Sharpe's Regiment (1996) (TV)

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Bernard Cornwell (novel)
Charles Wood (script)

Release Date:

22 July 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | History | War

Plot:

Told his battalion is to be split up due to lack of recruits at home, Sharpe and Harper return to England to investigate...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Based On Novel

Cast

Sean Bean	...	Major Richard Sharpe
Daragh O'Malley	...	Sgt. Major Patrick Harper
Abigail Cruttenden	...	Jane Gibbons
Michael Cochrane	...	Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson
Nicholas Farrell	...	Lord Fenner
Caroline Langrishe	...	Lady Anne Camoynes
James Laurenson	...	Major General Ross
Mark Lambert	...	Lt. Colonel Girdwood
Julian Fellowes	...	Prince Regent
Norman Rossington	...	Sgt. Horatio Havercamp
John Tams	...	Rifleman Hagman
Jason Salkey	...	Rifleman Harris
Steve Chambers	...	Charlie Weller
Henry Woolley	...	Marriott
Robert Patterson	...	Sgt. Lynch

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:TV-14

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Carlton UK Productions

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sharpe is entering the armoury with Sgt Ted Carew, Sgt Carews foot can be seen strapped up behind him. (He is wearing a wooden leg;e supposedly lost his leg at the battle of Talevera).

Quotes:

Major Richard Sharpe: Can I trust you Smith?
Capt. Smith: Yes. I was always uneasy. Always sir. But I'd been purchased over several times. I obtained a Captaincy I could not afford.
Major Richard Sharpe: I know what that means, Smith.

Movie Connections:

Follows Sharpe's Battle (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Recruiting Sergeant

A change of tack with this episode of the series

One of a series of good old fashioned sabre rattling tales, set against a backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars.

Unusually, this takes time out from the usual battle centred stories to give a view of the corrupt military practices of the era. In that sense this could be classified as a thriller worthy of any great TV detective.

The Sharpe series with its healthy infusion of humour gave work to many fine character actors and Regiment is no exception. Look out for the late Norman Rossington stealing the show as the outrageous recruiting sergeant, 'Horatio Havercamp'! Michael Cochrane is a moustache twirling villain of the first order and does well without one; the moustache duties were taken on by Mark Lambert as the vain, but mad 'Girdwood' in a part unlike any other of its type.

Considering the relatively small budgets for making the series, it does give a very good feel for the period. I know about the era and could easily pick holes in the historical accuracy but you would have to be miserly to do so, as so much of it is on the ball. So enjoy.

Location spotters will notice the Watermill as the same one in 'The Eagle Has Landed' (and Black Sabbaths first albums cover too!)filmed at the Mapledurham estate in Berkshire. Additional filming took place at Wrotham Hall, (Hertfordshire I think?)and the marsh scenes at Horsey Island, Essex.

How do I know? I was one of the main extras along with loads of battle re-enactors enlisted to be the fictional South Essex regiment!

Ten years on, on behalf of the 'Horatio's Heroes' posse, I'd like to express my public thanks to the cast and crew for getting us so, so drunk and silly in Colchester after shooting had finished and for making us amateurs feel so welcome and part of a series we thought was great fun to watch.