Sharpe's Siege (TV programme)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sharpe's Siege | |
|---|---|
 Title screen from Sharpe's Siege |
|
| Genre | Military drama |
| Running time | 100 min. |
| Director(s) | Tom Clegg |
| Producer(s) | Malcolm Craddock Ray Frift (assoc.) Muir Sutherland (exec.) |
| Writer(s) | Bernard Cornwell (novel) Eoghan Harris Charles Wood (uncredited) |
| Starring | Sean Bean Daragh O'Malley Abigail Cruttenden Christian Brendel |
| Music by | Dominic Muldowney John Tams |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Release date(s) | 1996 |
| Preceded by | Sharpe's Regiment |
| Followed by | Sharpe's Mission |
| IMDb profile | |
Sharpe's Siege is a British television drama, part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The adaptation is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.
[edit] Plot summary
In 1813, the war turns in favour of the British. Lord Wellington (Hugh Fraser) is poised to invade southern France after triumphing in Spain. The Compte de Maquerre (Christian Brendel), a French nobleman, offers to raise a rebellion in Bordeaux against Napoleon. Major General Ross (James Laurenson), is unconvinced, as his spies have reported no discontent in the region, but agrees that a brigade can be sent as a probe if the Compte can provide a secure base; he offers a family castle, though he admits that it is garrisoned.
Wellington is forced to put a young, inexperienced Colonel Horace Bampfylde (Christopher Villiers) (the son of a general Wellington needs to placate) in charge of the expedition, instead of Major Sharpe (Sean Bean). Sharpe is reluctant to go, as he has just married Jane Gibbons (Abigail Cruttenden) and she has come down with a deadly fever. Without quinine, her prognosis is bleak, but he has his orders and he is a soldier.
Bampfylde botches the initial assault on the fortress and is driven back with heavy casualties. Disgusted, Sharpe and his men gain entry to the castle at night by a ruse, pretending to be a French patrol, and capture the place. For his trouble, Bamfylde sends him out on a useless reconnaisance in order to grab the credit for himself.
While he is away, the Compte convinces Bamfylde to demolish the front gates, blow up the magazine, leave the wounded, and return to Wellington with the wonderful news that he has accomplished his mission and that the region is ready to rise up. The Compte fetches the "Mayor of Bordeaux" to help convince Bamfylde.
Hearing the explosion, Sharpe and his men hurry back to the castle. When he gets a description of the mayor, he realizes he has been lured into a trap by his old enemy, Major Ducos (Feodor Atkine). Not only will Wellington be misled into advancing in the wrong direction, but Ducos will have his revenge on Sharpe.
French General Calvet (Olivier Pierre) arrives with a sizable, if green force. Under a flag of truce, Ducos offers to let the British go free if they depart the castle and leave Sharpe behind. The Compte comes along and reveals himself to be Napoleon's agent. Sharpe turns them down and has the Compte shot dead after he rides away.
The French attack, but are repulsed. Then, a messenger arrives from Marshal Soult, Calvet's superior, wondering why he wasn't around to guard his flank when Wellington attacked...fifty miles away. Evidently, Wellington had seen through the scheme and turned it to his advantage.
When Sharpe gets back, Bamfylde is placed under arrest for cowardice and other charges. Sharpe is astounded to find his wife well; she tells him that Wellington had gone to some lengths to obtain quinine for her.
[edit] External links
|
|
|---|
| Sharpe's Rifles • Sharpe's Eagle • Sharpe's Company • Sharpe's Enemy • Sharpe's Honour • Sharpe's Gold • Sharpe's Battle • Sharpe's Sword • Sharpe's Regiment • Sharpe's Siege • Sharpe's Mission • Sharpe's Revenge • Sharpe's Justice • Sharpe's Waterloo • Sharpe's Challenge |
