@@FungamerGGsidthedog wouldn't call him a villain - the villains in this one were the spy and Ducos. calvet is an antagonist though, for sure. Not sure if dubreton would count as an antagonist? (The officer from Sharpe's Enemy). He's obvs on the French side but also helps Sharpe.
Iain MacLennan I have been of the idea that Calvet was not a big fan of napeolen. That he was just doing his duty to defend his country and that was it
@@martinXY Wow! Thanks for the clip. I can't believe Hollywood has been recycling the same soundbite for so many generations of films. How Un-original. Shameful really!
Actually, the initial Geneva Convention concerned sick and wounded, and the subsequent additions concerned other persons who were hors de combat and otherwise non-combatants. What you’re referring to is Hague Law or the Laws of War. But, still, damned fine soldiering.
Yes, the issue is reload times. BP fouls badly. Which greatly slows the reloading time. The Minnie ball changed that compared to the round ball. Smoothies were very effective at close range with Buck N Ball. A good rifleman with a smoothie could reach out to about 100 yards.
Emperor Napoleon derided the rifle as a toy. He preferred the musket for its faster reload time. The British had a far better trained infantry force and a better quality of gunpowder.
Quite weirdly it was usually commissioned ensigns who would usually carry the colours with a tough as a brick shithouse colour sergeant nearby. Colour sergeants are still looked to as tough veteran soldiers with eyes for discipline and duty
The French have a bad reputation but it's not a fair one. They have always had extreme bravery and courage and won many victories. In WWII the French army fought heroically, but their leadership was completely inadequate and let them down. Most French soldiers in WWII would have preferred to fight to the death rather than surrender, but the generals had other ideas
@@keighlancoe5933 This, even a small dive into the particulars of why the french lost so early and so hard reveal it was very much on the heads of the upper ranks and not the army or country as a whole. Heck, they're the ones who held the line at Dunkirk so the British army could escape. Even after their defeat the country almost immediately shifted to underground resistance. Dip back even further and it's heavily glossed over how much of a help the French were during the American revolution.
@@keighlancoe5933 the French defense against Germany was inadequate for this new type of war. Germany invading France through Belgium was a stroke of genius and made it near impossible for the French to ever really find their footing to mount am effective defense or counter attack.
For all its flaws and budget issues, one of the most amazing things about Sharpe is the overwhelming use of real flintlocks and powder. Sure, in some shots a few extras have Mosins (Looking at you, Eagle), but still...the battles feel much better with real fire. One of the greatest mistakes the second India movie made was using CGI to imitate the flintlocks firing instead of using proper powder and locks.
Same difference between Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. They didn't use CGI, but basically capgun pops instead of actual black powder. Just one of many, many reasons that movie sucked.
Harper's gun, the seven barrel volley gun, was always CGI. If I recall correctly, it was felt that loading it wasn't safe. The rest, though, were fired (with, I think, the exception also of when Harper is defending the lock box and deliberately fires the ramrod)
@@ConstantineJoseph It did start before the Russian campaign in 1808, but did not end until 1814 to the very end of the War of the Sixth Coaliton with the capture of Paris.
I love how nobody picks the eagle back up after 5 (!) guys died carrying it. Like: "I dont want to be next." And i love how the general takes care of Gaston.
@boomgoesblitzhound I agree. It would get too much. However, from an in-world point of view, the eagle is an important symbol. To lose it was seen as a great dishonour, to just leave it was unthinkable. Goes to show effective Sharps plan was.
I always like Calvet's character and how he was portrayed. It feels like one of those situations where he is on the other side, but not the wrong side per se. Just another solider trying to do his duty while also doing right by his men, and take note - he is always leading his men from the front.
I once met a General (this was the mid 90’s) who’s personal driver had been his section commander in Vietnam. The driver was a Cpl when the General should of had a Staff Sargent driving home. Maybe it was a relationship like that.
@@rurikau perhaps you're right. Especially in a time like the Napoleonic wars, where you'd want to hang out with a person closer in class to you than others. Not to mention that Gaston was at the very front next to the general, above fellow officers, something even Sharpe doesn't allow Harper before he becomes the sergeant major. Either way, the two have a very cool friendship.
Back in the days of Mount and Blade NW when the events were truly big the melees that would develop were intense. Charging into a fort wasn’t always a bad idea, especially if coupled with competent artillery.
1:23 this was actually what would happen, the older more veteran troops who were experienced and could be trusted to not run as easy would be in the back to keep the more green troops going
Cannon fodder. Let the enemy use up it's strength and energy on the new guys who probably wouldn't last very long anyway then let your fresh experienced troops win the victory. Cold but effective
The only thing I wish was that they had the scale of the battles accurate. This show gives a dramatic taste, but in truth they fights would have been MUCH bigger. Sharpe is a great fictional hero. The story deserves a retelling, but with scale to reflect accuracy. Excellent work on the show runners to get what they got with the budget they were given.
I like Calvet. He is a professional. He knows what has to be done and he does it, but he truly cares about his men and takes care of them as best he can. Good officers like that are the best of any army.
@@damiangaming5696 bit risky to use flour with all the sparks from the replica rifles. It's highly explosive. I had a chemistry teacher back in the day who reckoned Guido Fawkes could have succeeded with barrels of flour instead of gunpowder.
I like how Sharpe said to aim for officers but the man who is clearly the most superior officer doesn't even get targeted even though he's at the very front
General Calvet and his Sargent Gaston are great. They make several return visits and even allied with Sharpe and his men against Major Duco and his allies. Calvet and Gaston are like lucky charms.
@@karld888 Oh really ... « These Frenchmen, under the gallant leadership of general Molinié, had for four critical days contained no less than seven German divisions which otherwise could have joined in the assaults on the Dunkirk perimeter. This was a splendid contribution to the escape of their more fortunate comrades of the British Expeditionary Force » - Winston Churchill, The Second World War. vol. II. Their Finest Hour. "Despite our overwhelming superiority in men and hardware numbers, the french troops are counter-attacking in several places. I can't understand how those soldiers, sometimes fighting at one versus ten, can find enough strength to assault us: this is simply amazing ! I see in those french soldiers the same energy than with the veterans of Verdun in 1916. For several days now, hundreds of bombers and guns are pounding the french defence. But, it's always the same thing: our infantry and panzers can't break through, despite some local and ephemeral successes. The french high command has very smartly set up his troops and artillery. I fear that the Dunkirk operation could be a failure for all of us: almost all the BEC will escape, because a few thousands of braves block the path to the sea. That's distressing, but that's it ! Dunkirk brings the proof that the French soldier is one of the best in the world. The french artillery, already dreaded in 1914, demonstrates once more its efficiency. Our losses are terrifying: numerous battallions have lost 60% of their men, sometimes even more ! By resisting ten days or more to our much bigger forces, the french army has accomplished, in Dunkirk, a superb achievement that you must pay tribute to. They have certainly saved Great-Britain from the defeat, by allowing the British professional army to reach the English coast." _ Georg Von Küchler, General of the XVIII Wehrmacht Army, War Diary. May 18th 1940: “The Führer still worries a lot about the southern flank. he's furious and claims that we take the best path to make the whole campaign fail ! The french troops never stops counter-attacking". May 21st 1940: "That day starts in an extremely tense atmosphere: reports indicates a serious pressure on the northern flank of the IVth army. The VIth army faces a solid front." May 22nd 1940: "Our tanks, that are currently fighting in the south, have met a powerful enemy. Our panzerdivisionen suffer too many losses and attack without being required to. Stress is growing. May 23rd 1940: "The losses for the tanks of our ten panzerdivisionen reach 50% ! The french resistance is fierce." _ General Franz Halder's diary, one of the chief of staff of the Wehrmacht
@@karld888 “The prolonged defense of the French garrison played an important role in the reestablishment of British troops in Egypt. From the outset, the Free French seriously disrupted Rommel's offensive. The supply of supplies to the Afrikakorps was severely affected. The increasing concentration of the Axis to pierce this abscess saved the British 8th Army from disaster. The delays brought by the resolute resistance of the French increased the chances of the British to recover and facilitated the preparation of a counterattack. In the longer term, the slowdown in Rommel's maneuver enabled British forces to escape the planned Axis annihilation. This is how we can say, without exaggeration, that Bir Hakeim facilitated El-Alamein's defensive success. " _ British historian Ian Playfair, on the Battle of Bir-Hakeim in 1942. “You hear, gentlemen, what Koch is saying. This is further proof of the thesis that I have always maintained, that the French are, after us, the best soldiers in all of Europe. France will still be able, even with its current birth rate, to create a hundred divisions. After this war, we will have to form a coalition capable of militarily containing a country capable of accomplishing military feats that will amaze the world, like Bir-Hakeim. " _ Adolf Hitler responding to journalist Lutz Koch, back from Bir Hakeim. "In the whole course of the desert war, we never encountered a more heroic and well-sustained defence" _ Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin after Bir-Hakeim.
@@karld888 "The French Army, with its experience of more than 17 months of war, represents the best allied army. The assaults of his infantry seem irresistible despite all our firepower. Defensively, the French soldier has exceptional endurance, able to hold his position until death. During bayonet battles, he turns out to be a formidable killer, of the same value as his ancestor of Napoleon's Grande Armée. _ Ernst Jünger, elite Sturmtruppen, wrote during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
Oh How this could have been if made in the modern age.. This low-ass budget ITV made-for-TV drama is a bit cringey, but it sure was the best thing about in the mid 1990s. "Sir, we're being attacked by an entire brigade" - "Don't worry, that's about 120 guys and they'll probably just walk at us in daylight for a few minutes..."
Yes it is a problem but it does allow you to see the true caliber of the directors. In the worst Sharpe episodes it looks ridiculous, with about 20 troops on each side. In the better episodes the director at least tries to give the illusion of a larger battle and more troops. Compare Sharpe's Company and Eagle. In Eagle the battle direction is poor, too many wide shots give the game away about how few extras they have. In Company it looks like they have far more men because the director and editor use tricks to give that illusion. Tighter shots, having the same extra march past the camera multiple times to make the units look bigger. Limited budgets were a problem but better film makers could overcomes those challenges.
@@johnsmith-wv4jw But wasn't it the same director - Tom Clegg - for every single one of them? Rifles and Eagle were filmed in the first year, and there are only small actions in Rifles so they would have come into Eagles cold. Perhaps when they saw how Eagles looked at broadcast, they started working out the tricks you mention, ready for filming Company in the second year.
Not the first 20th century war crime we see on this 19th century historical fiction. The triangular bayonets commonly used by infantry armed with the 'Brown Bess' are now outlawed in war.
@Creeping Death Duco as well as being a fictional character is not after me particularly so the "advice" which wasn't advise fyi it was an explanation is hardly appropriate, besides I am a key worker I have to put myself at risk for others already so it's hardly applicable on that front alone.
This reminds me of a battle I had in Napoleon Total War, where Blucher had a slightly battered army pushing up from Venice to Vienna, and Vienna's army attacked him at the bridge. A few hundred Prussians ended up holding a ford against 600-700 Austrians all charging in, but they ended up routing before they did any serious damage in melee. I love this series for getting me back into that game.
That line fire advance reminds me of the similar scene in the movie Zulu, which is freaking amazing and I totally recommend to my fellow history nerds.
The British usually used the double rank as it spread the line out and allowed the British to overwhelm the French columns. In addition they used platoon fire, which in a battalion kept the firing continuous.
As a frenchman, I am of course heartbroken to see my people die like this. But, it is war, and it is how it is. My god, that Sharpe fellow. Sure wished he had been on our side.
Great stuff ! A great series ! The 95th Rifles and the Baker rifle And enfilading fire Tough to resist and with 3 shots a minute Unstoppable Cheers! 🇬🇧
French Soldier: Sir it’s a literal castle full of enemies what should we do French General: We’re just gonna slowly walk right the fuck at the front door
Кто к нам с мечем придет тот от меча и погибнет. Александр Невский 'Whoever comes to us with a sword will die from the sword. ' Alexander Nevski (Russian commander)
@@DonMeaker It's just an old Russian adage. It means that: if you come to Russia with war, then you're soon will die, but if you come to Russia in peace Russians will meet you as a great guest.
If the French had made it sporting and not come along massively outnumbering him, used a spy to destroy the powder store and hadn't brought Duco who had already tortured Sharpe once by this point then maybe you would have a point, you don't though so hey ho.
Well done, Boromir! - Get this flag from ground. - Nope, I think it's bad idea. - Maybe we start move quickly and stand not so close? - Nope, I like to move it.
Been a fan of the programme since I was a kid. What makes a good Soldier? The ability to fire 3 rounds a minute in any Weather. Their is the Enemy, face him , front him & Kill him
Sharpe definitely should just have called in the RAF. The French don’t have any planes at this time but the British developed planes in 1799 with the invention of the sopwith camel.
I don't know if I'm missing a joke here or you've just got faulty history records because the Camel didn't fly until 1916. In-fact nothing heavier-than-air flew until 1903 with the wright-brothers first powered flight.
I think this demonstrated valor on both sides, the French watching the standard bearer die seconds within touching it and still picking it up, and of those who were outnumbered and low on supply repelling the assault.
If you want to see more iconic scenes from Sharpe , SUBSCRIBE to our channel !th-cam.com/users/SharpeOfficialvideos?sub_confirmation=1
Still wondering why they didnt shoot the General?
i read: "ironic" :D
@@cglilp425 because the general wanted to Die With Honor and said he had to retire with shame
I really like how they humanized the French commander at the end. I love when stories don't portray the antagonists as slathering, immoral villains
Literally the only Sharpe "villain" that wasn't 😂
@@FungamerGGsidthedog wouldn't call him a villain - the villains in this one were the spy and Ducos. calvet is an antagonist though, for sure.
Not sure if dubreton would count as an antagonist? (The officer from Sharpe's Enemy). He's obvs on the French side but also helps Sharpe.
The "Peasant General". Not liked by all the French Aristocracy but was clearly a skilled leader and tactician....and cared for his men.
Yes that's true. But I also disagree with how the show portrays the French as incompetent and losing every confrontation with Sharpe.
"I eat soup with every meal Ducos, because I remember when I had no soup."
"Aim for Officers and NCOS."
Being careful not to shoot Calvet, now that's soldiering.
@@paulpeterson4216 He's about the one half-decent Frenchman in the whole series!
Iain MacLennan I have been of the idea that Calvet was not a big fan of napeolen. That he was just doing his duty to defend his country and that was it
I believe the only rationale is at leave someone with enough sense to call the retreat and easy to single out.
@@paulpeterson4216 more like plot armouring.
Filming a huge battle with a handful of actors - that's budgeting.
@@dixonhill1108 LOTR war scenes really change the way I see war in history.
The only thing huge about this battle was the french commander
all battles from this series feel like small-scale skirmishes.
@@dixonhill1108 300-500 people!!!
AAAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!
@@dixonhill1108 well, the napoleonic wars involved massive amounts of resources & one of the largest armies Britain has ever formed
Ah yes, old school acting for deaths, when you just have a seizure and yell AAAAEUG like Arnold Schwarzenegger
Underrated comment
LOL! Now that was funny!
"yell AAAAEUG like Arnold Schwarzenegger" or like Wilhelm. th-cam.com/video/W0V-2WdubTs/w-d-xo.html
That's actor.. ing.
@@martinXY
Wow! Thanks for the clip.
I can't believe Hollywood has been recycling the same soundbite for so many generations of films.
How Un-original. Shameful really!
Using chemical weapons before the Geneva Convention.
That's soldiering.
I think they called it quicklime. Nasty stuff that would burn the skin and eyes. Also would cause choking.
@@lastswordfighter No it was soap powder. The French are allergic to soap!!
Quicklime was used by an English fleet commanded by Hubert De Burgh to defeat a French supply fleet in 1216 off Dover.
Actually, the initial Geneva Convention concerned sick and wounded, and the subsequent additions concerned other persons who were hors de combat and otherwise non-combatants. What you’re referring to is Hague Law or the Laws of War. But, still, damned fine soldiering.
I don't think it counts. Otherwise, Israel would be in trouble for using White Phosphorus on innocent civilians.
Having a barrel with grooves that spin the bullet and therfore increase the stabality , range and accuracy of the round in flight......thats rifling
Yes, the issue is reload times. BP fouls badly. Which greatly slows the reloading time. The Minnie ball changed that compared to the round ball. Smoothies were very effective at close range with Buck N Ball. A good rifleman with a smoothie could reach out to about 100 yards.
Emperor Napoleon derided the rifle as a toy. He preferred the musket for its faster reload time. The British had a far better trained infantry force and a better quality of gunpowder.
@@evanboyd1541 napoleon should have read more Voltiare !!!
Paul McCann “god is not on the side of the big batallions, but on the side of the best shots”
Paul McCann can’t expect everything from an artillery officer.
They may be French, but keeping the standard held even though it definitely means death.
Now that’s soldering.
if they don't, the men won't know where to go. Plus like in Sharpe's Rifles, losing the standard is as bad as getting killed
Quite weirdly it was usually commissioned ensigns who would usually carry the colours with a tough as a brick shithouse colour sergeant nearby. Colour sergeants are still looked to as tough veteran soldiers with eyes for discipline and duty
The French have a bad reputation but it's not a fair one. They have always had extreme bravery and courage and won many victories.
In WWII the French army fought heroically, but their leadership was completely inadequate and let them down. Most French soldiers in WWII would have preferred to fight to the death rather than surrender, but the generals had other ideas
@@keighlancoe5933 This, even a small dive into the particulars of why the french lost so early and so hard reveal it was very much on the heads of the upper ranks and not the army or country as a whole. Heck, they're the ones who held the line at Dunkirk so the British army could escape. Even after their defeat the country almost immediately shifted to underground resistance.
Dip back even further and it's heavily glossed over how much of a help the French were during the American revolution.
@@keighlancoe5933 the French defense against Germany was inadequate for this new type of war. Germany invading France through Belgium was a stroke of genius and made it near impossible for the French to ever really find their footing to mount am effective defense or counter attack.
General Calvet is awesome and a badass. Would love to see him and Gaston during the Russian Campaign.
Imagine an entire series by the same cast and crew about the grande armee going through Europe to Moscow, then back to Paris
@@thotarojoestar3045 There is a show like that! I forget the name, but its a French series following an Imperial Guardsman from Marengo to Waterloo.
I d like to see more of General Calvet maybe meeting Sharpe and a Wellington
@@leeds200282 next episode, Sharpe's Revenge. He is a major character
That be great
For all its flaws and budget issues, one of the most amazing things about Sharpe is the overwhelming use of real flintlocks and powder. Sure, in some shots a few extras have Mosins (Looking at you, Eagle), but still...the battles feel much better with real fire. One of the greatest mistakes the second India movie made was using CGI to imitate the flintlocks firing instead of using proper powder and locks.
In fairness to Eagle, I just watched it and didn't notice the Mosins 😅
Same difference between Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.
They didn't use CGI, but basically capgun pops instead of actual black powder.
Just one of many, many reasons that movie sucked.
Harper's gun, the seven barrel volley gun, was always CGI. If I recall correctly, it was felt that loading it wasn't safe. The rest, though, were fired (with, I think, the exception also of when Harper is defending the lock box and deliberately fires the ramrod)
Sharpe is so tough he can survive being played by Sean Bean
Hot damn my dude, THATS soldiering!
mapleleafsfan27 didn’t he die in the end though?
Great one!!!!!
@ZoeQuinnIsAMurderer It's named "Sharpe's Peril".
Stolen comment
Making it worse than Napoleon at Moscow - now that is soldiering!
@Jurg Schupbach they're using rifles, it's in the name 😉
"This is just like Moscow all over again.
"
"You and I remember Moscow very differently."
Lol I think the Spanish campaign was before the Russian campaign.
Poor Gaston.
@@ConstantineJoseph It did start before the Russian campaign in 1808, but did not end until 1814 to the very end of the War of the Sixth Coaliton with the capture of Paris.
I love how nobody picks the eagle back up after 5 (!) guys died carrying it. Like: "I dont want to be next."
And i love how the general takes care of Gaston.
@boomgoesblitzhound I agree. It would get too much. However, from an in-world point of view, the eagle is an important symbol. To lose it was seen as a great dishonour, to just leave it was unthinkable. Goes to show effective Sharps plan was.
Surviving direct hits by mortars. Now that's Chosen Maning
Blabbing your country's illegal wire tapping of the UN to the newspapers and getting a sex change ...
Now that's Chelsea Manning.
@@flankspeed Lmao
Those weren't Chosen Men, those were from Captain Fredrickson's company. So its possible they weren't even English, but Americans.
@@andromidius Not by that point, they'd have mostly been British. They were only mostly American when they formed.
@@kallumslack4256 Sweet William was my favourite character after Harper
"Our guns are empty, sir!"
Sharpe (thinking): "Shut up, you bastard!"
dont worry the frenchies cant speak english
"Our guns are empty, sir!"
"True, but that's hardly common knowledge, is it?"
Broke Calvet's heart to send all those raw recruits into a horrendous defeat.
Gotta give the French Commander credit he fearlessly walked forward never hesitating
C'est de la soudure.
4:11 Advancing towards dozens of enemies with an uncocked pistol?
Now, that is soldiering!
Got to keep the powder in the flash pan, waving the pistol around might fling the
powder out.....
I always like Calvet's character and how he was portrayed. It feels like one of those situations where he is on the other side, but not the wrong side per se. Just another solider trying to do his duty while also doing right by his men, and take note - he is always leading his men from the front.
Calvet looks positively heartbroken that his "enfants" were pushed back.
Like Sharpe when anything bad happens to his men. Calvet and Sharpe's stories likely wouldn't be too dissimilar.
He shows that he does care about his men, especially Gaston as he helps him limp off.
He throughout is a decent officer. he cares about his responsibility to his men and takes it very seriously.
I like how that Sargent is the generals best friend. The French Sargent Schultz.
Gaston is more of a corporal, but crucially he is Calvet's batman or personal assistant so he has to be there anyway.
@@SantomPh If he was corporal he would be adressed as corporal and not general.
@@17MrLeon Calvet is a General, I think they're saying Caston is a Corporal....I don't know his rank for sure.
I once met a General (this was the mid 90’s) who’s personal driver had been his section commander in Vietnam. The driver was a Cpl when the General should of had a Staff Sargent driving home. Maybe it was a relationship like that.
@@rurikau perhaps you're right. Especially in a time like the Napoleonic wars, where you'd want to hang out with a person closer in class to you than others. Not to mention that Gaston was at the very front next to the general, above fellow officers, something even Sharpe doesn't allow Harper before he becomes the sergeant major. Either way, the two have a very cool friendship.
"It will be my turn next!"
Credit where due. Man's got spine.
When you're playing Holdfast and an incompetent officer tells you to charge the fort
Surely if we affix bayonnets and charge the fort, it'll fall back in disorder!
Back in the days of Mount and Blade NW when the events were truly big the melees that would develop were intense. Charging into a fort wasn’t always a bad idea, especially if coupled with competent artillery.
You better bot be ine of those who hides on a seige map instead of attacking.
I wish I could team kill in that game so much hahah
@@tybushnell9819 Those days were the fucking best.
77y forever
Taking a rather nasty head wound and then shrugging it off to form a rank and firing at point blank range... Now that's soldiering
i like his character hes funny. just walks off the battle like nothing happens without fear of the enemy pursuing them.
1:23 this was actually what would happen, the older more veteran troops who were experienced and could be trusted to not run as easy would be in the back to keep the more green troops going
It also makes sense from a military perspective to put the green troops in front, because you would rather want your veterans to survive.
@@tarz7828 from a military perspective I wouldn't want green troops whose sole purpose is to be slaughtered
@@bradleya3381 Sure, bit if it was binary, either your veterans die or green troops die, I think the choice would be clear.
@@tarz7828 my choice would be better strategy but not everyone's so picky
Cannon fodder. Let the enemy use up it's strength and energy on the new guys who probably wouldn't last very long anyway then let your fresh experienced troops win the victory. Cold but effective
The only thing I wish was that they had the scale of the battles accurate. This show gives a dramatic taste, but in truth they fights would have been MUCH bigger. Sharpe is a great fictional hero. The story deserves a retelling, but with scale to reflect accuracy. Excellent work on the show runners to get what they got with the budget they were given.
1:11 When you're high school crush comes up to you and says hi
Discovering a new meme from a show I've never heard of?
Now that's soldiering.
I like Calvet. He is a professional. He knows what has to be done and he does it, but he truly cares about his men and takes care of them as best he can. Good officers like that are the best of any army.
Now that's OFFICING!
Ordering your men to advance with empty rifles into the remnants of a cloud of lime that blinded the enemy
Now that's solderiering
Thumbs up for recognizing lime.
@@nickspanlopis9342 Bet on set they used Flour
@@damiangaming5696 bit risky to use flour with all the sparks from the replica rifles. It's highly explosive. I had a chemistry teacher back in the day who reckoned Guido Fawkes could have succeeded with barrels of flour instead of gunpowder.
@@iainhewitt perhaps Idk what else they'd use
I like how Sharpe said to aim for officers but the man who is clearly the most superior officer doesn't even get targeted even though he's at the very front
Plot armor.
French soldier marching: “I ain’t grabbing that mother effing flag!”
Soldiering without picking up the unit flag...now that's NOT soldiering.
General Calvet and his Sargent Gaston are great. They make several return visits and even allied with Sharpe and his men against Major Duco and his allies. Calvet and Gaston are like lucky charms.
Fighting French soldiers to the end? Now that's soldiering!
fighting French soldiers to the end? Hell one only need be patient and the French will surrender. It is what they do best, after all. LOL
@@karld888 Oh really ...
« These Frenchmen, under the gallant leadership of general Molinié, had for four critical days contained no less than seven German divisions which otherwise could have joined in the assaults on the Dunkirk perimeter. This was a splendid contribution to the escape of their more fortunate comrades of the British Expeditionary Force »
- Winston Churchill, The Second World War. vol. II. Their Finest Hour.
"Despite our overwhelming superiority in men and hardware numbers, the french troops are counter-attacking in several places. I can't understand how those soldiers, sometimes fighting at one versus ten, can find enough strength to assault us: this is simply amazing ! I see in those french soldiers the same energy than with the veterans of Verdun in 1916.
For several days now, hundreds of bombers and guns are pounding the french defence. But, it's always the same thing: our infantry and panzers can't break through, despite some local and ephemeral successes.
The french high command has very smartly set up his troops and artillery. I fear that the Dunkirk operation could be a failure for all of us: almost all the BEC will escape, because a few thousands of braves block the path to the sea. That's distressing, but that's it ! Dunkirk brings the proof that the French soldier is one of the best in the world. The french artillery, already dreaded in 1914, demonstrates once more its efficiency.
Our losses are terrifying: numerous battallions have lost 60% of their men, sometimes even more ! By resisting ten days or more to our much bigger forces, the french army has accomplished, in Dunkirk, a superb achievement that you must pay tribute to. They have certainly saved Great-Britain from the defeat, by allowing the British professional army to reach the English coast."
_ Georg Von Küchler, General of the XVIII Wehrmacht Army, War Diary.
May 18th 1940: “The Führer still worries a lot about the southern flank. he's furious and claims that we take the best path to make the whole campaign fail ! The french troops never stops counter-attacking".
May 21st 1940: "That day starts in an extremely tense atmosphere: reports indicates a serious pressure on the northern flank of the IVth army. The VIth army faces a solid front."
May 22nd 1940: "Our tanks, that are currently fighting in the south, have met a powerful enemy. Our panzerdivisionen suffer too many losses and attack without being required to. Stress is growing.
May 23rd 1940: "The losses for the tanks of our ten panzerdivisionen reach 50% ! The french resistance is fierce."
_ General Franz Halder's diary, one of the chief of staff of the Wehrmacht
@@karld888 “The prolonged defense of the French garrison played an important role in the reestablishment of British troops in Egypt. From the outset, the Free French seriously disrupted Rommel's offensive. The supply of supplies to the Afrikakorps was severely affected. The increasing concentration of the Axis to pierce this abscess saved the British 8th Army from disaster. The delays brought by the resolute resistance of the French increased the chances of the British to recover and facilitated the preparation of a counterattack. In the longer term, the slowdown in Rommel's maneuver enabled British forces to escape the planned Axis annihilation. This is how we can say, without exaggeration, that Bir Hakeim facilitated El-Alamein's defensive success. "
_ British historian Ian Playfair, on the Battle of Bir-Hakeim in 1942.
“You hear, gentlemen, what Koch is saying. This is further proof of the thesis that I have always maintained, that the French are, after us, the best soldiers in all of Europe. France will still be able, even with its current birth rate, to create a hundred divisions. After this war, we will have to form a coalition capable of militarily containing a country capable of accomplishing military feats that will amaze the world, like Bir-Hakeim. "
_ Adolf Hitler responding to journalist Lutz Koch, back from Bir Hakeim.
"In the whole course of the desert war, we never encountered a more heroic and well-sustained defence"
_ Generalmajor Friedrich von Mellenthin after Bir-Hakeim.
@@karld888 "The French Army, with its experience of more than 17 months of war, represents the best allied army. The assaults of his infantry seem irresistible despite all our firepower. Defensively, the French soldier has exceptional endurance, able to hold his position until death. During bayonet battles, he turns out to be a formidable killer, of the same value as his ancestor of Napoleon's Grande Armée.
_ Ernst Jünger, elite Sturmtruppen, wrote during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
I've been waiting for this part for the last few days! :D
‘Maybe we should run so we aren’t as easy to kill!’
**unhappy french officer noises intensify**
Oh How this could have been if made in the modern age.. This low-ass budget ITV made-for-TV drama is a bit cringey, but it sure was the best thing about in the mid 1990s.
"Sir, we're being attacked by an entire brigade" -
"Don't worry, that's about 120 guys and they'll probably just walk at us in daylight for a few minutes..."
Yes it is a problem but it does allow you to see the true caliber of the directors. In the worst Sharpe episodes it looks ridiculous, with about 20 troops on each side.
In the better episodes the director at least tries to give the illusion of a larger battle and more troops. Compare Sharpe's Company and Eagle. In Eagle the battle direction is poor, too many wide shots give the game away about how few extras they have.
In Company it looks like they have far more men because the director and editor use tricks to give that illusion. Tighter shots, having the same extra march past the camera multiple times to make the units look bigger.
Limited budgets were a problem but better film makers could overcomes those challenges.
@@johnsmith-wv4jw But wasn't it the same director - Tom Clegg - for every single one of them? Rifles and Eagle were filmed in the first year, and there are only small actions in Rifles so they would have come into Eagles cold.
Perhaps when they saw how Eagles looked at broadcast, they started working out the tricks you mention, ready for filming Company in the second year.
Well of course the attack failed, who storms a maned fort with like 40 soldiers?
Pay for the extras on set, guys! Its the only way you'll win!!!
:P
Calvet: Poor Gaston. Was it bad?
Gaston: *M E G E N A R A R D*
comitting a war crime and then shooting the french? Now thats soldiering
Not a war crime yet!
Not the first 20th century war crime we see on this 19th century historical fiction.
The triangular bayonets commonly used by infantry armed with the 'Brown Bess' are now outlawed in war.
When your outnumbered like 40 to 1 with not enough ammunition, you do what ya gotta do. Much better then falling into the hands of Duco
@Creeping Death Duco as well as being a fictional character is not after me particularly so the "advice" which wasn't advise fyi it was an explanation is hardly appropriate, besides I am a key worker I have to put myself at risk for others already so it's hardly applicable on that front alone.
You defeat your enemy any way you can, by any means necessary.
This reminds me of a battle I had in Napoleon Total War, where Blucher had a slightly battered army pushing up from Venice to Vienna, and Vienna's army attacked him at the bridge.
A few hundred Prussians ended up holding a ford against 600-700 Austrians all charging in, but they ended up routing before they did any serious damage in melee. I love this series for getting me back into that game.
Marching into battle while bearing the company's colours...now that's a death sentence!
Being a general and lead the march towards certain death. Thats soldiering
@Andrew Manche Generals weren't supposed to lead charges in the first place, but in that period they sometimes did.
That line fire advance reminds me of the similar scene in the movie Zulu, which is freaking amazing and I totally recommend to my fellow history nerds.
The British usually used the double rank as it spread the line out and allowed the British to overwhelm the French columns. In addition they used platoon fire, which in a battalion kept the firing continuous.
Calvet is my favourite frenchman in the series, truly cares for his men and doesn't seem like a fool.
1:52 finally a good voltiguer
As a frenchman, I am of course heartbroken to see my people die like this. But, it is war, and it is how it is. My god, that Sharpe fellow. Sure wished he had been on our side.
Bro you had Napoleon
@@warlawd4433 true, and we are proud. But with sharpe, nothing could of stand in our way lol
@@warlawd4433 So true. Napoleon was too OP; it took combined armies from 4 countries to defeat him.
@@Leesoldier12 If any nation had a few Sharpes, Napoleons, or Bagrations, they would dominate the world...
In the 1800s anyway.
@@dsiiic_2840 so true
0:53 I love the officer who was so eager to pick up the colours that he tossed his sword. XD
Alternative title, Sharpe commits war crimes and gets away with it
Geneva convention has not happened at that point in history
2:24 when the enemy even sents out the cook
charging enemy lines with a ladle?
now that's soldiering
It's an sapper lol
Joining two metal surfaces together using a filler metal … now that’s soldering!
I love just how large and realistic the regiments are.
Helping your steward get back to the lines - now that's just nice :)
The ending was truly beautiful
Achievement Earned:
*Hot Potato*
(I’m referring to how they kept having to pass the flag)
Who wants the "shoot me" flag next?
This is a great little series of movies. They did a really good job with them.
1:10 my guy does a whole michael jackson dance on the way down, then an elvis presley stage number on the ground for good measure🤣
0:55 guy throws away his sword to carry the banner lol
At least Gaston survived
That ending he saw what he did and helped his boy 😢that line😢 as bad as Moscow 😭his head nodding got him😭
not sure why they used that line. Napoleon got Moscow without a fight and also left it burned but also without a fight
@@oleglazarenko8295 it had been already burnt before his visit
Dumping lime on the enemy with a modern shovel in the 1810's, that's soldiering.
they had shovels in 1810
Great stuff ! A great series ! The 95th Rifles and the Baker rifle
And enfilading fire
Tough to resist and with 3 shots a minute
Unstoppable
Cheers! 🇬🇧
Love the detail that goes into making period pieces! Awesome work.
Carrying your nations military colors even if you know that you will get shot.
Now that is what I call Bravery and of course Soldiering
French Soldier: Sir it’s a literal castle full of enemies what should we do
French General: We’re just gonna slowly walk right the fuck at the front door
This is probably one of the best scenes in sharpe.
Controlled volly fire at the choke points. Thats sholdering!
No have words..... Now that's Soldiering
From Talavera to Waterloo, 6 years, Sharpe survived literally all battles he served in. And the fact that hes main character, so he cant die.
That French general really fond of his old SGT.
That’s what the Moscow campaign will do to men, make them bond, and never forget. 🧐
Richard Smith
Thanks for that imagery 😦
Кто к нам с мечем придет тот от меча и погибнет. Александр Невский
'Whoever comes to us with a sword will die from the sword. ' Alexander Nevski (Russian commander)
@@aliscander92 Napoleon managed to survive, dying of cancer.
@@DonMeaker It's just an old Russian adage. It means that: if you come to Russia with war, then you're soon will die, but if you come to Russia in peace Russians will meet you as a great guest.
The famous British thin red line, was an awesome thing !
This French act like every German in every War Movie, like: "I like to run into enemies fire without taking any cover ... cover? what is cover?"
Good to see sharp don't mind committing war crimes
That wasn't crime yet
If the French had made it sporting and not come along massively outnumbering him, used a spy to destroy the powder store and hadn't brought Duco who had already tortured Sharpe once by this point then maybe you would have a point, you don't though so hey ho.
"It will be my Turn soon."
and then keep on Marching. My salutations to you.
That scene was done on a budget of £12.62p. They received a rebate of £10.94. Bargain.
Adds a whole new meaning to "pile 'em up in the doorway"!
Being a Napoleonic army fighting as a Victorian, now that’s soldiering! 😂
Well done, Boromir!
- Get this flag from ground.
- Nope, I think it's bad idea.
- Maybe we start move quickly and stand not so close?
- Nope, I like to move it.
4:50 I've had enough, let's go to the pub
Calvet has nice plot-armor there
Been a fan of the programme since I was a kid.
What makes a good Soldier? The ability to fire 3 rounds a minute in any Weather.
Their is the Enemy, face him , front him & Kill him
Sharpe: You'll shoot officers and NCOs
General Calvert (leading the column): - My plot armor is strong.
Sharpe definitely should just have called in the RAF. The French don’t have any planes at this time but the British developed planes in 1799 with the invention of the sopwith camel.
I don't know if I'm missing a joke here or you've just got faulty history records because the Camel didn't fly until 1916. In-fact nothing heavier-than-air flew until 1903 with the wright-brothers first powered flight.
Birds are heavier than air
@@jeanclaudelabouex6805 You know what I mean :D
It was a joke my guy
@@jeanclaudelabouex6805 yeah I know, I was just playing with ya
Sharpe (despite extraneous injustices put upon him) is a 'chip on the shoulder' bully: taking every opportunity to retaliate.
They all made the exact same Schwarzenegger sound when getting shot. Great acting!
Carry on Sharpe. A classic British comedy
The poor Frogs! They just kept on coming, even though it meant certain death!
You can't deny the courage of the Frogs!
Leading your men at the head of a steady march. Now that's Generalin'
Achievement Unlocked: Rorke's Drift 1814 Edition
Repel a superior enemy using improvised defenses.
my favourite part is the smart frenchman who picks up the banner and gives it to someone else :P
1:05 I love how hes like I'm not carrying that did you see what happend to those other guys
I think this demonstrated valor on both sides, the French watching the standard bearer die seconds within touching it and still picking it up, and of those who were outnumbered and low on supply repelling the assault.
"Aim for Officers and NCOS."
Cenkris always said that was officer aim!
Using sound and innovative tactics and strategy to defeat a numerically superior opponent? Now that’s soldiering!
Shooting blinded men?
Now that's a war crime!
One of British television's better comedies.
It's nice to see an accurate depiction of the French in battle. So few accounts of them even fighting. 100 years from now they won't have a country
Why will France not have a country 100 years from now?
Gotta love a bit of sharpe !!! Awesome box set
4:11, the redcoat guy looks so badass here