Sharpe's Rifles (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Bernard Cornwell (novel)
Eoghan Harris (writer)

Release Date:

5 May 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | History | War

Plot:

In the Penisular War, a British seargent is field promoted to a lieutenant in charge of a disrespectful rifle company.

Plot Keywords:

Portugal | 1800s | Napoleonic Wars | Fictional Biography | Military

Cast

Sean Bean	...	Lt. Richard Sharpe
Brian Cox	...	Maj. Michael Hogan
Daragh O'Malley	...	Sgt. Patrick Harper
Assumpta Serna	...	Teresa Moreno
David Troughton	...	General Sir Arthur Wellesley
Simón Andreu	...	Major Blas Vivar
Michael Mears	...	Rifleman Cooper
John Tams	...	Rifleman Daniel Hagman
Jason Salkey	...	Rifleman Harris
Paul Trussell	...	Rifleman Isaiah Tongue
Lyndon Davies	...	Rifleman Perkins
Julian Fellowes	...	Major Dunnett
Tim Bentinck	...	Captain Murray
Richard Ireson	...	Sgt. Williams
Martin Jacobs	...	Colonel Lawford

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Spanish | French | Yiddish | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Crimea, Ukraine

Company:

Celtic Films Entertainment

Trivia:

The "Chosen Men", although fact based, were not a unit but the equivalent of Lance Corporals. The producers brought them together so that Sharpe's character would have a regular team around him, with a sense of camaraderie.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the abandoned cottage, Harper bends and reacts to Sharpe's kick to his groin a split second before Sharpe's foot actually connects, even though Harper's face is turned away looking behind him.

Quotes:

Teresa: [both are speaking in Spanish about Sharpe] Be careful, he's very clever.
Major Blas Vivar: But his men don't like him.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Sharpe's Mission (1996) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Over the Hills and Far Away

Fun! Now Go Read the Book!

What red-blooded girl could argue with 102 minutes of a mud-smeared Sean Bean swashbuckling in tight breeches? (Excuse me while I have an attack of the vapors...) It's a fun movie with a lot of action and great costumes, acting, and production values. BUT. . . I think the strong point of this series of movies is that it's likely to make you want to read the series of novels by Bernard Cornwell. Even for people who don't normally like to read historical/military fiction, they're a rollicking great read and packed with fascinating detail and character development. The movie is a tasty appetizer; the book is a satisfying meal. In this case, watching the movie won't ruin the book for you, and vice versa. Differences aside, they're done in the same spirit.