Zulu
Also Known As: The Battle of Rorke's Drift

Special Fetures Include: Theatrical Trailer, Commentary, the Making of Zulu

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Aspect ratio: 2:35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound: Mono
Year made: 1964
Country: US
Duration: 133 mins.
Print: Colour
Discs: 1
Genre: Action, History, War
NEW

CAST
Directed by: Cy Endfield
Stanley Baker .... Lt. John Chard
Jack Hawkins .... Rev. Otto Witt
Ulla Jacobsson .... Margareta Witt
James Booth .... Pvt. Henry Hook
Michael Caine .... Lt. Gonville Bromhead
Nigel Green .... Colour Sgt. Frank Bourne

On the January 22nd 1879 the British Army suffered one of its worst defeats when Zulu forces massacred 1,500 of its troops at Isandlhwana. A short time after the main battle a Zulu force numbering in excess of 4000 warriors advanced on a British hospital and supply dump guarded by 139 Welsh infantrymen. The film concentrates on this bloody 12 hour battle during which the British force, under their commander from the Royal Engineers who happened to be in the area building a bridge and happened to be senior to the infantry officer, won 13 Victoria Crosses. While taking some liberties with history the film follows reality fairly closely, including matching exactly the identities of the VC winners.

This was Michael Caine's first major film role. He watched the rushes, but was so nervous that he was sick, and never watched rushes again.

Michael Caine visited the officers' mess of the Scots Guards at Pirbright to perfect his accent.

Welsh-born Stanley Baker was determined to make this film. Unable to find financing, he sunk most of his own money into the project.

Because the Zulus who were playing the extras in the film had never seen a movie, Stanley Baker held an outdoor screening of a Gene Autry movie for them so they would have an idea of what movies were all about.

The opening and closing narration is read by Richard Burton.

Because the film was shot in South Africa, the cast and crew were lectured on the need to refrain from fraternizing with the topless tribal dancers since the penalty for interracial sex in the country at the time was seven years hard labor.

Jack Hawkins was upset at the way his character (Rev. Witt) was shown on film, and refused to attend the opening.

In the real battle for Rorke's Drift on which this film was based, only 15 British soldiers were actually killed.

Because of the apartheid laws in South Africa at the time, none of the actors who portrayed the Zulu warriors were allowed to attend the premiere of the movie.

Thanks to strict apartheid laws in South Africa at the time, the Zulu extras could not be paid equivalent rates to their white counterparts. To get around this, director Cy Endfield gifted all of the animals bought for this film (particularly cows) to the tribes - a gift far more valuable than the money they missed out on.

The 700+ Zulu extras were largely descendants of the actual warriors that took part in the battle. This includes the then chief of the Zulu Nation, Buthalezi, taking the role of his predecessor, Cethawayo.

Michael Caine originally auditioned for the part of Private Henry Hook, but was beaten to it by James Booth.

James Booth's character, Private Henry Hook, was required to be in the field hospital which were mostly interior shots. Therefore he did not travel with the cast and crew to South Africa for the filming.

During the first combat scenes, the powder charge is significant. In the later battle scenes, the rifles buck less because the powder charge is less. This was because at close range, even blanks were still dangerous.

Zulu was filmed in the Royal Natal National Park, which is about 90 miles south west of Rorke's Drift (the Amphitheater mountain forms a dramatic backdrop in the movie). The area surrounding Rorke's Drift is nowhere near as mountainous as in the film.

Stanley Baker owned John Chard's Victoria Cross (and other medals) from 1972 until his death in 1976. Originally thought to be what is known as a "cast copy", the Victoria Cross was later proven, after a series of tests, to be the original. Unfortunately, Baker died never knowing he had the real VC.

Joe Powell's role was much bigger but he became ill during the period when his scenes were to be shot.

The then Minister of Native Affairs banned the film for screenings to Black South Africans as "it might incite them to rise up in revolt".

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