only about three times. He has two lines. The film-makers, however, decided that having a best friend would make the godlike, do-no-wrong Hornblower seem more human, and Archie was born. But Archie is much more than the wise-cracking, comic-relief cliche that defines so many sidekicks. He is an extremely complex character, whose brutal history and many flaws counterbalance a ready wit, biting sense of humor, and a deep devotion to his friend Horatio. And he is undeniably adorable. |
| Why does he need preserving? |
| Despite a serious self-esteem problem and a tendency to get into scrapes, the second installment of Hornblower finds Kennedy a commisioned lieutenant, much more sure of himself and with more of an "action hero" role. However, at the end of "Retribution", the film-makers saw fit to dispose of Mr. Kennedy in a most inhumane manner, due, probably, to the fact that he'd never been an original character in the first place and it was probably getting hard to keep working him into stories he was never meant to be in. Still, it's an injustice, and I'm scarred for life. This page is my attempt to preserve Archie's good name and keep his spirit alive! |
| How can I help? |
| Spread the word! Rent the movies, make everyone you know watch them, annoy your friends by saying things like "the man's bedeviled!", "you keep prevaricating", and "welcome to Purgatory!". Visit the Archieology 101 site, the HH fanfic site (make sure to read all the AU - alternate universe - fics, and heck, write some yourself!), any A.K. page. Make a shrine. Whatever. (list of websites provided at the bottom of this page) |
| Who plays Archie? |
| Archie Kennedy is portrayed by British actor Jamie Bamber. He's acquired a sizeable following due to his brilliant performance in the Hornblower series, and can be seen in December on the Sci/Fi channel in the upcoming remake of "Battlestar Galactica". |
| Mission Statement |
| Archie Kennedy is, hands down, an incredible man. Someone who endured terrible hardships including severe physical and emotional abuse, his ability to retaliate, to live fully and with compassion, and to use his experiences as positive tools for personal growth, is remarkably moving and inspiring. My purpose in starting OPAK is to raise public awareness of all things Archie - from his easy grin to his incredible reserve of inner strength, his crusade for justice, to his undying loyalty. For you see, I have a dream that one day the world will discover the beauty that is Archie and live each day following his example. So without further ado, I would like to introduce to you my hero. |
| FAQ |
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| Links: |
| Everything you ever wanted to know about the character Archie Kennedy |
| Great Hornblower fanfiction, with Archie prominently featured in many stories |
| Very amusing summaries of the films, with high-resolution screencap galleries |
| The best JB site out there, with extensive HH galleries that focus solely on Archie |
| Brochure |