Sharpe is enlisted in the army to help fight. __ In the Peninsular War, a British sergeant is field promoted to a lieutenant in charge of a disrespectful rifle company.
@@alabasterscarf612 It was, though Sharpe was filmed in the 90s after the fall of communism, while Waterloo was filmed in the 70s as a collaboration between Italy and the USSR, with actual Red Army units being used to create the giant, real armies in the film.
"I just realized, Sharpe isn't shivering from shock and awe. He's shivering because he's freezing his ass off. They filmed this in the Ukraine." Ironic considering that it's supposed to be Spain, and the reason why most Britons decide to visit Spain when they go on holiday.
@@realburglazofficial2613 The first one felt more intense, in a "we'll rip the frogs apart limb by limb" kind of way, whereas the second one felt like, "oh look at the silly frogs trying and failing."
He will encounter snobbery or worse. Promoting NCOs was sometimes paradoxical - for example, a regimental sergeant major promoted to second lieutenant in say WW1, went from being the chief NCO in a battalion, with responsibilities to the whole battalion, to being only a platoon commander. He had commissioned status but that was it.
Indeed. While the promotion was in sense a demotion from experienced and respected soldier to a rookie and bottom ranked officer, it also was the way into lower nobility. He was basically turned into a Gentleman.
This was only done for the TV show. In the books Sharpe wanted to be an officer, told another officer, who told Welsley and Welsley promoted him in India. Where as welsley asks who is is here, in the books he has known Sharpe since he was a private.
@@stevekaczynski3793 Typically a Sargeant or Warrant officer would commission to Lieutenant. They are already at the platoon level, and would probably be given a platoon. If a Master or Chief Warrant Officer (Company or Regiment/Battalion SgtMaj) commissioned, they would commission to captain, and probably end up as a staff officer.
God.... the TV version is so diluted. In the book series, it is described clearly. It requires 3 things: (1) The soldier must to something extraordinary in battle - Sharpe saves Arthur Wellesley in battle of Assaye. (2) A general must witness the deed - Wellesley obviously witnesses it. (3) The soldier must know to read and write. - Sharpe is taught by Lt.Lawson in Tippu's prison. Finally, the soldier must wish it. Sharpe had expressed that wish to his Colonel, which is told to Wellesley. Also, he was promoted to ensign rank. He becomes lieutenant later when he joins the rifles, which doesn't have ensign rank.
@@hillbill79 Can't remember where I read it - probably in one of the Sharpe books. Infantrymen often got hit with a sabre across the back, got knocked down but were surprised to find themselves unhurt, because they were wearing their pack, which took the blow.
2:28 And so history was made, and all of France shruddered in danger, as Wellesley had unleashed a weapon. An unstoppable force, one man who could rout whole armies
what your saying he has wide avenue for decisions that may outstrip his "official" capacity, the simmerson wondering how wellington can promote on merit
@@casaMariaPT His name was Arthur Wellesley, he was knighted Sir Arthur, and for his service was made the Duke of Wellington, so he was Sir Arthur Wellesly, the Duke of Wellington. The lads called him Old Nosey cause of his large nose. This was not seen as too disrespectful, because he treated his men well by the time's standards, and pubicly called them "The scum of the earth", so it's only fair they had a nickname for him too. Both nicknames seem fitting and accurate so I guess so no-one was offended in them days.
@@rhaivaen Hey - when you put a Mustang on your staff, they know when not to do exactly as you told them. xD If they do exactly as you told them, you're either a fine officer yourself, or they're trying to get you in trouble 'cause you're not!
When I started reading the Sharpe books it was sort of a guilty pleasure. Sharpe came across as a military superman who went through all sorts of unlikely trials (getting stuck in the chimney in Copenhagen?) and always getting out of them. He' was always pretty sure of what he was doing (at least, in battle situations). The later part of the series, though... he's a great deal more rounded out as a character. Looks like they've changed the story somewhat for the TV series. Did the TV series start in India? Given that it's a relatively low budget TV series (as opposed to a movie), fights which should have involved a company seem to involve a half platoon at most. Wonder what the BIG battles look like - I'll have to go looking.
The whole bit with Sharpe standing at attention while bleeding out reminded me of what happened with Charles Nungessor, a French pilot during WWI - he was one of the top French aces, but was also notorious for his wild partying (he flew some missions hungover, still wearing the tuxedo he had worn the night before under his flying clothes), wild womanizing, and his tendency to be totally reckless in combat, so he not only shot down a lot of Germans, he also wound up getting shot down a lot himself (he ended the war having broken literally almost every bone in his body from air crashes). During one dogfight, he got badly wounded by the Germans, managed to limp his plane back to French lines, crash landed, crawled out of the wreckage, and found that the French troops in the area were all standing at attention for inspection from a visiting general...he got in line, stood at attention, and only passed out after he had passed inspection. The man was a lunatic.
Having the makeup department give you a frankly unconvincing prosthetic nose which you manage to keep on your face despite falling into the river-that’s soldiering
Battlefield commissions for NCOs were fairly rare but did occur during the era when most officers purchased their rank. Not surprisingly the newly promoted faced social challenges - even in the Third Reich, officers promoted from the ranks were sometimes derisively nicknamed VOMAGs - an abbreviation for "people's officer with a working class face". Earlier, in the WW1 German army, there was a class of "Feldwebel Leutnants" who had junior officer responsibilities but still wore NCO collar braid. Their status as more than NCOs but not really officers but still doing the work of officers was irksome to them.
@@Axemantitan, interesting, i grew up around minnonites fled religious persecution in germany, being pacifists, they cant say much about military life lol. they spoke 2 types of german, high and low. i dunno if its even the same language, but the girls are nice, and the men are hard working, the girls are real nice
1:58 I love how the French cavalry ... all 3 of them ... were totally outnumbered, but the rest of the British just stood there on the riverbank and watched.
Everyone but Sharpe, who was a Sergeant, looks to have been unarmed.. and very obviously not mounted. Obviously not expecting any battle to take place they had left their rifles at camp, with only Sharpe (conveniently) bringing his along. The entire crowd arrived by the time Sharpe had already saved Wellington. Of course in the books this is not how Sharpe saved Wellington. It was a much more grand spectacle. But saving the life of a General is the same whether it was done in spectacular fashion or from a small scout patrol. I imagine it's not unbelievable to be receiving a Field Commission if you save the life of the Field Marshal... with the expectation of training to become an officer to follow. Still, this was a good, quick way of setting the scene of the Officer the story revolves around rather than the NCO.
Now I'm imagining a crossover. Aubrey and Hornblower command a squadron on some special assignment, with Sharpe handling things on land. Of course, it culminates in all three men leading a boarding action against a French warship.
@@EHou01 yes he was made a sergeant after rescuing colonel mccandless and he was made an ensign after saving Arthur Wellesleys life when his horse was killed beneath him, the book also mentions he was a corporal a few times but was demoted due to his behaviour
@@onebullet2689 He was made a Sergeant because he was due to be lashed, but then offered the - frankly suicidal - mission with Lawford. He said three stripes was better than 200 and if he survived he wanted to be promoted to Sergeant.
@@EHou01 he was not an Ensign while in the Rifles because the Rifles do not have ensigns , being a company taken from other battalions' best shooters. Sharpe is a Leftenant almost from the get-go
In the books there was a big battle and plenty of British redcoats (not rifles) died and Sharpe was last man standing left fighting off a bunch of French with a cannon rammer while General Wellington was laid out stunned between the wheels of the cannon. Then the English Cavalry arrived and drove off the French. Sharpe swore he was just trying not to get killed but the fact was he pushed Wellington under the cannon and stood over him with the rammer. In the books Sharpe is a big bastard and so is Sgt Patrick Harper. I like the actors in this series but in the books they are big bastards. This makes it more believable that Sharpe can beat up the Sultans strongmen and fight off a bunch of Frenchmen with a cannon rammer. I don't know if the TV series goes into Sharpe's childhood but he was a London orphan and brought up rough and had to learn to fight for survival. Once he is an officer and get leave he goes back to London looks up some people who ran the orphanage gives some he liked money and kills some he didn't like. "Remember me?" Richard Sharpe?" My How you have grown Richard." Yes I have and that's a bit of hard luck for you now isn't it."
Which book was the one with the French and the cannon rammer? I only rmb the scene during the Battle of Assaye in Sharpe's Triumph where he pushed Wellington between the cannon and fought of mixed groups of Maratha gunners and horsemen with a light cavalry sabre and got his comission as an Ensign afterwards.
@@broncosgjn No worries, mate. But you're right about Sharpe and Harper being huge buggers. In Sharpe's sword, there was the intro with the French colonel who was horrified at how big Sharpe was and was even more alarmed to see Harper.
My father was proud of his cousin Freddie Milne, who was commissioned in the field in May 1918 - He was a 19 year old Colour Sergeant in 7th London Regiment at the time and during the German spring offensive in France.
I love how the same sword swipe that just gives him a medium cut on his back is the same one that effortlessly kills soldiers throughout the rest of the series 🤣🤣
Once you have seen it, you cannot unsee it: All those extras just standing in the background, not giving a damn ;) Some of them are like five seconds away. "Should be help?" ... "naaaaaah ..."
Richard Sharpe The only character that deserves an electric guitar solo as his theme during the Napoleonic wars. Sean Bean dies in every thing he's been in since, only to keep the scales balanced!
I've never watched the series outside of clips of seen here, but over my life have read the series several times over. Long time ago was the last read through, but from what I remember I did quite like Hogan and his dry sense of humour.
Can't help but notice the 80s guitar rock being used to hype up the action. That and the fact that the French cavalry apparently were getting their fashion advice from Chef Boyardee.
@@MadPhantom FACEPALM. An NCO is NOT a lieutenant ffs! You don't get to try and tell people it's not a "commission" when other ranks specifically talk about being NOT commissioned. Especially if you don't know that Lieutenant is a commissioned rank.
Shush haha. I suspect this scene was hobbled together in about 5 mins when the original actor set to play sharpe was injured whilst filming and Bean had to be flown in.
It’s because of the typical expedience of movies and TV programs moving so far from source materials. In the book series Sharpe saves Wellington in India as a redcoat if the 33rd Regt of Foot in battle. Given a commission as Ensign and sent to the rifles as they are new and like Sharpe unconventional. Series suffered badly due to this straying from the books
I like the touch that Sharpe just received a massive gouge to the back with that sabre cut and visibly struggling to maintain decorum and proper posture in the face of his commander in chief. All that shivering and gasping is probably from the tremendous amount of pain he's in from the open, bleeding wound he just suffered.
Real life, it was just cold the day they were filming, and Sean Bean is wearing a wet shirt. Story-wise, Sharpe was always nervous around Wellington. And there would be the adrenaline after what's just happened. It's not the wound, which isn't serious at all - just a shallow cut. He's taken worse wounds than this, with much less of a reaction.
You make it an epic battle on a shoestring budget. Also sometimes less is more. Biting over more than one can chew could easily lead to chaotic storytelling. I've never read the books and I am sure I would be disappointed if I had before watching the series -- knowing what kind of epic battles took place in the book. However for the TV screen it always makes sense to downscale things a good bit, even if the budget is still there. Just for the sake of easy viewing. And Sharpe was easy viewing with damn fine actors.
@@Catonzo True, only the specials with him in India are shot with more budget. And that is still subpar. If it were done today with a GOT budget it would be a seriously insane series. But it has a nostalgic feeling watching these old series. It really is good as it is and should remain untouched.
The description calls it an enlistment, but it's not. An enlist is a regular soldier from private to sergeant. An officer is commissioned and that's a very important distinction. Interestingly enough, a commonly shown situation in the show is inexperienced lieutenants who know less than veteran sergeants. This is still the case today. The highest ranked enlist is still lower than a novice officer
Recognized Brian Cox right away. He is always good. I agree it is unlikely that Lord Wellington would be out riding by himself, but strange things happen. Old style combat is always interesting- 1 shot, then swords. Just imagine the difference a lever action rifle or pump shotgun would make.
dude a well trained ranger of today if they could go back with a m4 would wipe out the entire british and french regiment that's just how far we have come.
I've never heard of this movie/series. I don't even know what it is but I can't stop watching the clips. Gonna go do some research now. I want to watch this in it's entirety.
1:28 you hear the gun shot of a musket which leads u to believe the horse got shot instead of trip bringing Wellseley to his knees then you see the horse alive and well.
"Now I am going to do you a damn bad one."
At least he's upfront about it...
At least he isn't OCS Butter Bar.
The Burden of Command
There's another old saying that's related. "Good work, and you know what the reward for that is, more difficult, dangerous work. "
@@douglascanoose5281 Facts. I'd take a mustang leading me over a fresh butterbar (hell even some up to Capt.) any day.
@@echoct506 amen brother....those rank virgins only get you killed
I just realized, Sharpe isn't shivering from shock and awe. He's shivering because he's freezing his ass off. They filmed this in the Ukraine.
Wasn't the film 'Waterloo' also filmed in the Ukraine?
@@alabasterscarf612 It was, though Sharpe was filmed in the 90s after the fall of communism, while Waterloo was filmed in the 70s as a collaboration between Italy and the USSR, with actual Red Army units being used to create the giant, real armies in the film.
"Ukraine" is a country, not a temperature. The Ukraine may not be Florida, but it ain't Wisconsin either.
@@ricksimon9867 Since you called it The Ukraine in your follow up sentence, you're comment cancelled itself out.
"I just realized, Sharpe isn't shivering from shock and awe. He's shivering because he's freezing his ass off. They filmed this in the Ukraine."
Ironic considering that it's supposed to be Spain, and the reason why most Britons decide to visit Spain when they go on holiday.
A man who uploads Sharpe clips earns the Kings friendship. I like your style, sir.
Ha-ha😁😁
@@paulpurves484 Best comment ever.
Major Lennox uploaded with his life, Sir!
@@stevenwebb3634 "You will be the first to see a Sharpe Upload, Sir. It is not a pretty sight."
@@peterclarke7240 upon sighting a Sharpe upload I click on it. That's my style, Sir.
How many people didn't realize that the electric guitar was invented in the late 18th Century by Ben Franklin?
Well, Abe Lincoln did fight in the Golden Gloves...
No doubt powered by that kite in the sky ...
I did, and Eddie Van Halen stole the opening riff of "Ain't talkin' bout love" from Franklin himself. th-cam.com/video/Y-IUB62zDlA/w-d-xo.html
Les Paul.
Amazing, one can say Ben Franklin was a... radical Revolutionary.
I'll be leaving now...
Then, as in ancient times, Agamemnon was wise to keep Odysseus close by...
Great Troy reference lol
Now that is funneh
AHA! I was just thinking - jesus christ that guys voice sounds familiar!! Thanks :)
@@decado7 NO WAY! he looks like Sean Bean but now that you've mentioned it you're right!!!
That Sack of Wine!!!
The actor that portrayed Wellington in the first couple of Sharpe's episodes was by far the best.
I only realised they changed him now...
@@AmTrFilms Same with Hogan.
They were both good at being Wellington, David Troughton (the first actor) looked more like the real Wellington though.
@@realburglazofficial2613
The first one felt more intense, in a "we'll rip the frogs apart limb by limb" kind of way, whereas the second one felt like, "oh look at the silly frogs trying and failing."
@Peter T yeah it was a prop, but by all accounts Wellington did have a _very_ 'roman' nose.
You have to appreciate how Wellington knows that making Sharpe an officer is a double-edged sword for the poor guy.
He will encounter snobbery or worse. Promoting NCOs was sometimes paradoxical - for example, a regimental sergeant major promoted to second lieutenant in say WW1, went from being the chief NCO in a battalion, with responsibilities to the whole battalion, to being only a platoon commander. He had commissioned status but that was it.
Indeed. While the promotion was in sense a demotion from experienced and respected soldier to a rookie and bottom ranked officer, it also was the way into lower nobility. He was basically turned into a Gentleman.
This was only done for the TV show. In the books Sharpe wanted to be an officer, told another officer, who told Welsley and Welsley promoted him in India. Where as welsley asks who is is here, in the books he has known Sharpe since he was a private.
@@stephen2583 in the books, Sharpe was commissioned in the field after saving Wellesley’s life during the battle of Assaye.
@@stevekaczynski3793 Typically a Sargeant or Warrant officer would commission to Lieutenant. They are already at the platoon level, and would probably be given a platoon. If a Master or Chief Warrant Officer (Company or Regiment/Battalion SgtMaj) commissioned, they would commission to captain, and probably end up as a staff officer.
One does not simply walk into a field promotion
or away from one at that
Sharpe had good reputation, so it had to happen soon enough
@@Stoneleafs I read all these comments with an English accent, best damn thing I've done in my entire life.
God.... the TV version is so diluted. In the book series, it is described clearly. It requires 3 things:
(1) The soldier must to something extraordinary in battle - Sharpe saves Arthur Wellesley in battle of Assaye.
(2) A general must witness the deed - Wellesley obviously witnesses it.
(3) The soldier must know to read and write. - Sharpe is taught by Lt.Lawson in Tippu's prison.
Finally, the soldier must wish it. Sharpe had expressed that wish to his Colonel, which is told to Wellesley. Also, he was promoted to ensign rank. He becomes lieutenant later when he joins the rifles, which doesn't have ensign rank.
Not?
Then?
Whoever started uploading these clips is a gentleman and a squire.
Ohloveeh margiiii
Gentleman and a scholar
Ohloveeh more like a capitalist
Damn your impudence, man!
missing the full episodes though . this is a great series
Sharpe to the rescue, while the rest of the company just stands around...
They were on a break.
philip013 Tea break!
Those sleepin bastards
I think the rest of the company was a bit further off and didn't see until they heard gunshots.
Am I the only one who thinks that the extras were actually cardboard cutouts? Lol they don't move.
Surviving a huge sabre cut to the back - that's soldiering.
I'm still wondering why he didn't block it with his rifle rather than his back
@@hillbill79 Can't remember where I read it - probably in one of the Sharpe books. Infantrymen often got hit with a sabre across the back, got knocked down but were surprised to find themselves unhurt, because they were wearing their pack, which took the blow.
@@iskandartaib Yeah, i remember that aswell.
just a flesh wound
Tis, but a scratch!
0:08 This guy dies several times each episode. Now that's soldiering.
@@Sirvalian So he's me playing BF1
2:28
And so history was made, and all of France shruddered in danger, as Wellesley had unleashed a weapon. An unstoppable force, one man who could rout whole armies
As a French from Bordeaux I concur, I can't barely sleep at night knowing that Sharpe might be still around, hunting French.
It's OK Martin. He's happy to stay in Normandy and farm these days. You could probably swing by for a drink and a chat about the old days.
Or at least 20-30 locally hired extras, representing an entire battalion provided they don't zoom out! 😂
Brian Cox is outstanding as an Officer who understands all sides, being a soldier, NCO and Officer.
he's a spymaster, an exploratory officer and an engineer. Men like this would form the basis for MI6 and British intelligence.
And a Physicist ...
@@SantomPh yep 👍
what your saying he has wide avenue for decisions that may outstrip his "official" capacity, the simmerson wondering how wellington can promote on merit
imagine the pressure, you need to produce results
The electric metal guitar really made the scene...
The sarcasm is strong in this one.
@@Balinux Period specific electric guitar, quite historic.
Likely played through a Magpie amplifier.
Nothing says 'Napoleonic war drama' quite like an electric guitar
It made the series most attractive to watch.
Nice to see Sean Bean (a) looking so young and (b) not dying for once.
nice
The show started a few years before Goldeneye, he was in his early 30's at the time.
Sean Bean is a tomcat.
Unfortunately, he used up all of his lives while filming Sharpe...
Sean Bean dies in every movie to balance out all the people he killed as Sharpe.
@lindildeev5721 but he's been dying since his 20s lol
Rescuing Lord Wellington
That's Soldiering
He was wellsley. he became lord wellington after waterloo.
Actually I think he was Wellesley, until talavera when he is made a viscount
I thought he was already Wellington and "Wellsley" was his nickname from the lads.....
@@casaMariaPT Sir Arthur Wellesley is his actual personal name.
@@casaMariaPT His name was Arthur Wellesley, he was knighted Sir Arthur, and for his service was made the Duke of Wellington, so he was Sir Arthur Wellesly, the Duke of Wellington. The lads called him Old Nosey cause of his large nose. This was not seen as too disrespectful, because he treated his men well by the time's standards, and pubicly called them "The scum of the earth", so it's only fair they had a nickname for him too. Both nicknames seem fitting and accurate so I guess so no-one was offended in them days.
"He'll need a mentor."
"Hogan you keep your hands off him
And then he ignores hands off anyway, 😂
@@rhaivaen Hey - when you put a Mustang on your staff, they know when not to do exactly as you told them. xD If they do exactly as you told them, you're either a fine officer yourself, or they're trying to get you in trouble 'cause you're not!
@@gwendolynerosehand54 Hogan is not a Mustang, he is an Engineer- meaning he was commissioned solely on merit, unlike most of the Army
@@SantomPh "Major Hogan's coat buttons tight over a number of other duties, sir @SantomPh"
porn soundtrack fades in
This series inspired me to read every single book written by Bernard Cornwell about Sharpes Rifles. Twice. About 23 all together.
Now that’s readering
@@jjkunzler I laughed. I did.
Worth it?
@@craigrfoley definitely worth it. The books are much better.
When I started reading the Sharpe books it was sort of a guilty pleasure. Sharpe came across as a military superman who went through all sorts of unlikely trials (getting stuck in the chimney in Copenhagen?) and always getting out of them. He' was always pretty sure of what he was doing (at least, in battle situations). The later part of the series, though... he's a great deal more rounded out as a character. Looks like they've changed the story somewhat for the TV series. Did the TV series start in India? Given that it's a relatively low budget TV series (as opposed to a movie), fights which should have involved a company seem to involve a half platoon at most. Wonder what the BIG battles look like - I'll have to go looking.
Now get me to the surgeon. I am bleeding out standing here.
The whole bit with Sharpe standing at attention while bleeding out reminded me of what happened with Charles Nungessor, a French pilot during WWI - he was one of the top French aces, but was also notorious for his wild partying (he flew some missions hungover, still wearing the tuxedo he had worn the night before under his flying clothes), wild womanizing, and his tendency to be totally reckless in combat, so he not only shot down a lot of Germans, he also wound up getting shot down a lot himself (he ended the war having broken literally almost every bone in his body from air crashes). During one dogfight, he got badly wounded by the Germans, managed to limp his plane back to French lines, crash landed, crawled out of the wreckage, and found that the French troops in the area were all standing at attention for inspection from a visiting general...he got in line, stood at attention, and only passed out after he had passed inspection. The man was a lunatic.
The surgeon's first course of treatment is to immediately bleed him.
Just a scratch...
@@dlxmarks Yes, they needed to remove the bad humours and the only way to do that was to sap their precious bodily fluids.
@@killersalmon4359 cheers for that, sounds like an interesting guy to check out
Brian Cox is my all-time favorite actor he kills every role.
Agreed he is brillient
And Sean Bean dies in every role. A perfect match.
A wee wiff o' quim in the morning, Mr Sharpe, Sir. Just the thing to clear yer head.
The original Hannibal Lecter--or "Lecktor" as it's spelled in Manhunter.
Killing every role you get, thats soldiering
I’ve always loved how not a single other solider does a dam thing
Having the makeup department give you a frankly unconvincing prosthetic nose which you manage to keep on your face despite falling into the river-that’s soldiering
That's not a nose, that's an axe-blade.
that's field marshall-ing!
Battlefield commissions for NCOs were fairly rare but did occur during the era when most officers purchased their rank. Not surprisingly the newly promoted faced social challenges - even in the Third Reich, officers promoted from the ranks were sometimes derisively nicknamed VOMAGs - an abbreviation for "people's officer with a working class face". Earlier, in the WW1 German army, there was a class of "Feldwebel Leutnants" who had junior officer responsibilities but still wore NCO collar braid. Their status as more than NCOs but not really officers but still doing the work of officers was irksome to them.
VOMAG = Volksoffizier Mit Arbeiter Gesicht.
The Feldwebel Lieutenants that you describe sound similar to American warrant officers.
I had never heard of someone referring to the nazis like that
the real ones are the ones who got a new country@@Kraken160th
@@Axemantitan, interesting, i grew up around minnonites fled religious persecution in germany, being pacifists, they cant say much about military life lol. they spoke 2 types of german, high and low. i dunno if its even the same language, but the girls are nice, and the men are hard working, the girls are real nice
they may be passifists, but they are not afraid of a fistfight, lol. may have happened meeting those nice girls lol
1:58 I love how the French cavalry ... all 3 of them ... were totally outnumbered, but the rest of the British just stood there on the riverbank and watched.
Yeah, budget wasn't great and they couldn't just CGI more troops in back in the early 90's when this series was made.
@@BlunderMunchkin thank god they couldn't. This is quality production.
Well, he did say to look down.
@@BlunderMunchkin must be low budget if they could only get 3 horse riders. 3 !
But I’m sure many more would have done it for free.
Everyone but Sharpe, who was a Sergeant, looks to have been unarmed.. and very obviously not mounted. Obviously not expecting any battle to take place they had left their rifles at camp, with only Sharpe (conveniently) bringing his along. The entire crowd arrived by the time Sharpe had already saved Wellington.
Of course in the books this is not how Sharpe saved Wellington. It was a much more grand spectacle. But saving the life of a General is the same whether it was done in spectacular fashion or from a small scout patrol. I imagine it's not unbelievable to be receiving a Field Commission if you save the life of the Field Marshal... with the expectation of training to become an officer to follow.
Still, this was a good, quick way of setting the scene of the Officer the story revolves around rather than the NCO.
Sharpe was so badass, he survived be played by Sean Bean.
This and Hornblower. 👍👍
I'd go with Patrick O'Brien's Master & Commander series as well
Hornblower was great!
*Aerrowflex* Totally agree. I just wish they'd made more episodes of Hornblower.
This pissed all over Hornblower.
Now I'm imagining a crossover. Aubrey and Hornblower command a squadron on some special assignment, with Sharpe handling things on land. Of course, it culminates in all three men leading a boarding action against a French warship.
"Then, as fortune would have it, the Romulans made a foolhardy attempt to board our ship. I earned a battlefield commission."
The Romulans were able to board the Enterprise because the dilithium crystals had cracked, and Scotty hadn't yet repaired them.
@@starguy2718thats just his style sir
He was a non commissioned office. He’s now a commissioned officer.
He was a Sargent. He came from the ranks. Was promoted to Ensign, not Lieutenant.
@@EHou01 yes he was made a sergeant after rescuing colonel mccandless and he was made an ensign after saving Arthur Wellesleys life when his horse was killed beneath him, the book also mentions he was a corporal a few times but was demoted due to his behaviour
@@EHou01 a Sergeant IS a non-commissioned officer.. that's what NCO means.
@@onebullet2689 He was made a Sergeant because he was due to be lashed, but then offered the - frankly suicidal - mission with Lawford. He said three stripes was better than 200 and if he survived he wanted to be promoted to Sergeant.
@@EHou01 he was not an Ensign while in the Rifles because the Rifles do not have ensigns , being a company taken from other battalions' best shooters. Sharpe is a Leftenant almost from the get-go
In the books there was a big battle and plenty of British redcoats (not rifles) died and Sharpe was last man standing left fighting off a bunch of French with a cannon rammer while General Wellington was laid out stunned between the wheels of the cannon. Then the English Cavalry arrived and drove off the French. Sharpe swore he was just trying not to get killed but the fact was he pushed Wellington under the cannon and stood over him with the rammer. In the books Sharpe is a big bastard and so is Sgt Patrick Harper. I like the actors in this series but in the books they are big bastards. This makes it more believable that Sharpe can beat up the Sultans strongmen and fight off a bunch of Frenchmen with a cannon rammer.
I don't know if the TV series goes into Sharpe's childhood but he was a London orphan and brought up rough and had to learn to fight for survival. Once he is an officer and get leave he goes back to London looks up some people who ran the orphanage gives some he liked money and kills some he didn't like. "Remember me?" Richard Sharpe?" My How you have grown Richard." Yes I have and that's a bit of hard luck for you now isn't it."
He does mention to the Spanish woman he marries of his rough and tumble past.
Which book was the one with the French and the cannon rammer? I only rmb the scene during the Battle of Assaye in Sharpe's Triumph where he pushed Wellington between the cannon and fought of mixed groups of Maratha gunners and horsemen with a light cavalry sabre and got his comission as an Ensign afterwards.
@@arthurpendragonsyt you are correct sir. i bought every damn book and watched the series. only way to go. sharpe/hornblower excellent.
@@arthurpendragonsyt I cant remember and I could be wrong because i am old and incontinent.
@@broncosgjn No worries, mate. But you're right about Sharpe and Harper being huge buggers. In Sharpe's sword, there was the intro with the French colonel who was horrified at how big Sharpe was and was even more alarmed to see Harper.
My father was proud of his cousin Freddie Milne, who was commissioned in the field in May 1918 - He was a 19 year
old Colour Sergeant in 7th London Regiment at the time and
during the German spring offensive in France.
the historic Wellington probably would have said "thank you sergeant. here's money for a new uniform."
Convenient, how that second French dude happens to fall onto a dry surface in the middle of that river so his pistol remains usable for Sharpe...
well, sharpedid calculate the angle point of his strike just so that it would land dry so he could use it.
not to mention the third guy politely waited so sharpe would be ready when it came to his turn
@@imedi They were dressed as lancers but did not carry lances. If they had, it might have proved a bigger problem for Sharpe.
It was also polite of the French cavalry man to go after Sharpe with a sword instead of just shooting him with his pistol.
@@kaczynskis5721
Well, once you get past the point, it's just like killing rabbits.
Saving the commander of the British Army in the Peninsula less than 5 minutes into the series . . . That's soldiering.
Who needs an entire division standing by and watching when you have Sharp?
I love how the same sword swipe that just gives him a medium cut on his back is the same one that effortlessly kills soldiers throughout the rest of the series 🤣🤣
Thats because hes got armor on. Plot Armor
Spoilsport and picky😂
@@cliffamesbury1071 nobody’s perfect 😂
Love the rock-ish guitar they use for the added tension lol
*22 FEB 2019 @ 22,37 UTC*
Reminds me of the electric guitar riffs in the movie, _"Top Gun."_ Of course, Sharpe's electric guitar burned coal!
@@dr.ryttmastarecctm6595 The other kind had to be plugged in to a water wheel.
It looks like a great show, but that key-tar is off-putting.
arafdi I understand why the music coordinator did not receive an academy award.
Thats actually the one thing that I dont like about the show, everything else is great
Sharpe was put on a 30 days limited duty profile and no PT.
Having a surrender flag, handily wrapped around your hat, that's French soldiering
Brilliant 😂
Whats worse is that they're wearing a polish cap
@@beepboop8949 I think they mixed up polish Lancers and cavalry
That's the funniest comment in ALL of these videos! My belly hurts.
Hogan is that one dude. We all know who he is, I can’t point it out exactly.
Brian Cox?
I think he was once a Russian spy who helped Sgt McClain in that one movie that was named after a color
And he hates the word 'shenanigans'
He is Brian Cox. Aka Agammenon in the movie Troy, which also stars Sean Bean.
XDD
Whover set the pickets for that camp (or failed to by the look of things) needs a flogging.
In the books his field commission was slightly more interesting!
When Agamemnon takes young Stark under his wing., now that's soldiering
That's Ulysses, so that doesn't hurt.
@@JnEricsonx holy fuck he did play that role in Troy!! lol
Loved Brian Cox in it. Shame he departed part way through the series.
Why don't they make shows like this anymore. I don't know anyone who watched an episode who didn't become a fan...
Once you have seen it, you cannot unsee it: All those extras just standing in the background, not giving a damn ;) Some of them are like five seconds away. "Should be help?" ... "naaaaaah ..."
bystander syndrome, probably no officer to command them
@@TrueFork
But the French have weapons. Sheer self preservation should result it some action.
Sean Bean's survival skills have improved!
Best bit of tv ever, apart from when the Duke chewed out Simmerson, what a brilliant piece of acting.
apparently they could hear that conversation back at Horse Guards! 🤣
So the narrator from Civ 6 and the captain for super troopers got together....
Awesome!!! So there is a Civ 6!
Hogan was a terrific character. This series had a lot of cards, but he was really good.
And you could tell how well Hogan and Sharpe could communicate. Both quick on the uptake.
...I just discovered "Sharpe" - Thank you!
One day there will be a Sharpe Hornblower Aubrey shared universe and i hope i live to see it.
Richard Sharpe
The only character that deserves an electric guitar solo as his theme during the Napoleonic wars. Sean Bean dies in every thing he's been in since, only to keep the scales balanced!
“That’s my boy,” deserved a hearty slap on the back...
"Men are dirty, Fender Stratocasters are clean, sir"
"Eyes down."
That attitude didn't last long!
Saving the Duke Of Wellington's life Now That's Soldiering
Stunning how he managed to get a a 1970s hair style all those years ago
Bringing your electric guitar to the battlefield- that's soldiering.
I like how all those soldiers and officers in the background sat and watched the whole thing!
Standing around watching your commander in chief get attacked...that's soldiering
Each time something exciting happens, Steve Vai chimes in with his guitar to express his opinion.
HOLY SHIT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SHOW FOR YEARS NOW
2:31 tfw you're made a lieutenant in the 95th
Shooting a Dragoon with a slashed shoulder..... NOW THATS SOLDIERING 💪🏻😄
What a scene this is!
Sharpe saves Wellesy life and takes down 3 frogs
I was hooked on the series when I first saw this scene
I've never watched the series outside of clips of seen here, but over my life have read the series several times over. Long time ago was the last read through, but from what I remember I did quite like Hogan and his dry sense of humour.
Frogs? I'm guessing you're Brexit.
Using brandy to dissolve that dried blood stain. Now that’s solventing.
"As long as it's safe sir." 🤣
And so it begins. ......
They spent the entire budget on training the dog to follow the horse.
Can't help but notice the 80s guitar rock being used to hype up the action. That and the fact that the French cavalry apparently were getting their fashion advice from Chef Boyardee.
lol.
Funny!
Something something...
That's soldiering
I have a cousin at horse guards and I have friends at court.....
Sharpe was already in the army. He just got promoted.
He wasn't commissioned though, he was a sergeant
What does the C in NCO stand for?
@@TheBaconWizard Yes but the N stands for Non hence he wasn't commissioned as he was a Non Commissioned Officer
@@MadPhantom FACEPALM. An NCO is NOT a lieutenant ffs! You don't get to try and tell people it's not a "commission" when other ranks specifically talk about being NOT commissioned. Especially if you don't know that Lieutenant is a commissioned rank.
@@TheBaconWizard...What are you talking about?
Isn't it a little weird that so many soldiers and officers witnessed the attack on their general and yet only Sharpe intervened?
Shush haha. I suspect this scene was hobbled together in about 5 mins when the original actor set to play sharpe was injured whilst filming and Bean had to be flown in.
They are not armed. Sharpe, being a Rifleman has his gun to hand.
@@SantomPh - Sharpe was not a Rifleman yet.
It’s because of the typical expedience of movies and TV programs moving so far from source materials. In the book series Sharpe saves Wellington in India as a redcoat if the 33rd Regt of Foot in battle. Given a commission as Ensign and sent to the rifles as they are new and like Sharpe unconventional. Series suffered badly due to this straying from the books
@@ronaldfox4964 budget.
They could remake it now if they spent money on it.
These BF1 mods keep getting better.
free_at_last awesome
Bad joke
sometimes the internet is is still a fun place to be
If they actually made a BF or COD game for the Napoleonic wars, that would be awesome.
ROFL "Sharpe-the-last-of-us" !
I like the touch that Sharpe just received a massive gouge to the back with that sabre cut and visibly struggling to maintain decorum and proper posture in the face of his commander in chief. All that shivering and gasping is probably from the tremendous amount of pain he's in from the open, bleeding wound he just suffered.
Real life, it was just cold the day they were filming, and Sean Bean is wearing a wet shirt. Story-wise, Sharpe was always nervous around Wellington. And there would be the adrenaline after what's just happened.
It's not the wound, which isn't serious at all - just a shallow cut. He's taken worse wounds than this, with much less of a reaction.
i often wonder if Hogun hadn't had his eye on young sergeant Sharpe already....
for other uses maybe. He was Intel and Sharpe as a SGT already had a number of notable achievements in India.
That's Sean Bean...why didn't he die?
cuz u haven't seen all episodes yet :p
i watched these long before bean dying became a thing. To me it's offensive. Bean will always be the great unconquerable Sharpe to me.
Sharpe can't die ans Sean Bean can only die...it's the unstoppable force vs the immovable object.
Literally the only thing Sean Bean has been in where he doesnt die! :D
@@spwicks1980 well one of the very few roles he survived..... but I see your point
The way he saved Wellington in the book was much more heroic.
You make it an epic battle on a shoestring budget. Also sometimes less is more. Biting over more than one can chew could easily lead to chaotic storytelling. I've never read the books and I am sure I would be disappointed if I had before watching the series -- knowing what kind of epic battles took place in the book. However for the TV screen it always makes sense to downscale things a good bit, even if the budget is still there. Just for the sake of easy viewing. And Sharpe was easy viewing with damn fine actors.
@@Catonzo True, only the specials with him in India are shot with more budget. And that is still subpar. If it were done today with a GOT budget it would be a seriously insane series. But it has a nostalgic feeling watching these old series. It really is good as it is and should remain untouched.
That soundtrack! It was the electric guitar that won the fight.
"A Natural Born Officer"... not sure there's a worse insult in the universe.
I never saw this before, thank you so much for uploading these videos.
I went and watched the whole series because of this channel and I just want to say thanks, Original Poster.
The french even had their surrender flags built into their hats! Wow, I didn't realize that before!
Firing a flintlock rifle without a huge flash, smoke, or recoil...now that's soldiering.
And so it begins.
Never noticed till now, Hogan arrived saber in hand - an intelligence officer he may be but no coward. He was ready to throw down
The description calls it an enlistment, but it's not. An enlist is a regular soldier from private to sergeant. An officer is commissioned and that's a very important distinction. Interestingly enough, a commonly shown situation in the show is inexperienced lieutenants who know less than veteran sergeants. This is still the case today. The highest ranked enlist is still lower than a novice officer
Coda Mission Going from private to sergeant isn’t an enlistment, it’s called a promotion😂. An enlistment is when someone enters into enlisted service.
Upon sighting this clip in my feed, I immediately played it, as is my style Sir.
Recognized Brian Cox right away. He is always good. I agree it is unlikely that Lord Wellington would be out riding by himself, but strange things happen. Old style combat is always interesting- 1 shot, then swords. Just imagine the difference a lever action rifle or pump shotgun would make.
dude a well trained ranger of today if they could go back with a m4 would wipe out the entire british and french regiment that's just how far we have come.
Saving your commanding officer from attack and earning a field commission in the process? Now THAT'S soldiering!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the books, didn't Sharpe get his commission by saving Wellesley's life at the Battle of Assaye?
Yes, but they did this so they could skip that early stuff and focus just on the Napoleonic war.
One of my all time favorite shows.
"With fourteen shillings on the drum. . ."
me too
With forty shillings on the drum... not fourteen
"Give the ring to Frodo"
"As you wish. I care not..................bastid"
Love that Hogan immediately takes Sharpe under his wing, realizing the problems he'll face.
Agamemnon and Boromir hwah what a pair !
Odysseus you mean?
I've never heard of this movie/series. I don't even know what it is but I can't stop watching the clips. Gonna go do some research now. I want to watch this in it's entirety.
Gilbert Torres you should read the book it’s amazing
Gettin a field comission... Now that's soldierin.
David Troughton was perfect as
Sir Arthur Wellesley
"capital choice sir" hahah this guy is always so coked xD
1:28 you hear the gun shot of a musket which leads u to believe the horse got shot instead of trip bringing Wellseley to his knees then you see the horse alive and well.
..and the dog?