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Video
Diaries of Rifleman Harris 5
(1995)
69 minutes
Sharpe
Reviews
Jason
Salkey on Sharpe
Video
Diaries of Rifleman Harris 1
Video Diaries of Rifleman Harris 2
Video Diaries of Rifleman
Harris 3
Video Diaries of Rifleman
Harris 4
Video Diaries of Rifleman
Harris 5
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By
RICHARD MOORE
 Well
our Jason is back in a new behind-the-scenes adventure
on the sets of Sharpe and it looks like our intrepid
video diarist has been to a film production course.
Yup
old Rifleman Harris has never looked, or sounded,
better although the trademark self-deprecation and
humour are still more than apparent.
This
time around the Video Diaries of Rifleman Harris,
No.5, take a peek at the fourth year of production
on the Sharpe series. The movies focused on are Sharpe's
Regiment and Sharpe's Mission.
The
DVD begins with Jason Salkey telling us he is now
a dad - very belated congrats - although lost his
own father. Then it's pretty much off to Turkey on
a private charter complete with hosties and in-flight
film and to the Banana hotel in a tourist resort.
As
one of my favourite in the series is Regiment, I really
enjoyed seeing behind the scenes and took a bit of
a chortle when poor old Harris falls in the river,
wets his rifle and has to be part of the cover shoot
while soaked to the skin. (See Jason, told you God
doesn't support Chelsea!).
And
there is more than a little laughter at the scenes
that took many shoots because of overly loud Turkish
roosters, goats or calls to prayer.
With
Mission also a much-rewatched movie, I was glad to
see the sections involving that particular one. Not
only do I like the storyline - which was a marked
improvement on the other non-Bernard Cornwell plot
Sharpe's Gold - but it is pointed out by Jason that
the creepy poet Shellington had eyes firmly placed
upon Mrs Sharpe's (Abigail Crittendon) cleavage. Next
time edit that out Jason as it made me feel self-conscious
about my own leering.
Still
we have to realise the inordinate amount of time spent
on Mission is probably down to the fact it is a major
role for our lad who gets to not only have lots of
lines to say, but also has a major part in the plot.
And, dare we say through non-biased lips, that it
not before time!
Now
we know that stars aren't always treated as such,
but - shock of shocks - this DVD reveals how close
Daragh O'Malley came to being unemployed. No real
reasons are given but it seems the bosses were looking
to axe him.
It
took the flashing blade of Sharpe himself, Sean Bean,
to stomp on that move very quickly. Hooray!
All
up Video Diaries of Rifleman Harris 5 is terrific.
It certainly is the best of the series production-wise
and Jason Salkey can be very proud of his achievements.
NB:
There are six episodes of this series now available
on DVD for all regions. The films are shot on Hi-8
and digitally transferred to Applemac's Final Cut
Pro 6.
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