Sharpe's Company (TV programme)

Infobox Television Film
bgcolour =
name = Sharpe's Company


caption = Title screen from "Sharpe's Company"
format = Military drama
runtime = 100 min.
creator =
director = Tom Clegg
producer = Malcolm Craddock
Muir Sutherland (exec.)
writer = Bernard Cornwell (novel)
Charles Wood
starring = Sean Bean
Daragh O'Malley
Hugh Fraser
Michael Byrne
Pete Postlethwaite
Assumpta Serna
music = Dominic Muldowney
John Tams
country = UK
language = English
network =
released = 1994
first_aired =
last_aired =
num_episodes =
preceded_by = Sharpe's Eagle
followed_by = Sharpe's Enemy
website =
imdb_id = 0111156
tv_com_id =
amg_id =

"Sharpe's Company" is a British television drama, part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. This episode is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.

Plot

It is 1812. General Wellesley (Hugh Fraser) is ready to invade Spain from Portugal. But two formidable fortresses stand in the way. When the first, Ciudad Rodrigo, is taken, Colonel Lawford is severely wounded and forced to relinquish command of the South Essex Regiment, depriving Captain Sharpe (Sean Bean) of an influential friend.

Colonel Windham (Clive Francis), the new commander, brings his own officers, so Sharpe is demoted to lieutenant and is humiliated by being put in charge of the baggage and losing command of his "chosen men" to an aristocratic officer (Marc Warren) who purchased the commission of the South Essex's Light Company. Worse, one of the reinforcements is Sergeant Obidiah Hakeswill (Pete Postlethwaite), an old enemy from Sharpe's days in India.

Meanwhile, Sharpe's lover, Teresa (Assumpta Serna), tells him that he has a baby daughter living with her family in Badajoz, the second fortress town. Not knowing who she is, Hakeswill tries to rape her, but proves no match for her. Teresa then slips into Badajoz to spy on the French and to see her baby.

To cause trouble for Sharpe, Hakeswill steals from the officers and plants a picture frame belonging to Windham in the kit of Sharpe's right hand man, Sergeant Harper (Daragh O'Malley). When it is found, the colonel has Harper flogged. Later, during a night skirmish, Hakeswill tries to shoot Sharpe in the confusion, but kills a young ensign (William Mannering) who has the misfortune to step in front of him at that exact moment.

A turncoat Frenchman escapes the besieged town during the fighting, bearing a dispatch and a letter from Teresa. Sharpe gets the letter, which contains a map showing where she is staying, but Hakeswill later steals it.

Eventually, the walls of Badajoz are breached, but the first assault falters. Sharpe rallies the men and leads them into the town. Hakeswill gets to Teresa first, but Sharpe is not far behind and foils his evil plans. However, Hakeswill manages to get away.

For his bravery and because many of the other officers have been killed, Sharpe gets back command of his Light Company. Harper is exonerated when he finds the missing portrait of Windham's wife hidden in Hakeswill's shako and returns it to the colonel.

Cast

External links

*
* [http://www.sharpefilm.com/company/index.html Sharpe's Company at SharpeFilm.com]