Don asked a question regarding American and British/European Frigates of the period the film is set.

As Walrus has pointed out late 1700's Frigates in Europe were between 28 to 36 gun warships. Their primary role was to serve as "the eyes of the fleet". America did not possess a deep water navy her Frigates mounted 44 guns.

Into the early 1800's British Frigates mounted between 36 and 38 guns. But the main difference was not in the number of guns but also in the type of guns mounted. Nelson's adage (epitomised by his final signal at Trafalgar "Close Action") caused the Royal Navy to arm their Frigates with a disproportionate number of carronades (very light guns that fired an enormous weight of shot/chain shot/Grape.
Their disadvantage however was that the effective range was reduced.

During the war of 1812, the American 44's mounted long guns and could stand off the 36-38 gun British frigates and disable them before closing for the kill. To counter this British Frigate captains were ordered not to engage unless the American 44 was outnumbered 2 to 1. Single ship actions did take place and some of those actions could only be described as epic. Royal Navy tactics proved successful, apart from very rare raids, the American Navy was penned in American east coast ports. This had one significant drawback, experienced crews, arms and commanders were released for service on the Great Lakes, where the American Navy proved extremely effective.

The Royal Navy's 74's of the time were the real killing ships of the era. Most favoured by the commanding officers were French 74's captured in the early part of the French Revolutionary War, they were better built and the casting of their guns was better. Manned by British sailors they could be fought better than any other warship of their time.