Sharpe and his regiment make a surprise entrance on The Prince of Wales's party. __ In the Peninsular War, a British sergeant is field promoted to a lieutenant in charge of a disrespectful rifle company.
The almost entirely disguised pain in Harper's voice when he calls for three cheers for the Prince of Wales. Just another great little character moment in this series.
I think, also, that this moment is one of the finest expressions of Sharpe's penchant for political theatre. Even the lowest squaddies on this mission know what they're about. Mind you, this moment never happened.
@@TremblingKiwis But he didn't mention that the actor went on to write Downton Abbey. Either he didn't know, he needs to know because that is cool or he just needs new spectacles.
@@DangAssDan technically the Duke of York (Freddie) was the commander in chief, but yes, Julian Fellows played the Prince Regent as well as Major Dunnett of the 95th
Showing up at the party of the regent with a company of soldiers and an enemy standard you captured in battle to expose corruption... that's soldiering.
Funny how the whole episode you think, this king is mad. And in the end he sort of reveals he was merely fooling around. Knowing full well what is going on. Probably doesn't care much since he lives his own life. But cares enough that he dislikes being lied to. Giving Sharpe what he wanted.
Interrupting a party being held by the Prince of Wales, with a fully kited troop at the rear, with a French Imperial Eagle touched by the hand of Napoléon Bonaparte at your side...now that's an entrance.
So funny looking back. Sharpe the officer who never buttons his uniform and never wears a hat. An epic cast of dozens. The characters are totally stereotyped and hammy. Wonderful!
*Puts monocle on *Raises golden chalice and pinky up *Begins to high society clap 👏 ( aka Golf Clap ) Good show Sir, I say, good show Siiiiiirrrrrrrrr!
I have the entire collection of the Sharpe DVD's, I watch then every now and then, and find something I missed every time I watch them. Great entertainment.
I loved this scene. "Which is this Fenner?" "12th Light Dragoons sir Prince of Wales Own." "One of mine Freddy!" the Prince exclaims excitedly. "Look! My feathers. *Looks back* "How many have I got?" "Got?" Fenner asks, somewhat nonplussed. "Got got! You must have seen a list, what else do you do but see lists Secretary at War! Lists!" "I think six sir. Dragoons and Foot." "And how many's York got?" *Punches Duke of York jovially* *Fenner's patience wearing thin.* "One sir. Irish, 101st." "D'you hear that?!" the Prince exclaims, bubbling with excitement. "You've only one Freddy! I've got the whole deuced army do you see!" *Strolls onward, bursting with self-superiority.* :D Julian Fellowes played the role of the Prince Regent brilliantly. Interesting to note, he was in the very first episode of Sharpe as his first CO in the Rifles, Major Dunnett. Naturally utterly incompetent and gets killed in an ambush. Didn't set a picket. Sorry for the play by play write-out of that exchange, I'm a writer. Can't be helped :D
If anything, I'm surprised that they decided to portray the Duke of York, alongside his brother, Prince of Wales, in the Sharpe series, talk about historical realism :P
@@Urlocallordandsavior Well, the Duke of York was Commander in Chief during the Napoleonic Wars, and oversaw several critical structural reorganisations of the British Army, improving administration and recruitment significantly, all round making everything more efficient. He's often credited as having done more for the Army than any other man in history :)
Watching the series I always wondered whether the Prince was actually crazy or just playing the fool. I could never quite tell. What's he like in the books? Reason I'm saying this because in that one scene alone, he caught that guy (I forgot his name) lying, highlighted it, got him to amend the issue, forgave him for it and then managed to protect Sharpe from facing further trouble from Horseguard by claiming ownership of the South Essex. But at the same time he did it all while making it all seem like everyone else is manipulating him.
Upon his death, the Duke of Wellington said that George IV had been “the most extraordinary compound of talent, wit, buffoonery, obstinacy, and good feeling - in short a medley of the most opposite qualities, with a great preponderance of good - that I ever saw in any character in my life."
In these times of stress and seriousness that I'm in, this scene elates me wonderfully. Absolutely brilliant on every level. Bravo to the person who uploaded it.
Crashing a party with soldiers behind you to make an arrest while bearing an enemy standard which you personally captured in battle? Now that’s soldiering!
Watching the fellows who play Hakeswell, Simmerson and the Prince Regent, whoever did the casting had a fine eye for picking actors to play roguish characters.
This is one of the things that makes this series so good is they get the class distinctions exactly right. Because Robert Sharpe had unknown parentage he was a social outcast at the absolute bottom of the heap. His field commission was an absolute affront to the landed gentry. At the time you could join the Army and get posted to India were by hook or crook you could make a better life for yourself, or what most did emigrate to Canada, or especially the USA where there was no class distinctions.
This is a surprisingly good recreation of George IV. He would become king in 1820, and reigned until 1830. His son William III reigned until 1837, and his daughter, well you know her. Queen Victoria.
Victoria's Father was Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and was never a regnant monarch. His father was George III. George IV was her uncle. William III reigned as coregent with his wife, Mary Stuart, daughter of James II, from 1689-1702. William IV was also Victoria's uncle. He had no legitamate children theat lived, male or female, so Victoria was the heir apparent upon his death, as her father had already passed on.
I just noticed that he goes 'eh' at 1:07. I like to imagine that it's the prince trying to mimic Sharpe, a subtle way of showing how much of a fan he is.
I was at that night shoot. They had one chance to make that entrance as he cut through the cloth. I had loads of that painted scene for a long time......
@@eldorados_lost_searcher No he's just really let himself go. The question you should be asking is where is Baldrick...... Unless in this timeline Wellesley didn't kill the Prince Regeant.
If you listen carefully you can hear him trying to warn the prince. "Its' not a play anymore sir. Kindly salute the barmy Major and make you way quietly to the exit."
Fun fact: The Sharpe novels take place in the same time period as Jane Austen's novels. The contrast between them gives you some idea how different it was between the war on the continent and the insulated life led by the gentry back in England.
Not just Jane Austen but an entire subgenre of Regency Romance novels is set during the period. Few people seem to understand that the reason why all the girls in Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice were fretting so much over marriage was because a significant proportion of the eligible bachelors were being sent to the mass slaughter of the Napoleonic Wars and many of them were not coming back.
As a fictional rise to the top I could never really take to Sharpe, much preferred Hornblower, but the best of Cornwell's books was the Saxon Uhtred of Bebenburg, great stuff.
In the navy rising from the ranks was more common as was stated in the book 'Sharpe's Trafalgar'. The Captain of the ship Sharpe is on said it was referred to as 'coming up through the hawsehole'. In fact IIRC he did himself.
@@The_New_IKB but you needed to be an officer to start with, or could non-officers be promoted to officer rank? No good being smart if you could only get to CPO level.
@@julianmhall in the Royal Navy it was possible to go from being just a sailor to being captain if you were smart enough. Remember boys as young as 12 would run away to sea so they had plenty of time to learn. Even the officer cadets (midshipmen) started at that age and whilst there was most certainly nepotism it was more of the give the kid opportunities and see if he has the skill and the guts to take them and do well.
