Sharpe's Siege (TV programme)
| Sharpe's Siege | |
|---|---|
| Written by |
Bernard Cornwell (novel) Eoghan Harris Charles Wood (uncredited) |
| Directed by | Tom Clegg |
| Starring |
Sean Bean Daragh O'Malley Christian Brendel Amira Casar Feodor Atkine Abigail Cruttenden Hugh Fraser James Laurenson |
| Theme music composer | Dominic Muldowney John Tams |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Malcolm Craddock Ray Frift (assoc.) Muir Sutherland (exec.) |
| Running time | 100 min. |
| Release | |
| Original release | 1996 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Sharpe's Regiment |
| Followed by | Sharpe's Mission |
Sharpe's Siege is a British television drama, the tenth of a series that follows the career of Richard Sharpe, a British soldier during the Napoleonic Wars. The adaptation is based on the novel of the same name by Bernard Cornwell.
In 1813, the war turns in favour of the British. Lord Wellington (Hugh Fraser) is poised to invade southern France after triumphing in Spain. The Comte de Maquerre (Christian Brendel), a French nobleman, offers to raise a rebellion in Bordeaux against Napoleon. Major General Ross (James Laurenson), is unconvinced, as his spies have reported no discontent in the region, but agrees that a brigade can be sent as a probe if the Comte can provide a secure base; he offers a family castle, though he admits that it is garrisoned.
Wellington is forced to put a young, inexperienced Colonel Horace Bampfylde (Christopher Villiers) (the son of a general Wellington needs to placate) in charge of the expedition, instead of Major Sharpe (Sean Bean). Sharpe is reluctant to go, as he has just married Jane Gibbons (Abigail Cruttenden) and she has come down with a deadly fever. Without quinine, her prognosis is bleak, but he is a soldier and he has his orders.
Bampfylde botches the initial assault on the fortress and is driven back with heavy casualties. Disgusted, Sharpe and his men gain entry to the castle at night by a ruse, pretending to be a French patrol, and capture the place. The Comte is reunited with his sister (Amira Casar) and gravely ill mother. For his trouble, Sharpe is sent by Bampfylde on a useless reconnaissance in order to grab the credit for himself.
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