Sharpe's Rifles (1993)

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

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

Eoghan Harris, Bernard Cornwell (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Sean Bean, Assumpta Serna, Brian Cox

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Bean	...	Lt. Richard Sharpe
Brian Cox	...	Maj. Hogan
Daragh O'Malley	...	Sgt. Patrick Harper
Assumpta Serna	...	Teresa Moreno
David Troughton	...	Sir Arthur Wellesley
Simón Andreu	...	Maj. Vivar
Michael Mears	...	Francis Cooper
John Tams	...	Daniel Hagman
Jason Salkey	...	Harris
Paul Trussell	...	Isiah Tongue
Lyndon Davies	...	Ben Perkins
Julian Fellowes	...	Major Dunnett
Tim Bentinck	...	Captain Murray
Richard Ireson	...	Sgt. Williams
Martin Jacobs	...	Maj. William Lawford

Storyline

Portugal 1809, the Peninsular War in the age of Napoleon. A British sergeant in the 95th Rifles saves the life of Arthur Wellesley, and finds himself promoted to Lieutenant and in charge of a company of Rifles that do no respect him, to carry out a dangerous and vital mission.

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Plot Keywords:

19th century | year 1809 | peninsular war | iberian peninsula | rifleman | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | History | War

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The rifle used by Sharpe's unit (and indeed by all British rifle companies of the Napoleonic Wars) is the Pattern 1800 Infantry Rifle, known also as the "Baker" rifle after its designer, London gunsmith Ezekiel Baker. Formally adopted in 1800 for limited issue to special rifle companies, this .635-caliber flintlock weapon was one of the first rifles to be mass-produced, and the first type of rifle to be accepted as an issue weapon by a major military. Previous rifles used in combat were fielded by militia units, whose members were required to supply their own gun; the Baker was a departure both in being purpose-built for the British Army and in taking its design cues not from the long, smooth-bore muskets used by Regulars as previous rifles had been - as in the case of the classic American long rifles used during the American Revolution - but after the shorter, more compact German and Prussian "Jaeger" rifles, which were meant originally to be hunting weapons. The Baker was well-regarded for its accuracy and durability, and was so successful that it was produced until 1838 and issued as late as 1841. Bakers were also used in various colonial conflicts, against the Americans during the War of 1812, and, in the hands of Mexican troops (alongside Brown Bess muskets), during the Texan Revolution.

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Goofs

At the end as Sharpe and Hogan watch Teressa leave, the union flag on the building is upside down (as determined by the wide white areas of the St. Andrew's Cross relative to the half width diagonals of the red St. Patrick's Cross). When Sharpe descends the steps and stands in the road, it's up the right way.

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Quotes

Major Hogan: What do you do when you're short of cash, Sharpe?
Sharpe: Do without, sir.

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Connections

Referenced in Drama Trails: 'Footballer's Wives' to 'Brideshead Revisited' (2008)

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Soundtracks

Salamanca
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Fun adventure, but too many discrepancies

I love the books, although it was the films that I first discovered. The films are still great stories, but I think there are too many discrepancies compared to the books.

Sean Bean is excellent as Richard Sharpe, but some of the other characters don't match the description in the books.

Teresa did not even appear in this book and she was not the leader of Spanish resistance when Sharpe first met her. She was 11 years younger than him, not 2 years older as between the actors.

The Spanish Major was the same age as Sharpe, not his Father's age. They have mixed at least two of the books together here, which is a shame as each book is great and has a story to tell.

Otherwise it is a fun and entertaining war/adventure story.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site The Sharpe Appreciation Society

Country:

UK

Language:

English Spanish French Yiddish Portuguese

Release Date:

5 May 1993 (UK)

Also Known As:

Sharpe's Rifles

Filming Locations:

Crimea, Ukraine

Company Credits

Production Co:

Celtic Films Entertainment, Central, Picture Palace

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1