Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green more
Narrated by Richard Burton and starring an outstanding Michael Caine in his first starring role, ZULU is a tense and dramatic war film about the Battle of Rorke's Drift in... more
Zulu [VHS] [1964]
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics,Zuluwas also one of the last war ... more
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
Zulu [VHS] [1964]
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics,Zuluwas also one of the last war ... more
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
Zulu [VHS] [1964]
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics,Zuluwas also one of the last war ... more
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
Zulu [1964] [DVD]
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics,Zuluwas also one of the last war ... more
movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu war...
Zulu DVD
The year: 1879. The place: Natal Africa. One British garrison has already fallen to a ... more
huge army of Zulu tribesmen. The fearless native warriors are now heading for the isolated colonial outpost of Rorke's Drift which is manned by no more than a hundr...
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
A review by Gary25 on Zulu (DVD) November 12th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Good
Soundtrack
Outstanding
Advantages:
Captivating, one of the best films ever made .
Disadvantages:
None whatsoever .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Zulu has to be one of my favourite films of all time.
It was released in 1964 through Paramount Pictures by Diamond Films - a company set up by the well established actor Stanley Baker, who was looking to move more into the directing field.
The film was directed by Cy Endfield, and co-produced by both Baker and Endfield, each with strong links to the story-line. Endfield was born in South Africa, where the events covered by the film took place, and Baker was born in South Wales, from where a lot of the soldiers involved in the battle were from, being the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot.
I do not intend running through the story in depth but instead want to concentrate on some of the acting performances and parts of the film that make this a cut above the rest.
The film, which makes it all the more compelling, is not fiction but fact, based on true events that happened at a small mission station at Rorkes Drift, Natal, South Africa on 22/23 January 1879. The rights or wrongs of the British being there should not detract from the film itself which focusses on the 110 British soldiers who stood firm and fought a force of over 4,000 Zulu's. The previous day had seen over 1,500 soldiers killed at an earlier battle at Isandhlwana, which is covered at the start of the film.
Cast **** Lt. Gonville Bromhead - played by Michael Caine.
Although Caine has been a household name for many many years, this was his first role and he certainly looks young in this!! He is the Officer in charge at Rorkes Drift, and portrays the typical English gentry type of that era. For the first few scenes I feel that he almost tries too hard to mould himself into that stereo-typical image. His undoubted talent shines through as the movie progresses and the inter-action between himself and the other Officer played by Stanley Baker himself is superb.
Lt John Chard - Royal Engineers - played by Stanley Baker.
Baker is magnificient, and displays some of his gritty down-to-earth characterisations prevalent in some of his earlier movies, such as Hard Drivers. The initial dislike between his character and Bromhead is plain to see as they are from different worlds and it is fascinating to see the mutual respect forming between the two as the scenes progress. Chard actually takes command as he has a few months seniority over Bromhead and the sniping between the two has almost a comic aspect. Baker is in control, but when his hands start to tremble as he tries to load his pistol, the look of self-loathing on his face is brilliant.
Cetewayo - the leader of the Zulu's is played by the Zulu Chief himself, Chief Buthelezi, and obviously the collaberation brings a real touch of authenticity to the Zulu's in this film and ensures that it is a real depiction of how the Zulu fighting strategies were carried out.
Otto Witt - Jack Hawkins. He plays a cameo performance as the Swedish missionary but I found his role a little annoying and lack lustre up until his departure from the mission. Steaming drunk, he shounts from the back of his carriage before the main battle, "Can't you see, you're all going to die". It doesn't look much in print but the anguish and contortions on his face as he pleads with the soldiers is truly memorable.
Surgeon Reynolds - Patrick Magee. A minor role really for Magee but plays his part well dealing with the hopeless situation of dying soldiers being brought in for treatment. One poignant part is where he asks the orderly what his patient did for a living as he thrashed about on the operating table. When told he was a paper hanger, he says so matter of factly, but with utter despair in his voice, "Well, he's a dead paper-hanger now."
Adendorff - Gert Van de Burgh. From the Natal Mounted Police and is the local contact. He hates the Zulu's but also you can sense in his exchanges with Bromhead that he hates the British being there as well. He explains the Zulu's strategies and my favourite part with him is where the soldiers are both physically and mentally exhausted when the Zulu's start chanting again. Bromhead shouts, "Come on, what are you waiting for?". Adendorff laughs somewhat hysterically and says "They're not taunting you, they're saluting you, saluting fellow braves".
Private Hook - played by James Booth. A nasty, lazy mallingerer who does not endear himself to the audience one bit. Later you see a totally different side to him.
There are a few well known faces, Glynn Edwards for one, you may remember him as the pub owner in Minder. There are so many wonderful individual performances from each and every actor that I could go on for ever. The quivering top lip of Colour Sergeant Bourne as he reads out the role call, with so many dead, leaves a lump in the throat. They were his boys.
Maybe it's because I'm Welsh, but the thing that really gets me going and has the hairs on my arms stand up, is when the remaining soldiers are being mentally tormented by the Zulu's chanting, and they launch into Men of Harlech to counter it. Truly inspirational.
They are many, many scenes to keep you captivated, such as the soldiers at the final dedoubt, firing in lines, with Caine shouting, covered in grime, "Front rank, fire, reload. " The hand to hand fighting has been very well done when you consider the sheer number of actors and extras involved.
But please don't think this film is all about fighting from beginning to end, it's not. There are various scenes within the film that contribute to the overall effect. The scenery is quite simply breathtaking - it was filmed on location in Natal and also at Twickenham Film Studios in London (I couldn't tell you what parts were filmed in the latter - it's seamless).
The music was composed by John Barry and complements the film perfectly - it is very stirring yet almost military with strong drums and heavy beats. It is heard sporadically throughout the movie, and in my mind I've yet to come across another score that adds so much to the effect of a film.
I've also got to mention the narration. Both the foreward and the role of honour at the end are narrated by none other than Richard Burton. Whenever he narrates, and I'm also thinking of his spectatular narration on Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds, adds so much atmosphere to simple words. A master stroke.
Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for bravery at Rorkes Drift - the most in any one single engagement. It was a massive task indeed to try to re-create the events of those two days but Endfield and Baker have succeeded in a way that I would not have thought possible. Truly a magnificent film that I've watched time and time again, and will continue to do so as it does not dull with repeated viewing.
I have the DVD version which is photographed in Technirama and comes with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. Surprisingly, considering the blood and death count, it is only classed as a PG (parental guidance) meaning it is suitable for general viewing, but some senes may be unsuitable for young children.
Apart from the film, that has the usual subtitles and a whole host of other language options, it has the added bonus of a Theatrical Trailer, a commentary provided by Sheldon Hall, a film historian, and Robert Porter (2nd Unit Director). Finally it has The Making of Zula and Role of Honour containing an interview with Stanley Baker's wife that I found interesting and clips from the film itself.
You can pick up Zulu on DVD for as little as £1.55 on e-bay and I've no doubt it'll be on over Christmas (it is every year). If you've never seen it because you don't like war films, please give it a chance. It's a fascinating look and superbreinactment of what actually took place in Rorkes Drift back in 1879.
I cannot praise this film highly enough. Running time is 133 minutes, so it's a long film but the time flies by.
This was my first (and probably my last!!) film review, hope you enjoyed it.
Also in my name on Dooyou (hence the title!!) Can't do much with Zulu and Ciao.
Advantages: Very well made and acted. Disadvantages: A lot of killing.
...depicts a battle between the Zulu warriors and a garrison of the Welsh Borderers who were defending the missionary station of Rorke’s Drift. The garrison of men is commanded by Lieutenant Bromhead who is magnificently acted by Michael Caine, however at the time of the battle Lieutenant Chard (Stanley Baker) an engineering officer is at the missionary station to build a bridge over the nearby river. As Chard is the more senior officer by a few ... ...outnumbered by the 4000 ferocious Zulu warriors so the only chance the soldiers have of staying alive is by the use of superior tactics, hard work and determination. This is depicted so well in the film by the excellent acting by all of the cast. The film is set in the magnificent mountain scenery of South Africa, which adds to the feeling that the men in this small British force are alone in a vast country many miles from the Wales they love. There ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Very Good Script, Very Good Acting Disadvantages: Some of the details aren't historically accurate
...Democrat!' And it's true that Zulu is about imperialism and slaughtering the natives but it's also about the true heroism of those who didn't choose to invade another country but were just doing their job. And of course it's also a very very good film. If you don't know the plot a) Why not? b) In 1879 4000 Zulus have attacked and massacred 1500 British Soldiers at Isandlwana and then set off to wipeout a Mission Station and Hospital at Rorke's Drift ... ...3. The quotes: Zulu has some of the best quotes of any war film I've seen, which is quite a lot. "That's a bit of cheek: our own bloody rifles!" and "He's a peeler 593, come to arrest the Zulus" being 2 of my particular favourites. 4. The action sequences and choreography: The fighting is excellently choreographed and kept me glued to the screen particularly the hand to hand fighting in the compound and in the hospital. The choreography of the mass ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Only to the survivors Disadvantages: To the Zulus
...make a good target for Zulu spears.
One of the most awe inspiring sequences was not visual. Hearing the sound of the masses of Zulus banging their cow hide shields with their spears in a relentless rhythm would chill the blood in my veins.
After seeing the film umpteen times, usually at Xmas, the story gets boring but those drumming spears still get to me.
"Don't throw those bloody spears at me" is attributed to Michael Cain speaking in his Harry ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: See Opinion Disadvantages: See Opinion
...and then imagine hundreds of Zulu warriors bearing down on you from all sides, and try to feel the courage and faith in comrades, training, discipline, equipment and superior officers which made the men stand and fight and survive. Then walk to the foot of one of those hills and imagine the courage and discipline which it took for the men to charge again and again into the disciplined withering fire of a regiment - whose brothers in arms in the not ... ...the flower of the Imperial German Infantry at Mons, with similar disciplined fire. This is the essence of the greatness of the film. You are there - feeling the action unfold around a band of courageous men facing almost impossible odds. These soldiers are no apologists of latter day political analysts wondering as to the reason of their being there, but soldiers of an expanding vigorous empire, sure in their faith of friend and training, in possession ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Great family viewing Disadvantages: None really
Zulu is a real classic film. It is exciting, fast moving, and, without all those modern day effects it still has a fabulous atmosphere. The sound of the Zulu army approaching is what attracts me most to the film. The rhythmic drumming gets louder and louder and it is caused by the soles of the warriors' feet thumping on the ground.The sound grows in intensity and sounds like an approaching freight train. The soldiers put their heads to the ground ... ...with the battle with the Zulu army which, using it's traditional strategy, attacked again and again. The boredom of the British Soldiers between attacks is quite clear, then the tension builds as we hear the drumming of approaching Zulu feet. This film is a historical account and even today's military strategists are still trying to work out why the British were so badly defeated by an army that was nowhere near as well equiped. The sheer numbers ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: A masterpiece of a Mini-Series Disadvantages: Nearly 10 hours long and thats without the DVD extras
.... The acting, cinematography and South African landscapes are all first class.
This can be seen by the fact it is the most repeatadly screened mini-series in American TV history. Between 1986 and 1992 it had been seen by over 350 million viewer's.
If i was to list all the actors in this series this review would go on forever. So instead i shall list just some of the most important characters.
Lt Francis Farewell = Edward Fox
Dr Henry Fynn = Robert Powell
Lord Charles Henry Somerset = Trevor Howard
Lord Bathurst = Christopher Lee
Shaka = Henry Cele
Nandi = Dudu Mkhize
The series is spread over 4 discs, 3 episodes per disc with the 4th disc given over to the 10th part and the DVD extras.
Episode 1
The series begins at the end of the Anglo-Zulu wars. With the defeated king of the Zulus, Cetshwayo, meeting Queen Victoria to ask...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: A true story and a very interesting one Disadvantages: I am British and we are pretty much the bad guys
...Well if you love an underdog story this could be ideal for you. The oldies are often the best and this lives up to that and I am sure this movie will be loved by one and all.
The British are very arrogant in this movie depicting a true story, watch the officers fight amongst themselves as to what are the best tactics for fighting the Zulu and watch the Zulu king and tribe counter these tactics and use a fair bit more cunning than has been expected of them.
A one armed hero leads the British army into battle, with many of them rightly fearing for their lives unlike their officers who feel it was a matter of when not if they would win the battle. Historians will enjoy this movie immensely, for everyone else though I am still sure its worth the time to watch....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Epic Film - prequel to an epic Disadvantages: Not an epic itself
...From the pen of Cy Endfield, one ofthe co-writers of the epic Zulu staring Michael Cane comes this prequel to the film that e watch every christmas.
Set in 1879, this film depicts the catastrophic Battle of Isandhlwana, which remains the worst defeat of the British army by natives--the British contingent was outnumbered 16-to-1 by the Zulu tribesmen.
This film is certainly worth watching. The cast is excellent - although a number of them seem a little past their best.
Burt Lancaster .... Col. Durnford
Simon Ward .... Lt. William Vereker
Denholm Elliott .... Colonel Pulleine
Peter Vaughan .... Q.S.M. Bloomfield
James Faulkner .... Lt. Melvill
Christopher Cazenove .... Lt. Coghill
Bob Hoskins .... C.S.M. Williams
I am split on this review while I think that it is worth watching because of Zulu, this film...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Plot: Based on an actual historic event, this is the story of a group of British soldiers stationed in Africa who are forced to defend their tiny outpost against an attack by powerful Zulu warriors. They are outnumbered 40-1 but are still ready to fight to the finish.
DVD Description
Narrated by Richard Burton and starring an outstanding Michael Caine in his first starring role, ZULU is a tense and dramatic war film about the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879--which was part of the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa--where approximately 150 British soldiers held off 4,000 Zulu warriors. ZULU is an exceptionally well-made and beautifully shot film from 1964 that demonstrates the bravery of the British troops and also acknowledges the Zulu's bravery. The emotional score of the film was conducted by John Barry. Eleven Victoria Crosses were won in the action, the most in a single battle. Most of the characters in the movie were based on real participants of the battle.
Release details
DVD Region: DVD
Studio(s): PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT; TECHNICOLOR DIST. SERVICES
![Zulu [VHS] [1964]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/74875984.jpg)
![Zulu [VHS] [1964]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83953202.jpg)
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![Zulu Wars [VHS]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/83967867.jpg)
![Shaka Zulu [1986] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78492603.jpg)
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