Sharpe's Sword (1995)

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.

Director:

Tom Clegg

Writers:

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

Stars:

Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, John Tams

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Bean	...	Maj. Richard Sharpe
Daragh O'Malley	...	Sgt. Patrick Harper
John Tams	...	Daniel Hagman
Jason Salkey	...	Harris
Emily Mortimer	...	Lass
Patrick Fierry	...	Col. Leroux
James Purefoy	...	Cpt. Jack Spears
Stephen Moore	...	Berkeley
Hugh Ross	...	Maj. Mungo Munro
Michael Cochrane	...	Sir Henry Simmerson
John Kavanagh	...	Father Curtis
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Don Felipe
Diana Perez	...	Ramona
Pat Laffan	...	Connelly
Walter McMonagle	...	Father O'Sullivan

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

19th century | eighth part | napoleonic wars | sergeant | colonel | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Author Bernard Cornwell named his hero Richard Sharpe after a famous British rugby player; the character of Leroux, his nemesis, was named after a South African player who broke Sharpe's ankle during a game.

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Goofs

Sharpe has always used a Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre. It's usually too long for an infantry officer on foot, but Sharpe is tall enough to carry it. His sword is broken in the attack on the fort and the sword that is given to Harper to replace it clearly has a blade that tapers towards the point. It also does not appear to be particularly long. It has a hand guard consisting of two rounded bars. Father Curtis tells Harper that he will only need half the guard.

Harper apparently works the sword, but when he presents it to Sharpe, it is clearly a standard Pattern 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sabre with a long, parallel-sided blade, a prominent disc guard and a handle with a single, flattened, hand-guard bar that does not resemble the handle of the sword given to Harper.

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Quotes

Major Mungo Munro: [he has just finished a bagpipe solo] Which would you prefer me to do, Sharpe? Play Beallagh na Bruga, that's the Munro march... or send you on a dangerous mission?
Richard Sharpe: Dangerous mission, sir.
Major Mungo Munro: Who's winning the war, Sharpe?
Richard Sharpe: Wellington, sir.
Major Mungo Munro: Why's he winning it, Sharpe?
Richard Sharpe: Steady troops, sir.
Major Mungo Munro: Superior intelligence, Sharpe. Supplied by whom, laddie?
Richard Sharpe: Men like you, sir.
Major Mungo Munro: [disgusted:] Och, don't *lick* me, laddie!

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Connections

Follows Sharpe's Battle (1995)

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Soundtracks

Oft in the Stilly Night
Traditional
By Thomas Moore
Performed by John Kavanagh

User Reviews

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.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English French Latin

Release Date:

15 July 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sharpe kardja

Filming Locations:

Portugal

Company Credits

Production Co:

Celtic Films Entertainment, Carlton Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1