@@Warriorking.1963 He was brilliant in a cameo as Arnold Ridley in the story of Dad's Army. And he's Oliver Sterling in the Archers. One of the nicest characters in it.
"Preacher, don't the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killin'?" "Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of scars."
I'm so glad that Simmerson got more appearances in the show than he did in the books. He was always a brilliantly hateable villain, but Cochrane took him to an entirely different level.
He lost the King's colours and lost the King's friendship. Most of the court will have nothing to do with Sir Henry Simmerson. I'm surprised he hasn't lost his knighthood.
With Simmerson’s luck, they probably despise him as much everyone else. They may use their influence to ensure he keeps getting jobs, but that’s about it.
It reminds me of the vicar who married my wife and I....he kept trying to get people confirmed. He came around to book in to confirm my wife's father and ended up booking everyone in....I'm surprised he didn't confirm their cat while he was there.
Simmerson getting a well-deserved beat down for the sniveling coward he is! Amazing how talented of an actor it takes for you to truly loathe and despise a character such as Simmerson. Bravo!
@@snowwhite7677 Actually he was well known to be a great swordsman! Of course, Lass could also write out a statement about Simmerson attacking her, and betraying the night attack. Although I do believe she has regained the use of her voice by this point!
I think the guy that plays Simmerson is awesome at it. You can almost touch the contempt the he feels for the character he is playing, and that comes accross - just as it should.
Indeed, Michael Cochrane's portrayal of Simmerson was so popular amongst viewers that the showrunners brought him back for five episodes despite him only appearing in two books.
@@dene39 While Sobel might be detestable, and I was impressed by Schwimmer being able to generate that much audience loathing, he did what he was supposed to do. It may have been luck that he was the 'leader' he was, or it may have been understanding what had to be done. But look at what he created - one of the best combat units in the ETO. Simmerson and Hakeswell only created fear and hatred. The only thing they taught their units to do was to mistrust and detest them. Sorry to take this thread out into left field like that ... although I don't know first-hand, I've read that Sobel was not like he was portrayed in the series, either. But even if he was ...
The most humiliating thing in all of this, I feel? That after Father Curtis has utterly defeated him, and he's crawling away... Father Curtis spanks him. Like Simmerson is a NAUGHTY CHILD. That, more than anything, is emasculating. To be a grown man, thinking he's a big shot. And then the Father from a convent comes and proves just how pathetic he is.
You got to give the Padre credit for using the flat of the blade .vs. the edge! (And giving Simmerson as much of a pain in the ass as Simmerson has been to everyone else!)
@Infernal460 Not exactly the French and the Irish actually have a decent relationship as they even fought alongside each other in a Irish Rebellion against Britain
"And no one in London would take your word over the word of Sir Henry Simmerson." And no one in the world would take your word that you got thrashed in a duel with a priest.
Simmerson appears in only two of the novels and is mentioned in a third. Michael Cochrane turned him into such a fan favorite that he got to play him in five Sharpe productions.
'I'm Irish, John Bull's a bad neighbour but Bonaparte's a bully and so are you!' *proceeds to slice whatever dignity was left out of Simmerson and then ends his whole career with the 'God forgive me but I wish it had lasted longer'. Man this show was amazing and had so many great British actors.
I worked with Michael Cochrane many years ago, while touring in a play that then ran in the West End for a short time. Such a lovely man and a great actor. Nice to see him here being the bad guy!
@@sylaxvennor Hello, I highly doubt that any recordings were made of that particular production! It was called 'Married Love' and was about the life and work of Marie Stopes, the pioneering woman who fought the Catholic church over the desperate need to provide effective and safe family planning and birth control measures to be available to women. The play's title was the same as her famous book. It starred Susan Hampshire in the lead role, and Michael Cochrane played her husband, A.V. Roe of the famous aircraft manufacturing name, 'AVROE'. As you might imagine, it was a piece with limited appeal to a mass audience! It started at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, before a small tour, followed by a short run at the Wyndham's Theatre in the West End. I was a young fresh faced actor having an exciting time working alongside some big Theatre/Film and TV names that I had grown up with, and everyone was very kind to me. Happy Days!
@@harrisonmcarthur7816 I forget which one it was exactly, but near the end of the series, he actually showed real courage and fortitude and grew to honestly respect Sharpe, calling him by his first name as a sign of respect.
@@harrisonmcarthur7816 in the last movies and books he gets himself posted to India via his friends in high places. Unfortunately it is during a series of rebellions. He is forced to watch his entire garrison die as the Indians string him up and leave him to dry up in the sun. Sharpe, escorting a noblewoman to that very base discovers the half-dead Simmerson and against his better judgement helps him recover somewhat. Simmerson fights off rebels and rogue English soldiers alongside Sharpe. In the end he calls Sharpe by his first name and wishes him well, although the author (and film director) kind of hints that the extreme exposure to the sun might have addled his mind a bit.
I would hate Simmerson more as he is a man who should rise to greatness (like Wellington) via his rank but chose to be a lying, conniving coward surrounded by lackeys. Hakeswill is a straight up psycho who is one dimensional evil. Simmerson is the classic dilentte, the moron officer who really should not be this way.
Simmerson is such a great character, he’s the definition of a bully, he’s all bluster and show when things are calm, but the moment things get serious he runs away crying.
@@boshirahmed he’s the wild card, he is useful right up until the point when he stabs you in the back for his own gain, making the situation far worse than it needs be.
I found out about this show not too long ago and ended up binging the entire series. I had so much contempt for this Simmerson character, until the last movie then it was more pity than anything.
It has been a good many years since I saw this episode but she is a nun despite the fact she isn't wearing a habit. In this scene El Mirador even suggests it when he comes to rescue her.
@@LandersWorkshop she was a nun but in the beginning the priest she was with and two other nuns were brutally tortured and killed (implied nuns were raped), with her barely escaping with her underclothes and rendered mute from the trauma. Sharpe rescues her and brings her back to camp where she gets some basic clothes, but eventually she finds herself meeting El Mirador (the priest). That is why she has no habit
A protagonist needs antagonists & Sir Henry is perfect. I utterly despise him but have profound reverence for the actor. Just when you think Sir Henry has run out of barrel to scrape the dirt from he finds new de0ths inviting further contempt. Truly great acting as soon I see Sir Henry I go into rage mode. Fantastic series that didn't belittle our French neighbours.
Michael Cochrane appeared in two Doctor Who stories in the 80s, first in a Victorian horror-style 5th Doctor story ("Black Orchid", 1982), then during the final season in an insane 7th Doctor story ("Ghostlight", 1989). He's such a good actor, totally bonkers in the second story!
Gets caught trying to assault a traumatized young woman at sword point while threatening to kill a member of the clergy while boasting about betraying your country for nothing. *"Well whats it to you priest?!"*
Lucky for Simmerson the priest didn't tell Sharpe of his betrayal. Pretty sure Simmerson wouldn't have been given the opportunity to be protected by his cousin if that happened
Great actor to make a convincing villain, as well as the man who played the priest (I forgot his name) who went on to many other roles, including Braveheart
"A shepherd must tend his flock, and at times fight off the wolves." Simmerson is a bully through and through attacking only those who can't defend themselves. Only when he encounters someone who will stand up to him is when he's revealed to be a coward.
Maximum respect to the actor portraying Simmerson (Michael Cochrane). You must have considerable talent as an actor to make your character universally hated by everyone who have watched your performance. Modern day comparison is Jack Gleeson, who played King Joffrey in GoT.
I saw Jack Gleeson in an interview very charismatic guy, I would drink a beer with him. But Joffrey, I would strange him with both hands. You see that the most hated villains are played very nice and lovable people.
He was, thanks to his friends in high places exonerated of all charges. It takes another movie for him to be punished in some fashion (Sharpe's Justice) but being a man of the gentry he does become Major General of a company in India later, discovered naked, half baked in the sun, tied up among corpses of his men...