- Sharpe's Waterloo (TV programme)
Infobox Television Film
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name = Sharpe's Waterloo
caption =
format = Military drama
runtime = 100 min.
creator =
director = Tom Clegg
producer =Malcolm Craddock Muir Sutherland (exec.)
writer =Charles Wood Bernard Cornwell (characters)
starring =Sean Bean Daragh O'Malley Abigail Cruttenden
Hugh FraserCecile Paoli Paul Bettany Alexis Denisof
music = Dominic MuldowneyJohn Tams
country = UK
language = English
network =
released =1997
first_aired =
last_aired =
num_episodes =
preceded_by =Sharpe's Justice
followed_by =Sharpe's Challenge
website =
imdb_id = 0120111
tv_com_id =
amg_id ="Sharpe's Waterloo" is a British
television drama , part of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during theNapoleonic Wars . The adaptation is based on the novel of the same name byBernard Cornwell .Plot
In 1815, war breaks out once more as
Napoleon returns to France from exile onElba . Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean ) cannot resist the chance to finally see his enemy and breaks his promise to his French lover Lucille (Cécile Paoli ) to fight no more. However, unlike his adulterous wife Jane (Abigail Cruttenden ), she forgives him and accompanies him to the battlefield.There, he is reunited with his former sergeant major and best friend, Patrick Harper (
Daragh O'Malley ), and two of his long-time "chosen men", Hagman (John Tams ) and Harris (Jason Salkey ). Sharpe finds employment as alieutenant colonel on the staff of Prince William of Orange (Paul Bettany ).Sharpe scouts the French forces and alerts Lord Wellington (Hugh Fraser) at a ball in
Brussels that Napoleon is on the move. As Sharpe is leaving, he encounters his wife and her lover, Lord Rossendale (Alexis Denisof ); he chases Rossendale and causes a scene in front of the guests. He extracts a promise that he will get back the money Jane stole from him. Previously, Jane had persuaded Rossendale that he must kill her husband during the coming battle.Sharpe is sent to command the defense of a crucial farmhouse at
La Haye Sainte . Several times during the fierce combat, he witnesses the absolute military incompetence of Dutch Prince William of Orange (Paul Bettany ). The last time, it costs the lives of Harris and Hagman. Furious, Sharpe shoots the prince at long range from a secluded spot, but only succeeds in wounding him. (The real William of Orange played a large role in and was wounded at the Battle of Waterloo). Meanwhile, on another part of the battlefield, Rossendale is killed fighting Frenchcuirassier s.Sharpe then rejoins his old unit, the South Essex Regiment, taking over when its commanding officer becomes a casualty. At the height of the
Battle of Waterloo , Napoleon sends in his eliteImperial Guard . Sharpe repels the last-ditch assault, much to Wellington's delight. Wellington gives Sharpe command of the regiment and tells him to pursue the retreating enemy. Whilst advancing, Sharpe glimpses Napoleon as he rides off in defeat.External links
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* [http://www.sharpefilm.com/waterloo/index.html Sharpe's Waterloo at SharpeFilm.com]
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