I like how Sharpe and Leroux are basically tired and in shambles from past wounds, Sharpe especially because he's got both a shoulder wound and abdominal wound, and they aren't fighting with any flourish or skill but basically hate each other so much they aren't backing down. love it.
Never mind wounds or tiredness, I have a 1796 Pattern Heavy Cavalry Trooper's sword, the same as the one that Sharpe carries, and there is no freaking way any normal man is fencing with that thing. Ever. It handles slightly better than a crowbar and weighs about 3lb, balanced about a foot away from your wrist. Maybe a skilled and practiced man, in full health, could get a dozen aimed swings at best.
Patrick Harper: I thought you said I was going to die, Father! Father Curtis : Sure, we're ALL going to die, Patrick I like that Priest, a True Irishman HAHAHA
This reminds me of the scene in Band of Brothers (Episode 2 in Carentan) where Malarkey witnesses a regimental chaplain giving final rites to falling paratroopers in the middle of intense rifle fire and remarks, "Crazy fools, the Irish!" 🤣 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZgeFYBukQiE.html
For those that say this is the worst fight of the show, let me just say this: Sharpe and Leroux are soldiers, not skilled swordsmen. Sharpe was trained as a rifleman and knew how to fight dirty in hand to hand combat coming from the ranks. Leroux is a spy and is more skilled at espionage and escape. Their swords are more of a show of rank/position. Sharpe even said in "Sharpe's Justice" that a sword isn't pretty when he uses it and that he wields it as one would a butcher's knife. This isn't the best choreographed fight in the series, but it's probably the only one that shows how exhausting and brutal a duel can be between two men who aren't used to sword fighting. Plus, those swords aren't light. Swinging a sword is like swinging a bat. You easily get tired after a few hits/misses. This fight is at the end of a brutal battle, leaving these two exhausted, injured, and just trying to end it however they can.
I agree. Realistically it would have devolved into a brawl upon first contact. Both had such bad injuries it would have been impossible to maintain form.
The range of facial expressions Sean loads into this scene is extraordinary. Fight scenes normally show the winner-to-be smug and confident throughout, but Sharpe is practically in tears here, the pain and exhaustion clear on his face and in every move. It's very well played to show grim resolution rather than heroism.
Leroux is supposed to be one of the best swordsman in the Imperial Guard, with a high quality dueling sword gifted to him by Napoleon himself. The only reason Sharpe wins in both the novel and show is Leroux's leg wound severely handicaps him.
In an earlier episode they show Sharpe defeated in an exhibition fight by a young lieutenant that has significant training. In that "fight" Sharpe couldn't use any "unorthodox" moves. It did a good job depicting the fact that to be good you had to have sound training.
It's also a huge factor that they're both injured. As for the bat to sword comparison: as slashing sabers, they may have been balanced forward of the hand (as opposed to a thrusting weapon where the point of balance is very close to the hilt to allow the point to be maneuvered more nimbly), but it's nowhere near as far out as it is on a baseball bat nor a cricket bat. The weight is similar, though. Again, a rapier would be quite a bit lighter, but an infantry saber like Sharpe's was a decent chunk of steel (thought not nearly as heavy as people tend to assume). The 1897 pattern infantry saber (which is what Sharpe carries in most of the series) weighed 1 pound, 12 ounces. American baseball bats used to weigh about 3 pounds, but modern ones tend to vary between 33 and 36 ounces (depending on choice of wood), or 2 pounds and between 1 and 4 ounces. Cricket bats weigh between 2 pounds 6 ounces for the low end of a light bat to 3 pounds for the high end of a heavy bat, again more than an infantry saber.
While the sword fighting in this show can be a bit goofy, I like the fact that its kind of unrefined. More like a brawl than a fancy choreographed fight.
Also, the "stick the sword under his arm to make it look like it's gone through his body and then mysteriously has no blood on either front or back" looks even shitter, cheaper and more amateur here.
@@clonecommanderfoggy682 Kind of a gray area in some sects of Christianity, some hold the policy that as long as it's for fun (not involving money) It's fine. Others say as long as it's in moderation it's fine, still others fall elsewhere on the spectrum
@@blakeprocter5818 Ah, don't worry. I think they award something along the lines of a Purple Heart, but not that exact thing. That's more of a US thing
I like how they show just how shit Sharpe is with a sword. He was raised from the ranks, never trained with a sword, and it shows. He much prefers to give people the deadly ass kick that has taken the lives of so many Frenchmen
Just a reminder that both Leroux and Sharpe had been injured prior. Leroux got shot in the leg, Sharpe in the torso and both men were still recovering. Kinda makes sense that this duel is quite janky.
At the last moments of the duel, Sharpe remembered you're supposed to stab with a broadsword, not swing like a drunk lumberjack. Now that's soldiering!
This was from the first Sharpe book I read, circa 1986. Lerroux as an agent of Napoleon, has by far the better sword, a custom master made Klingenthal, but he's actually not a good fighter when it comes to anything like a fair fight. Sharpe, while only receiving rudimentary and infrequent lessons (in the books) has the inate combination of guts and timing to prevail.
If the Sharpe's series had continued much longer he would have ended up looking like Fredrickson. Flogged, shot multiple times, sliced and stabbed numerous time, cheek slashed by a sword, top of his right ear shot off (in the books), and other wounds I am sure I am forgetting.
The plot of Sharpe havoc take place in my home town oporto has was called back then now is just Porto with out the "o" I recommend it is a great book,pity they never included in tv show.
I know. There was no mortal wound on the dead Leroux. Throughout the series men get shot but there's no sign of the gunshot wound on their bodies. The stunt actors obligingly scream and fall down.
Really? Cuz i thought that if you were tired (or injured) that you would try to save energy and avoid big swings that you know can be blocked/parried or leave you open for counters. I didnt see Sharpe making the same big golf swings. Sword fighting at least where the same era is concerned is supposed to be about finesse. Leroux was also Napoleon's Imperial Guard so i would of expected him to be trained a lot lot lot better than sharpe
@@Rose.Of.Hizaki You should watch a boxing match when both boxers are tired. It turns into a slugging match. When you're tired you move how ever you can. You aren't thinking about it, you're in a desperation state.
If you think Sharpe's swings are anywhere near Leroux's big double handed swings then you are mistaken. Leroux is basically using his sword like a baseball bat or a double handed heavy broad sword. Compare that to Sharpe's movements and attacks. In almost all sports then more your opponent wastes their energy, the more chance you stand of winning. You can either win by out playing them or you can make it a battle of attrition to see who gets burnt out and exhausted first and starts making costly mistakes. *BIG* swings like the ones Leroux makes also leaves him open for some serious counters as it leaves him wide open. Boxing is boxing. Sword art and sword play is different. There is a lot more finesse to it. Watch some of the olympic fencing videos on YT. keep an eye on their forms and movements. Nobody will make big swings the same way as Leroux. --- As i mentioned in my previous comment. Leroux is Napoleon's Imperial Guard - so tired or not. would expect a lot better for somebody who is supposed to have some sort of legendary status as he did.
Capturing an enemy held fought and then killing a liar and killer, whilst still recovering from your life-threatening wounds...now that’s soldiering!!!
I don't know why clips from this show have started coming across my homepage these days. I've never seen this show in my life. Never heard of it before this started happening. But goddamn if I don't need to get my hands on this series as soon as humanly possible!
The scrip may not be great.... The fact is the sword fight was not unnecessary drawn out. Good Job, American movie people all to often rely on action and effects. Instead of story and acting.
A scene so dramatic and effective that I almost didn't notice Sean Bean clearly did not stab Leroux, with no visible entry or exit wounds. I'm just poking fun, I don't mind.
