Marky B

This is a programme I have been introduced to on the History Channel. Good stories,good action scenes, and good locations. Sean Bean has his critics,but I can't imagine anyone else playing Richard Sharpe. I also like his sidekick,the Irishman Harper.
Another programme is due out this year,set in India.
Ta Ta
MArky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

knobbykins

The books are even better!

When the king's off his arse nobody sleeps!

EllyMack

You know, I've adored Sean Bean ever since he played that lovable geek in All the King's Horses. I've watched him in Lady Chatterley's Lover, Patriot Games and When Saturday Comes, but I've never watched a single episode of Sharpe.

One day I will, I expect, but at the moment it would be like reading a Mills & Boon historical romance because I'm into history.

Marky B

He does have some romantic scenes,but I wouldn't say it was a romance.
Ta ta
marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

dogstar

I can assure you there's nothing 'Mills and Boonish' about the Sharpe books - or indeed any of Bernard Cornwell's other historical novels. They are all scrupulously researched and reek of authenticity. The books have much more depth than the TV shows - not the fault of the makers who were very limited by budget. I once interviewed John Tams who played Private Hagman - interestingly he said that Cornwell had taken great interest in the series and in the later books his portrayals of some of the characters, especially Sharpe and Hagman were influenced by the way they the performers had interpreted them on screen. A case of art mimicking art maybe?

Only a fool looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart....

CaptainWaggett

I wonder if Sarpe would have been so successful with the orriginal choice of leading man - Paul McGann who broke his leg just before filming started.

batman

I'd have watched it with McGann .... I can't stand Bean.

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Steve Crook

I don't like Bean in most things he does, but Sharpe seems to suit him quite well and he does a good job in it

Steve

Marky B

Watched the latter part of Sharpe's Waterloo and was very impressed with the battle scenes!
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

EHV_Emmetts

I did watch the very first episode (I'm very interested in this part of British military history), but I was annoyed by Bean. He's one of those actors who can only play themselves. In this, and in everything (virtually) he's done he plays the oh-so angry Yorkshireman.

penfold

I think it's a fine series; the military history is pretty good, if not spot on; and the use of music, especially the folk songs, excellent. And a great cast....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steve Crook

But that's just what this part calls for which is why he's able to do this one role so well

Steve

knobbykins

In the books he's a Londoner but with that last minute casting change the tv series didn't seem to suffer for it.

When the king's off his arse nobody sleeps!

CaptainWaggett

And in good news. McGann was then available to be the Doctor...

Steve Crook

It's more important that he's permanently miserable and quite angry
And that he's a working class oik raised up to officer level from the ranks

Steve