Any film-maker would be pleased to land box-office favourite Russell Crowe to star in their blockbuster, but you'd have thought someone would have asked a few questions first.
 Questions like, Do you suffer from sea-sickness? Are you scared of heights? Can you play the violin? For Russell is not good with any of these. Yet he has to cope with all of them for Master & Commander : The far side of the World, an epic adventure on the high seas. The Gladiator star had to go with the flow as the waves crashed round him, desperately trying to calm his queasy tummy by taking sea-sickness pills. Rrefusing a stunt double, he climbed to the top of the rigging of his 19th century British naval ship - not ideal for someone with a fear of heights. The movie's director Peter Weir feels Crowe's efforts in conquering his fears were more than worthwhile. For not only is the film expected to do bumper business at the box-office, it's already being tipped for success at the Oscars. It should certainly appeal to anyone who enjoyed Hornblower on the small screen. This has similarities but is 100 times bigger and bolder, and the sight of Crowe in his tight breeches, white linen shirt and blue dress coat should appeal to his female admirers. "We're certainly proud of what we've achieved here," says the 39-year-old New Zealand-born star. "I just hope cinema-goers enjoy the story." Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars, he plays Royal Navy Captain Jack "Lucky" Aubrey who leads the crew of the HMS Surprise on an epic chase to destroy the larger enemy ship Acheron. He is aided, and sometimes tested, by his unlikely best friend, the ship's doctor Stephen Maturin, played by Paul Bettany. They have different perspectives of the world but need each other and connect through their love of music. When the doctor plays his cello and the captain plays his violin the story offers a tender contrast to the flying cannonballs in the heat of battle. In order to prepare for these musical interludes, tough guy Crowe took lessons with the Australian Chamber Orchestra director and lead violinist Richard Tognetti, whom the actor describes as the most magnificent violinist Australia has ever produced. Crowe's mentor says: "He has a formidable power of concentration and within a short space of time was able to incorporate the violin into his physical being." Getting to grips with the violin was less stressful for Crowe than conquering the high seas. He says: "At first I was using travel sickness pills but you can't be taking pills and doing lines on camera, so I just had to get on with it. Same with climbing the rigging in a choppy sea - that was the worst of both worlds. "I have never been very good on boats but I was among the few who didn't actually throw up." Rugged Russell, who grew his hair long so that it could be pulled back and tied in a ponytail for the film, did lots of preparation for the role. "I feel as though I have read every book there is on the Lord Nelson era of the British navy," he says. "However, there is only so much that preparation can do for you. "You can read the books, do your research and rehearse your lines. But it's not until you step on to the deck in full uniform that you feel complete. "It gives you that certain extra something." He has nothing but admiration for the real-life sailors who spent their lives on frigates such as the Surprise. "They were like the astronauts of their day," he muses. "They set out on epic, dangerous voyages and lived in a confined space for months at a time. You are basically riding a piece of wood against the force of the ocean. "Okay, sometimes nature is working for you - but you are always at its mercy." The film contains graphic images of what nature can do. Amazing special effects were employed to conjure up storm scenes when the Surprise takes a battering. This scene alone took 11 days to film in Mexico - in the same tank, or rather, man-made lake, that was used for Titanic. Master & Commander, which cost $135m to make, is based on one of a series of novels by the late Patrick O'Brien, who has already sold three million copies in Britain and twice as many in America. By the time of his death three years ago, at the age of 85, he had written more than 20 stories about Aubrey, leaving plenty of scope for "Lucky" to return to the silver screen at a future date. | 
Movie double-acts come in all shapes and sizes ...and with varying degrees of success.
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