Sharpe (TV Series) Sharpe's Regiment (1996) User Reviews

Sharpe is forced to battle on home soil

[Scaramouche2004 · 7/10 · 1 December 2008]

Sean Bean returns once again as Richard Sharpe in this, the ninth movie in the series entitled Sharpe's Regiment, a strange entry as it is one of only two Sharpe movies where the main portion of the action takes place in England.

He has been sent home, along with Harper to find out why the South Essex have not been receiving their promised reinforcements, which is now endangering the future of the Regiment.

On arrival at Horsegauards in London, Sharpe discovers that the South Essex is far from a dying regiment but a thriving force...on paper only. The records show that the regiment is still being recruited, trained, supplied and dispatched, but without one trained soldier reaching Sharpe's ranks in Europe.

Lord Fenner, the man behind the deception realises that Sharpe is getting too close to the truth and orders his and Harper's murder, but when they in turn dispatch the dispatchers and disguise the bodies as themselves, they decide to join the South Essex as raw recruits to find out where they and the several hundred others that proceeded them are really disappearing too.

Great scenes to watch out for are Sharpe and Harper's arrival at Horseguards, and when 'Private' Sharpe eventually unmasks himself as a highly decorated senior officer to the bullying officers and Sergeants that had been so ruthless in the training of the South Essex. Rank most certainly has its privileges and revenge can be so sweet.

This episode also marks the first appearance of Abigail Cruttenden as Jane Gibbons, soon to be Sharpe's wife and eventual nemesis.

As I said, an unusual entry in the series but still a brilliant and entertaining film.

The enemy within

[grantss · 9/10 · 26 March 2023]

The South Essex is to be disbanded due to dwindling personnel. This doesn't make sense as the entire 2nd Battalion is in England and accepting new recruits. Sharpe and Harper head to England to work out what is going on and save the regiment. They may need to take drastic measures in the course of their investigations.

Another excellent episode of Sharpe. A change of setting in that there is very little in the way of battle scenes: most of the action occurs back in England and involves skulduggery at a high level. Quite intriguing plot and Sharpe and Harper's undercover work is very entertaining.

There's a few overly gung ho scenes, especially towards the end, but for the most part it's a solid, highly entertaining adventure.

Great Episode

[Rainey-Dawn · 8/10 · 19 December 2021]

Richard is told that his battalion is to be dissolved - the men are to be sent elsewhere due to the fact new recruits are lacking at home. Sharpe and Harper are determined to find out why so they go back to England and uncover profiteering racket and it becomes a political explosion.

8.5/10.

Among my favorites of the series

[Servo-11 · 10/10 · 7 April 2003]

This is one of the best episodes of a brilliant series of films. It's a brief departure from the usual battle hackenslash of the other films and instead shows another side to Sharpe's personality, including his terrible intuition when it comes to the pathetic and deceptively fragile Jane.

But Sharpe isn't the main highlight of this installment. For me, the head attraction is Harper, played by the impressive and easy-on-the-eyes Daragh O'Malley. His revenge on a brutal sargeant with the simple words, "God Save Ireland" is a moment to be cherished and rewatched over and over. Just delicious.

There are few TV movies that I simply adore, and the Sharpe series is right at the top. It was a grand discovery.

A nice change of pace for the series

[grendelkhan · 12 December 2002]

"Sharpe's Regiment" is a nice change of pace for the series. Instead of the story centering on a battle, we have a mystery. Sharpe is in need of replacements, but the second battalion is missing. Sharpe and his faithful Sergeant, excuse me, Sergeant Major Harper, return to England to find them.

This is one of my favorite of the Sharpe books, by Bernard Cornwell, and the film-makers do it justice. Michael Cochrane is back as the foul Simmerson and Julian Fellowes returns as well; this time as the Prince Regent. Add the lovely presences of Caroline Langrishe and Abigail Cruttenden and you have a fine film.

SPOILERS: Upon his return to England, Sharpe and Harper find the South Essex barracks nearly empty, with little clue as to the whereabouts of the missing men. They go undercover as new recruits, arriving at Foulness, a secret base in the marshes, where the second battalion of the South Essex have been taken. Here, the new recruits are trained and then sold off to other units, with the profits going into the pockets of Sir Henry Simmerson, Sharpe's nemesis from "Sharpe's Eagle", and Lord Fenner, Secretary of State at War.

After an exciting escape, Sharpe and Harper return, in full military dress, and proceed to put things right. Alas, Sharpe can find no proof of what has transpired at Foulness and must use his wits to emerge victorious.

The film was mostly shot in England, using re-enactors for the military scenes. It is a great visual document of the period and has the detail that has been a hallmark of the series. Michael Cochrane is great fun as the evil Simmerson, hrrumphing and swearing. He is no gentleman. We even get a glimpse of Sharpe's past, as we meet an old friend of his, Maggie,in a London slum. Sean Bean and Daragh O' Malley are always outstanding as Sharpe and Harper.

If you are a fan of adventure, mystery, romance, military history, or just love a good yarn; this film will not disappoint.

Solid, lusty Regency fun

[c.o-sullivan · 19 February 2002]

This was the first episode of Sharpe I have seen, and entirely explains the appeal of Sean Bean, which is an aspect of British culture which had slightly puzzled me. Sharpe sounds better than you might expect, looks good and constitutes solid period entertainment. My only reservation is about the two heroines - isn't it time even Regency heroines grew up? Georgette Heyer would be appalled.