Harris No 4

(über Sharpe's Sword)

Die Scharfschützen - Jenseits des Todes

Richard Sharpe, Major - Sean Bean
Patrick Harper, Sergeant - Daragh O'Malley
Rifleman Harris - Jason Salkey
Rifleman Hagman - John Tams
Rifleman Perkins - Lyndon Davis
Rifleman Cooper - Michael Mears
Rifleman "Tongue" - Paul Trussell

This is certainly Harris' episode. It is about the filming of "Sharpes Sword" in which we see the wonderful scene with Harris in the library, looking the whole night for a certain book... Jason Salkey himself says, it was an important episode for him - at long last, the writers had given one of the Chosen Men a for the story of the film really important part.

This could have happened more often, says Salkey, and so say we. Yes, we would have liked to see more of these eccentric characters who make the Series so unique.

But back to the filming. Still, Cast and Crew are in the Ukraine. They have to film the night attack of "Sword" - and they must do it now, and without mistakes, because they will leave in short time for Portugal, and they can't repeat the scene there - it would cost to much.

It is the third year, and they are eager to leave. Portugal - that sounds like the Land of Promise for the men and women. What they don't know: They will not come back to the Crimea. That was the last time, they filmed here.

So the "good bye" they give will be the last good bye.

In reality, they all have to move now to Portugal. Sean Bean, John Tams and a few others decided not to trust the Russian Aeroplane that was hired for the film-team. They will go with the train - via London, a looong journey, and we are glad, when we see them again reunited on the film-set in Portugal. Sean Bean looking a little bit haggard and as if he hadn't slept in a week, but satisfied, that he hadn't had to enter a plane.

The Harris Diaries:

Harris No 1 - über die Dreharbeiten zu "Sharpes Gold"

Harris No 2 - Ende von Sharpes Gold, Anfang von Sharpes Battle

Harris No 3 - Sharpes Battle - Nachruf auf einen "Chosen Man"

Harris No 4 - Sharpes Sword - Rifleman Harris und seine Liebe zu Büchern

Harris No 5 - Sharpes Regiment und ein schrecklicher Unfall

Harris No 6 - Sharpes Mission

Harris No 7 - Sharpes Siege

Visiting Jason Salkey - A Report

(more to come!)

In Portugal, everybody seems to be pretty relaxed. The daily schedule can't have been too hard. Or was it just the relief to be back in good old Europe? To have decent food? There is not much left to film. It is mainly the scenes in the castle and its surroundings - and the final sword fight between Simmerson and the Padre.

These two... the actors take their task very seriously - and practise their scene, whenever they can.

It is hilarious, to see the two - in changing garment, sometimes in their own clothes, sometimes wearing parts of their costumes - but always, always dancing elegantly around each other, swords in hand - only the winner is sometimes not always the same man ;-)

Sean Bean meanwhile, has a hard time remembering always, in what state of healing his "wounds" are in any given scene, he has to do.

And Jason Salkey? Here, in the bookroom of the castle, plays his big scene - the search for the book "Candide" - and Simmersons unconsious help with it. And since Herr Salkey can't play and film at the same time, this is the one scene, were there isn't footage in this video diary.

As compensation, we see the shooting of another scene in extensive length. It is the one, where Sharpe, still pretty shaken from his illness, slowly humbles along the line of his men, getting something from everyone of them. It is actually the last scene filmed in this session.

It is November 1994, they are in Portugal. When this scene is filmed, it will be over... and perhaps over forever. At this point in time, nobody knows, if there will be a next session. Nothing is decided so far. So, this is also about a long Good bye - says Jason. It was, as if nobody wanted to come to an end with this scene - to come to an end with this filming session, that is.

And me? I wanted to capture what Jason said here - and so I played this scene on and on forever. You know, how this goes, when you want to write down, what is said: short parts playing - stop. Playing back, because you can't write so fast and didn't understand everything. Playing it again, and again...

It was fascinating. During the process, everything began to mix. I couldn't divide any more, where the scene began and ended.

Sean Bean - Richard Sharpe, the men, whom did I see? I cannot say, but it is one of the truest scenes in the whole series. Intense. Reality and fiction merging. When you see S. B. smoking a cigarette inbetween - it is not him, it is Richard Sharpe. So who is the man going along the line? It is, it must be, then, Sean Bean, leaving, saying good bye,...

That was, when I realised, that the Harris Video Diary No 4, the one about the "Sword" was all like that: What I had admired before, the easy way, Herr Bean can switch from the person to the film-character within a second, wasn't excisting here.

Here, in this episode, you can't see the borders between fiction and reality. Is this, then, I asked myself, due to the Magic of the Sword? Doesn't the sword still stand - also today, for that, what we seek, when we watch Shows like "Sharpe" on TV? The adventure in our lifes - imaginary or real.

When I began this website, it was an adventure for me, that had all started with my admiration for Sharpe.

When I learned more about the incredible background of the filming of it, I also started to admire the braveness of the women and men, who lived this adventure.

And somehow I feel sure, that also the making of the Harris Diaries can be seen as one....

Can best be ordered directly from Jason Salkey as Video or DVD from his website www.riflemanharris.co.uk

Jason Salkey put a lot of work and effort into these self-productions, so please, only buy directly from him. He is commenting in all the Diaries with his clear and good understandable "Rifleman Harris" voice.

Actual offer here

Background-Picture and Picture 1: Screencapture from "Harris Diary No 4" from: www.compleatseanbean.com used with friendly permission from Jason Salkey