Sharpe (TV Series)
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Sharpe is a series of TV movies based on the novels by Bernard Cornwell featuring the character of Richard Sharpe focusing on his adventures in the Napoleonic Wars. Initially, Paul McGann was cast in the title role; however, two days into filming of the first episode, McGann injured his knee playing football and was forced to withdraw. By the time production was ready to start again, Sean Bean became available and took on the role. The series was shot mainly in Turkey and the Crimea, although some filming was also done in England, Spain and Portugal.
In 2004, as part of ITV's new set of drama, it was announced that ITV intended to produce new episodes of Sharpe, loosely based on his time in India, with Sean Bean continuing his role. Sharpe's Challenge is a 2 part adventure; part 1 premiered on ITV1 at 9.00pm on the 23rd April 2006, with part 2 being shown on the 24th at 9.00pm. More gory than earlier series, BBC America will broadcast Sharpe sometime in 2006. The UK (Region 2) DVD is due for release on the 1st May 2006.
Sharpe's full title by the end of the series was Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Sharpe.
Discrepancies
There are some differences between the series and the novels. For instance, in the books, Sharpe was born in Wapping in London and had dark hair. Sean Bean however is blond and is from Sheffield, so the character in the series speaks with a pronounced Sheffield accent (although in the books, the issue with Sharpe's northern accent and roots has been addressed as having him escape from London to Yorkshire when he was a teenager to avoid vengeance for a murder that he had committed in London).
It should be noted that Bernard Cornwell, author of the Sharpe novels, was rumoured to be unimpressed by the casting of Bean in the role of Sharpe, possibly due to the obvious discrepancies mentioned above. Bean's performances however, so impressed Cornwell that he was entirely won over, so much so that he dedicated one of the novels, Sharpe's Battle, "to Sean Bean".
In the first episode of the series, Sharpe is a sergeant in the 95th Rifles serving in Portugal in 1809 when he saves the life of Sir Arthur Wellesley from a group of French cavalry, after which Wellesley gives Sharpe a commission. In the books, this event occurs in India during the Battle of Assaye while Sharpe was serving in the 33rd Foot. In the most recent episode of the series, Sharpe's Challenge, Sharpe states that Lucille has died, despite previous books indicating that she outlives him. It should also be noted that the characters of Sergeant Bickerstaff and General William Dodd are killed off in this programme. Sharpe's Challenge is a composite of the three prequels that are set in India, creating a number of discrepancies since the TV version is set after the events at Waterloo. The character of Bickerstaff in the books was Hakeswill, who was killed off in Sharpe's Enemy, which is why the rivalry between Sharpe and Bickerstaff is a little forced. Bickerstaff is made all the more confusing by the fact that the actor playing Bickerstaff, Peter Hugo-Daly, had previously played Sergeant Rodd in Sharpe's Gold, another unruly Sergeant who took a dislike to Sharpe.
The television series also makes more use of supporting characters in the soldiers Sharpe commands over, whilst in the books Harper is the only such supporting character.
Episodes
- Sharpe's Rifles - Portugal, 1809 (broadcast 1993)
- Sharpe's Eagle - Spain, 1809 (broadcast 1993)
- Sharpe's Company - Spain, 1812 (broadcast 1994)
- Sharpe's Enemy - Portugal, 1813 (broadcast 1994)
- Sharpe's Honour - Spain, 1813 (broadcast 1994)
- Sharpe's Gold - Spain, 1813 (broadcast 1995)
- Sharpe's Battle - Pyrennees, 1813 (broadcast 1995)
- Sharpe's Sword - Franco-Spanish border, 1813 (broadcast 1995)
- Sharpe's Regiment - Britain, 1813 (broadcast 1996)
- Sharpe's Siege - France, 1813 (broadcast 1996)
- Sharpe's Mission - France, 1813 (broadcast 1996)
- Sharpe's Revenge - France, 1814 (broadcast 1997)
- Sharpe's Justice - Britain, 1814 (broadcast 1997)
- Sharpe's Waterloo - Waterloo, 1815 (broadcast 1997)
- Sharpe: The Legend - video compilation of series highlights (released 1997)
- Sharpe's Challenge - India, 1817 (broadcast date 23-24 April 2006)
Cast & Crew
- Directed by: Tom Clegg
- Produced By: Malcolm Craddock, Muir Sutherland
- Writing Credits:
- *Novels: Bernard Cornwell
- *Screenplays:
- :Eoghan Harris (8/15)
- :Charles Wood (2/15)
- :Russell Lewis (2/15)
- :Nigel Kneale (1/15)
- :Colin MacDonald (1/15)
- :Patrick Harbinson (1/15) Cast
- Lieutenant Colonel Richard Sharpe: Sean Bean (1993-97, 2006)
- Regimental Sergeant Major Patrick Harper: Daragh O'Malley (1993-97, 2006)
- Rifleman Francis Cooper: Michael Mears (1993-95)
- Sergeant Daniel Hagman: John Tams (1993-97)
- Sergeant Harris: Jason Salkey (1993-96, 1997)
- Rifleman Isiah Tongue: Paul Trussell (1993)
- Rifleman Ben Perkins: Lyndon Davies (1993-95)
- Sir Arthur Wellesley, later Lord Wellington: David Troughton (1993); Hugh Fraser (1994-97, 2006)
- Major Michael Hogan: Brian Cox (1993)
- Colonel William Lawford: Martin Jacobs (1993); Benedict Taylor (1996)
- Comandante Teresa Moreno: Assumpta Serna (1994-95)
- Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson: Michael Cochrane (1993, 1995, 1996, 2006)
- Captain William Frederickson: Philip Whitchurch (1994, 1996, 1997)
- Major Nairn: Michael Byrne (1994)
- Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill: Pete Postlethwaite (1994)
- Major Pierre Ducos: Féodor Atkine (1994, 1996, 1997)
- Lady Isabella Farthingdale: Elizabeth Hurley (1994)
- Ramona: Diana Perez (1994-96, 2006)
- La Marquesa: Alice Krige (1994)
- Major Mungo Munro: Hugh Ross (1995)
- General Maurice Calvet: Olivier Pierre (1996); John Benfield (1997)
- Major General Ross: James Laurenson (1996-97)
- Lady Anne Camoynes: Caroline Langrishe (1996, 1997)
- Jane Gibbons: Abigail Cruttenden (1996-97)
- Lord John Rossendale: Alexander Armstrong (1996); Alexis Denisof (1997)
- Lucille: Cécile Paoli (1997)
- Prince William of Orange: Paul Bettany (1997)
See also
External links
- [itv.com - Drama - Sharpe]
- [95th (Rifle) Regiment of Foot - Battle Re-enactment and Living History]
- [95th (Rifle) Regiment of Foot "The 95th Rifles" Living History Society]
- [Sharpe Appreciation Society]
- [The Video Diaries of Rifleman Harris]
- [Trailers, Audio Clips, and Plot Summaries]
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