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Summary: Brilliant film of the fight at Rorke's Drift
Review: The heroic stand by British soldiers at Rorke's Drift against 4,000 Zulu warriors is superb filmmaking, detailing the event in widescreen Technicolor that also underscores the tension at the post and the preparation of the defenders in the hours before the attack. Michael Caine debuts in this film and his Lt. Bromhead clashes immediately with Lt. Chard [Stanley Baker], an engineer whose task is to build a bridge across the drift who nevertheless is in command of the garrison by reason or seniority. The two men put aside their differences and concentrate on battle strategy and placement of men, vowing to stand fast and confront the enemy who wiped out a British force of 1,500 men only hours earlier. The battle scenes are gripping and realistic, replete with bloody, hand-to-hand fighting that shows fierce Zulu tribesmen thrusting spears at the red-coated British soldiers who in turn thrust back with their bayonets. There is also long-range rifle firing on each side, with the Zulus pinning down the soldiers with rifles taken from their victims after the earlier battle. The determined Zulus manage to overrun the post but take heavy casualties from the defenders' withering gunfire. In one scene, the resourceful British release penned-up cattle that they use to shield themselves from the Zulus, and the cattle's horns and hoofs slash and trample the warriors in one of the final assaults on the garrison.
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Summary: History in Action!
Review: The massacre of nearly 1,500 British soldiers of the 24th Regiment of Foot on January 22nd, 1879 at Isandhlwana, Natal Province by warriors of the Zulu Nation is on record as the worst disaster ever inflicted on a modern army by a primitive one. After the battle at Isandhlwana, the Zulu warriors turned their attention to Rourke's Drift, a lonely Missionary station where the 24th had set up a supply depot and hospital. It is the desperate and courageous defense of this remote station by 140 British soldiers against the determined attacks of 4,000 Zulu warriors that is the subject of this film.
Zulu is a historically accurate reproduction of the Defense of Rourke's Drift. Every detail is painstakingly accurate: the uniforms of British Infantry and Engineers, the Martini-Henry rifles and Webley revolvers, foil sealed cases of ammunition, and the tactics that were used by the besieged British to fight off the Zulus.
Extraordinary acting performances are given by Michael Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, the arrogant, aristocratic officer who is humbled by his experience of the battle, a performance made even more impressive by the fact that this was Caine's first film; Stanley Baker, the Officer of Engineers who takes command of the detachment and leads the heroic defense; Nigel Green as the brave, correct Colour-Sergeant Bourne, the rock-solid pillar of Britishness; and James Booth as the rebellious Private Hook who turns hero and saves many of his comrades.
Narrated by Richard Burton and featuring spectacular cinematogrophy filmed on location in Natal, Zulu is a masterful telling of one of the greatest stories in the annals of Military History, and a shining moment in the history of British arms. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to defenders of Rourke's Drift, and this film is a worthy tribute to their heroism. It should be in everyone's DVD library.
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Summary: Excellent action movie with vivid portrayals of a real event
Review: This is a very fine action film that is based on a real battle in January of 1879. The names of many of the characters are real because eleven of the soldiers won a Victoria Cross and many more won other decorations. 150 soldiers defended a supply station against something like 4,000 Zulu warriors for two days. And these 150 aren't the "real" soldiers - they were left as bridge builders and quartermasters and such. The fighters had gone out and gotten largely slaughtered by another army of Zulu.The story as told here is full of vivid characters. Of course, the real life characters were almost completely different than their portrayal here. For example, the battle didn't break off because the Zulus wanted to honor the brave English, but because they saw off to their flank that reinforcements were coming. But it is true enough for a movie. Just don't take everything here as gospel (as you should avoid doing on anything from Hollywood and almost everything on film). Michael Caine is glorious as Gonville Bromhead who was second in command and from a well-known military family. Stanley Baker is very fine as the engineer who finds himself in command of a military operation. There are many other fine and memorable performances, but my favorite is Nigel Green as Colour Sgt Frank Bourne. In any fight it is the Sergeants that keep everything together and the discipline necessary to continue the fighting. This is a wonderful portrayal. It is a movie that could not be made today, but I am glad that we have it on DVD. I wish we had it in a better transfer with some more background material, but this is certainly worth having. Maybe we can get a restored version someday in the future.
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Summary: A wonderful film
Review: This is an extremely well done film covering how the British with a small number of men held out against overwhelming odds against massive attacks by Zulus in South Africa in the late 1800s.
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Summary: So where's Zulu Dawn?
Review: Trying to find this movie and it's only available in Region 2. What gives? Is it coming to the US soon?
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Summary: Great movie with intense action scenes
Review: When I saw this I was completely surprised by how well done this was, considering it is about 40 years old. What I noticed was that at times the British soldiers were the ones who had to retreat several feet in their battles with the Zulu warriors, unlike other movies we see where the African natives are the ones who are usually being mistreated and beaten by white explorers.
But don't take this as a race vs. race type thing, this is just about 100 soldiers fighting to survive against 4,000 Zulu warriors, and the ironic thing is that the soldiers were only sent to build a bridge near their fort.
The movie stars great actors like Stanley Baker, and Michale Caine, who some of you should know or at least heard of. I think this was one of his first major roles in a movie.
The movie takes place in Africa, and the British soldiers were sent to just build a bridge [actually they were engineers, the soldiers were already at the fort] Meanwhile they are soon going to figure out that an army of Zulu warriors have declared war on any white person they see after a battle with 1000 British soldiers a few days earlier.
The fort is where the movie takes place, the men turn over wagons, and prop up sandbags to make walls to defend the open spaces between their buildings. Any man that can walk and carry a rifle is ordered to fight, even if they are injured. The main rule is that if you have an arm, you need a gun and you need to fight.
Now as far as the fight scenes, some people might find them too violent, but believe me, if you've seen the Passion of the Christ, or even Saving Private Ryan, this is nothing. I'm not the type who likes to see guys kill each other, bullets and spears flying everywhere, but I will admit that they were exciting to see.
There are a few surprises in here as well, including the Zulus getting their hands on rifles off of dead soldiers, and when a stampede of cows stops another Zulu attack in its tracks.
The scenery is great, especially when the army of Zulu appear at the top of the edge of the hills, very breathtaking if you really look at it.
This is a great movie, and if you haven't seen the ending I wont ruin it, but believe me, both sides went through hell to try and stop the other. I would totally reccommend this to anyone who likes action, suspense, or is even a fan of Michale Caine, who gives a great performance I might add!
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Summary: Militaria Cult Classic
Review: Zulu is now 41 years old & it still holds up as an exciting piece of film. Sure there are things from a historic perspective, uniforms, weapons & neither Stanley Baker nor Michael Caine look anything like the real Chard or Bromhead, BUT its still a great film. It may be of interest to know that Colour Sgt. Bourne was the last survivor of Rorkes Drift dying @ the start of World War II as a Col.. Also the Zulus did NOT have Martini Henry Rifles at this battle as depicted. I've seen this film over 50 times & HIGHLY recommend it to all!
Rating:
Summary: A CLassic
Review: Zulu is one of those films that you will pull off the shelf at least once or twice a year. The battle scenes are rivetting. The setting is realistic. The acting is for the most part superb. Young Michael Caine is wonderful as are the other primary character actors. I've watched this movie literally dozens of times over the years and always enjoy it. Made in 1964, Zulu seems to have raised the bar for realistic depictions of war in film. The violence is tame relative to todays gruesome depictions but the tension of battle is palpable throughout. A great movie that has stood up well over time.
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