Posts from Stumpy in thread „Across The Pond“

Quote from Robbie

Hi Jim

Did you ever resume your enjoyment of "Sharpe"?

Oh, I bought and watched all the episodes, Rob, but there were just 3 or 4 I really liked. As I said earlier, after awhile they began to remind me of those old "B" Westerns.

I really like Bean as an actor and he played Sharpe's part well but I think the screenwriting left a lot to be desired.
Jim

Have come to the conclusion it's time to take a break from Sharpe's adventures as I'm getting bored with them. The plots have become far too melodramatic and staged - it's unrealistic to assume that every time Wellington found himself in a tight spot, he called upon Sharpe and the "chosen men" to get him out of it. As I said earlier, they're starting to remind me of those old "B" Westerns. Sharpe and his men are naturally the guys in the white hats.

And why is it that in every episode, some good-looking woman offers herself to our hero?
I thought it was kinda poetic justice that in "Sharpe's Enemy", his wife Teresa is murdered by Hakeswill almost immediately after Sharpe surrenders himself to a loose woman he and his men are trying to rescue.

Speaking of Obadiah Hakeswill, he definitely makes an outstanding candidate for the memorable villain list. That guy was a snake if there ever was one. Was glad to see him end up in front of a firing squad.

Read a bit in the link May provided. Got a kick out of Cornwell's statement that he set out to write books about a "land-based Horatio Hornblower". Forester's books have always been among my favorites and were a major reason I became such an Anglophile.

Quote from may2

If you want Sharpe info this should give it to you http://www.southessex.co.uk/

Thanks much for the link, May. Looks like a lot of interesting reading.

I'm thinking of changing my signature to "O'er the hills and far away". :teeth_smile:

The quality of writing and thus the stories themselves in the Sharpe series is very inconsistent. Some are excellent and some are much less than excellent. I watched one of the latter this morning, "Sharpe's Honour", in which his execution was faked in order to
placate Spanish interests to prevent an alliance between Ferdinand and Napoleon.

Another thing that doesn't ring true at all are the many wounds Sharpe has suffered and his continued survival. Anyone who's studied history at all knows that medical knowledge and hygiene were atrocious in the early 1800s. Even minor wounds often resulted in death from infection, yet Sharpe has been shot and cut numerous times in those episodes I've watched. Some of the episodes remind me of B Grade Westerns, in that the protagonists never seem to suffer ill effects from gunshot wounds that in real people would kill or incapacitate for long periods.

Quote from arthurarnell

Hi Jim

There are a number of books written about the 95th regiment,and as Robbie has so perfectly covered they were called the Royal Greenjackets and still wear the uniform.

In 1810 they were a part of the Light Brigade and later the Light Division under Brigader, later Major general Robert Crawford a fiery Scot with a hasty temper.

As well as the 95th Rifles Crawford was given control of the 43rd and 52 infantry Regiments a regiment of Portugese Cacadores, a regiment of the Kings German Legion and a coupleof Squadrons of the 14th and 16th Dragoons

Among the Books written are recollectons of a Rifleman by Captain Kincaid, Costello wrote a book as did Rifleman Harris.

A famous member of the division was Captain Harry Smith during the British attack on Badajoz the city was looted by the British and when wandering down the streets he came across a young Spanish Woman who had had her earrings ripped from her ears but other than that was ok. Smith fell in love with her and almost immediately they were married with the Duke of Wellington giving the bride away.

Later a General Sir Harry Smith he became the Governor of South Africa and the Town of Ladysmith was named in his wife's honour.

Regards

Arthur

Display More

Thanks very much for the info, Arthur.

I've very much enjoyed most of the Richard Sharpe saga except for the first ("Rifles") and last night I watched one that I didn't think was all that great "Sharpe's Enemy". I told Rob though that in every episode I've watched, it seems that some of Sharpe's worst enemies are in his own army and are usually the high-born officers who looked down upon him because he came up through the ranks. I think the class divisions that have always plagued England are regrettable, though I'm sure those divisions are much less now than they were in Wellington's time.

One of my favorite characters in the series is the Sergeant Major Patrick Harper.

When I first began watching them, these old Texas country boy's ears had a few problems understanding the English dialect but the more I've watched, the easier it has become. Of course, I imagine my cousins across the pond would have a hard time understanding us Texans too. Or any Southerner, for that matter. Thank goodness our written language is more or less the same.
Cheers,
Jim

Quote from Stumpy

I have all the episodes ordered and they should be here in a day or so.

They finally arrived so know what I'll be watching for the next week or so.

Man, I swear that durned Deep Discount DVD sure takes their own sweet time getting items to the purchaser. I received an email on the 29th of April that my Sharpe's order had been shipped and I only got them today (12 May). In most cases, their prices beat other sources but their shipping times suck. I only live 8 or 9 hundred miles from their warehouse and even if it comes solely by truck, it shouldn't take that long.

Last week I ordered some DVDs from Amazon, got an email last Friday that the order had been shipped and got it today (Monday). If Amazon can get 'em here that quick, why can't DDDVD?

Quote from mark hutchings

hi there why dont you buy the boxed set /read the books which are enjoyable and more have been written than made .i would agree that sean bean is are jw in this role but like jw is is helped by a fine cast plus my cromwells brillant writing i hope all jw fans watch and enjoy this great show should have done better in the states yours mark

I have all the episodes ordered and they should be here in a day or so.

This evening I watched "Sharpe's Mission", with Pyecroft (who wore a hood over his head to hide burn scars from a botched demolition mission) who was sent with Sharpe to blow up a fort's powder magazine. And Brand, who was a traitorous spy for the French. I especially liked Sharpe's idea of leaving his man Harris behind to keep an eye on the newspaper guy who was making a play for Sharpe's wife.

Man, those women sure showed a lot of cleavage in those days, didn't they?

It wasn't bad but I still liked "Sharpe's Siege" better.

Quote from Robbie

Formed in 1800, the 95th Rifles were the origin of the modern infantry tactic; experienced marksmen trained to oper ate as individuals, expert in skirmish- mg, scouting and outpost duty. A highly-disciplined, fast-moving elite, the 95th's status was indicated by their unique 'rifle-green' uniform (a rudi mentary camouflage) and their accurate Baker' rifled muskets. Their matchless "esprit de corps "provoked a flood of reminiscences from the pens of ex members of'The Sweeps', a regimental nickname taken from their sombre uni forms.


The 95th excelled at such 'outpost duty' which revealed French manoeuvres, concealed Allied activity and required a clear head, bold heart and a clean pair of heels" (Kincaid). The 95th's contribution to the French defeat in the Peninsular - and ultimately in the remainder of Europe - is incaluculable.

Display More

Thank you very much for the information, Rob. Apparently the 95th was similar in mission and esprit to today's SAS.

Was Sharpe a real person or merely a figment of Cornwell's imagination? Whatever he was, Sean plays him well and with a great deal of dash. I also enjoy the character of Sergeant Major Patrick Harper, who reminds me of me.

I really did enjoy the episode I watched today. Think I'll have to order some more of them, as I'm sure they get better as everyone settles into the roles they're playing.

Well, IMO they're getting considerably better, Rob. This afternoon I watched "Sharpe's Siege" and thoroughly enjoyed it, especially when Major Sharpe put down the very pompous and obnoxious Colonel Horace Bampfylde.

I was always kind of a rebel against higher-ups myself when I was in the military and enjoy seeing others who believe as I do.

This afternoon I watched "Sharpe's Gold", which I liked better than the first episode I watched ("Sharpe's Rifles")

I think one of the reasons I enjoyed it more was because it was a better copy, with much better picture quality; in other words, a better-mastered copy.

There were several plot details that I found pretty off the wall though, such as the fact that the girl Ellie shot as well or better than Sharpe in their little contest. It was also hard to believe that Sharpe has been promoted to Major already, from a mere Leftenant (or even a Sergeant) in the first episode. But the most ridiculous story detail was the item about Aztec human sacrifices in the Spanish peninsula. And I couldn't believe that Lord Wellesley's cousin (or whichever kin she was) showed up at his headquarters looking for her husband.

Were the 95th Rifles supposed to be Scotsmen? The reason I ask is that they wore tam 'o shanters as uniform headgear and I thought the only folks who ever wore tams in the British Army were Scots. (Speaking of headgear, those were the weirdest looking helmets the French wore (if accurately portrayed) that I believe I've ever seen).

Can one of you British military experts clarify something for me?

The terms redcoat and British soldier have always meant one and the same to me. Yet in this Sharpe TV series, the Brits are wearing green uniforms. Did the producers make a historical mistake?

Quote from Robbie

Hi Jim

I'm really looking forward to reading your reviews on the series, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy 'Sharpe' but nothing is ever guaranteed.

Well, Rob, today I watched "Sharpe's Rifles", the first episode, and I'm sorry to say that I wasn't at all impressed. I sorta enjoyed the interplay between Sharpe and Harper and was glad to see they finally settled their differences in an amicable manner (after Harper showed he was a good English soldier by defending the "box") but overall, didn't think it was all that good.

One thing I didn't understand at all was why Sharpe and his men sat on that hillside and did nothing at all while their unit was massacred by the French soldiers shortly after they began their journey. I would have thought they would have fired their rifles to help fend off the French but not a single one fired a single shot until after the main French unit had left and finally they killed two Frenchmen who had been left behind, apparently to deliver the coup de grace to wounded Englishmen. That segment of the movie just didn't ring true.

I ordered five episodes to see if I liked them before ordering the whole series so we'll see if I like the other four better than I liked the first one.

Quote from Robbie

Hi Jim

As Ward Bond said in "The Quiet Man," I'll begin at the beginning and recommend "Sharpe's rifles," as this is the first instalment in the series and will allow you to understand some of the key elements on the overall story. The series however does not have to be watched in chronological order but I do recommend starting with this episode.

Aside from this I would recommend "Sharpe's Gold," "Sharpe's Mission," and "Sharpe's Siege". However I feel they are all very good with lots of action and good old British patriotism which is not often displayed within British films and TV programmes.

I was reading that this series did not take off in the USA, however I am confident you will enjoy it, and for me Bean resembles the closest thing that we have to John Wayne, at least as Sharpe he does.

Finally there was an episode of this series made in 2006 called "Sharpe's Challenge," which was rather good.

Display More

Hey Rob,
I ordered all the Sharpe titles you recommended. should have them in a week or so.

Quote from may2

It took off with me. It started on Masterpiece Theater but it's price was too high so they stopped carrying it. Some of it ran on the History Channel and finally the entire series ran on BBC America two years ago leading up to the new episode, Sharpe's Challenge. They are just about to start filming yet another episode in India, Sharpe's Peril.

Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley are terrific. Daniel Craig is one of the early episode. it was before he was good looking.

I've read the entire series of books by Bernard Cornwall. I liked them, too.

I'm sure I'll like the series. History has always been one of my favorite subjects and even though the character of Sharpe himself may be fictional, the events in which he's featured are based upon actual history (from what has been said and what I've read about the series, it apparently takes place during the Napoleanic Wars). I also like Sean Bean as an actor.

Quote from Robbie

Hi Jim

As Ward Bond said in "The Quiet Man," I'll begin at the beginning and recommend "Sharpe's rifles," as this is the first instalment in the series and will allow you to understand some of the key elements on the overall story. The series however does not have to be watched in chronological order but I do recommend starting with this episode.

Aside from this I would recommend "Sharpe's Gold," "Sharpe's Mission," and "Sharpe's Siege". However I feel they are all very good with lots of action and good old British patriotism which is not often displayed within British films and TV programmes.

I was reading that this series did not take off in the USA, however I am confident you will enjoy it, and for me Bean resembles the closest thing that we have to John Wayne, at least as Sharpe he does.

Finally there was an episode of this series made in 2006 called "Sharpe's Challenge," which was rather good.

Display More

Thanks, Rob, I'll follow your recommendations.
Jim

Never mind, Rob. I found another site that shows the running time for the eps is 100 minutes and there are 15 episodes. I may order them from DDDVD, where they are about 11 or 12 dollars apiece. I think what I'll do is order 3 or 4 eps to see if I like them and if I do I'll order the remainder. Can you recommend some good eps?

Quote from Robbie

Jim

I think you would enjoy "Sharpe," with Sean Bean, its a superb historical action packed TV series in which Bean made his name.

Rob,
I did a search on a DVD site I know and came up with the following:

I guess $10.95 is a reasonable price for these discs but I was wondering what the running time is on each episode. Do you remember?

Quote from ethanedwards

Jim,

One that springs to mind is this one
check out,

Bravo Two Zero (1999)

Keith,

Got the above film you recommended in the mail this morning and watched it. Not a bad movie but this old country boy's Texas-trained ears had rather a tough time understanding the veddy proper Queen's English that made up the dialogue. They didn't have enough of a twang in their speech. :regular_smile: