Zulu (film)

Zulu is a 1964 British film directed by Cy Endfield and starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth and Nigel Green in the main roles.

Based on a true story, a bloody battle that took place in South Africa on January 23, 1879, the Battle of Rorke's Drift, in which 140 British soldiers faced 4,000 Zulu warriors.

Synopsis

After the disaster for the British Army at the Battle of Isandhlwana, Lieutenants: John Chard, Engineer, (Stanley Baker) and Infantry Lieutenant, Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine ) find that their 140-man contingent has been cut off from the rest of the British troops inside Zulu territory. They are informed that 4,000 native warriors are on their way to attack them. The two lieutenants have different military criteria and a conflict arises between them about the best way to prepare for the inevitable battle.

In 1879, in the Natal colony of South Africa, fanatical Reverend Otto Witt and his daughter Margaretta are witnessing a massive Zulu wedding of their greatest warriors. A messenger interrupts the celebrations to inform Chief Cetshwayo of the victory at Insandlwana. Faced with the alarming news and seeing his church and his lives in danger, Reverend Witt leaves with his daughter Margaretta to notify the British detachment occupying the mission.

We are at the gates of the conflict that came to be called the Anglo-Zulu War, which pitted the Zulu against British army soldiers on South African lands. Reverend Witt, instead of helping to consolidate the defense of the mission, only becomes a nuisance by scaring away the porters and helpers of the British with his out-of-control sermons and must be sent out of the field by the British.

On January 22 of that year, at the battle of Isandlwana, the Zulu army overwhelmed the English. And although the death toll will not reach a thousand, it will be the great British defeat of its colonial period, the most unexpected, that will remain anchored in memory.

While the confrontation between Lieutenant John Chard (Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Royal Engineers) and Gonville Bromhead, of aristocratic background, for command seems likely to upset the peace of the mission, what will truly upset the order will be the fierce and organized Zulu attack that is coming. Tempered Sergeant Frank Bourne and his phlegmatic military demeanor cement internal divisions.

The Zulu show up in an organized fashion and begin an attack to measure the forces of the redcoats, then wave after wave invade the mission perimeter, only discipline saves the British from certain slaughter who defend themselves valiantly bringing out extraordinary forces of his temper. Finally, almost on the verge of extermination, the attack ceases and the Zulu salute the exhausted British soldiers. In the actual fighting, it is not known for sure if this happened in the way shown in the film, but what is known is that the British withdrew after 12 exhausting hours of attacks and 72 hours of poor food and provisioning.

Twenty-five thousand Zulu warriors mowed down a thousand British redcoats but, on the very day of Isandlwana's victory; however, another 4,000 Zulus were unable to defeat the 139 Welshmen (including wounded, attachés and a Scotsman) defending the Rorke's Drift mission, proving that Isandlwana was an exception. Despite this, in reality a special mention must be made of the fierceness and capacity of the Zulu warriors, since in Isandlwana they fought without the use of firearms and still devastated the British troops.

Cast

• Stanley Baker... Lieutenant John Chard
• Michael Caine.... Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead
• Jack Hawkins.... Pastor reverend Otto Witt
• James Booth... Private Henry Hook
• Nigel Green... Sergeant Frank Bourne
• Glynn Edwards..... Corporal William Allen
• Ivor Emmanuel.... Soldier Owen
• Neil McCarthy.... Soldier Thomas
• Patrick Magee.... Major surgeon James Henry Reynolds
• Gert Van den Bergh... Lieutenant Josef Adendorff
• Dickie Owen.... Corporal Schiess

Production

• In this film, actor Michael Caine had his first leading role.
• It was filmed entirely in the Drakensberg Mountains, at the Royal Natal National Park, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
• The film was made when the Apartheid policy was in force.
• The contracted extras were authentic Zulu warriors.

Awards

BAFTA Awards 1964

• Nominee Best Artistic Direction (Color)