Sharpe (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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, in co-production with BBC America, 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 broadcast Sharpe in September 2006.

At a book signing in Bath (11th October 2006) Bernard Cornwell revealed that there were plans by ITV to film two more Sharpe episodes . Filming was supposed to start in April, but was postponed due to the resignation of ITV's chief executive at which point production was pushed back to September. However, Sean Bean was unavailable due to other commitments and so production has been postponed once more. When asked which stories were pencilled in, Bernard Cornwell said that he believed that they were producing two new stories specially for television.

Sharpe's full title by the end of the series was Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Sharpe.

1 Discrepancies
2 Episodes
3 Cast & Crew
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Discrepancies

Brian Cox as Major Michael Hogan and Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe in "Sharpe's Eagle."

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. It should be borne in mind that Bean was not the original actor chosen. 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. However, this has happened in the past as Julian Fellowes played Major Warren Dunnett in Sharpe's Rifles and the Prince Regent in Sharpe's Regiment. Tony Haygarth played "Marshal" Pot-au-Feu in Sharpe's Enemy and Sir Willoughby Parfitt in Sharpe's Justice.

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. This led to the addition of Harris and Perkins as Riflmen in later Cornwell books, notably Sharpe's Battle, which was written after the television series had commenced.

[edit] Episodes

Sharpe's Rifles - Portugal, 1809 (broadcast May 5, 1993)
Sharpe's Eagle - Spain, 1809 (broadcast May 12, 1993)

Sharpe's Company - Spain, 1812 (broadcast May 25, 1994)
Sharpe's Enemy - Portugal, 1813 (broadcast June 1, 1994)
Sharpe's Honour - Spain, 1813 (broadcast June 8, 1994)

Sharpe's Gold - Spain, 1813 (broadcast April 12, 1995)
Sharpe's Battle - Pyrennees, 1813 (broadcast April 19, 1995)
Sharpe's Sword - Franco-Spanish border, 1813 (broadcast April 26, 1995)

Sharpe's Regiment - Britain, 1813 (broadcast May 1, 1996)
Sharpe's Siege - France, 1813 (broadcast May 8, 1996)
Sharpe's Mission - France, 1813 (broadcast May 15, 1996)

Sharpe's Revenge - France, 1814 (broadcast May 7, 1997)
Sharpe's Justice - Britain, 1814 (broadcast May 14, 1997)
Sharpe's Waterloo - Waterloo, 1815 (broadcast May 21, 1997)

Sharpe: The Legend - video compilation of series highlights (released 1997)

Sharpe's Challenge - India, 1817 (broadcast April 23 & 24, 2006)

[edit] Cast & Crew

Directed by: Tom Clegg
Produced By: Malcolm Craddock, Muir Sutherland
Writing Credits:

Novels: Bernard Cornwell
Screenplays:

Eoghan Harris (8/15)

Charles Wood (3/15)

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)

Chosen Men

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)

Supporting Characters

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/General 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 (Gonzalez) Harper: Diana Perez (1994-96, 2006)
La Marquesa de Casares el Grande y Melida Sadaba: Alice Krige (1994)
Major Mungo Munro: Hugh Ross (1995)
General Jean-Baptiste Calvet: Olivier Pierre (1996); John Benfield (1997)
Major General Hector 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 Castineau, Madame la Vicomtessa de Seleglise: Cécile Paoli (1997)
Prince William of Orange: Paul Bettany (1997)