Sharpe's Sword (1995) (TV)

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Bernard Cornwell (novel)
Eoghan Harris (writer)

Release Date:

15 July 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | History | War

Plot:

Sharpe is tasked to protect the most important spy in Lord Wellington's network, but domestic issues, a traumatized young girl, and possible French spies all threaten his success. |

Plot Keywords:

Sergeant | Colonel | Fictional Biography | Historical | Military

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Sean Bean	...	Major Richard Sharpe
Daragh O'Malley	...	Sgt. Patrick Harper
John Tams	...	Rifleman Hagman
Jason Salkey	...	Rifleman Harris
Emily Mortimer	...	Lass
Patrick Fierry	...	Colonel Leroux
James Purefoy	...	Lord Jack Spears
Stephen Moore	...	Colonel Berkeley
Hugh Ross	...	Major Mungo Munro
Michael Cochrane	...	Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson
John Kavanagh	...	Father Curtis
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Don Felipe
Diana Perez	...	Ramona
Pat Laffan	...	Sgt. Connelly
Walter McMonagle	...	Father O'Sullivan

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | Latin

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-13

Filming Locations:

Portugal

Company:

Celtic Films Entertainment

Trivia:

When Sharpe tells Harris to go home and write a book with lots of shooting in it and he will become a rich man. This is a direct reference to what some of the 95th Soldiers did do after the wars were over, and some did indeed become rich, due to the hero status that riflemen had at the time

Quotes:

Father Curtis: Irish?
Patrick Harper: Indeed I am.
Father Curtis: Then you'll serve Mass on Sunday.
[Harper's face falls, much to the riflemen's amusement]

Movie Connections:

Follows Sharpe's Honour (1994) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Haste to the Wedding

Read the book instead

I read the "Sharpe" books before they were adapted for televison, and although it is difficult to faithfully convey a novel in a two hour TV movie the adapatation of "Sharpe's Sword" disappointed.

As with the other films the backdrop is the Napoleonic War, however the whole point of the story is Richard Sharpe's desire to possess the sword of his deadly foe, and, the bond between Sharpe and Harper. The film totally fails to convey any of the emotions of the two characters; Sharpe and his consuming passion to own the Klingethal and Harper's, when halfway through it appears that Sharpe will die of injuries sustained in a swordfight.

The film becomes just another boys own adventure in the Sharpe series which is fine on one level but totally misses the point of the story

Enjoy the film for what it is but I encourage you to read the book.