Great war movie set in South Africa using real Zulus Pays tribute to both sides
Zulu released in 1964 was another one of those epic war movies released in the 1960s and 70s. One of the main formulas for success for these films was huge sweeping battle scenes and Zulu provides that.<br /><br />Things start with the Zulu defeat of the British at the Battle of Isandiwana in 1879 in South Africa. The dead soldiers are seen spread out while the triumphant Zulu warriors take measure of what they had accomplished. Two European missionaries hear of the battle and go to warn the British at Rorke’s Drift. That’s where the heart of the movie takes place as the British there face thousands of Zulu warriors attempting to overwhelm the camp.<br /><br />The European’s racist view of the Zulu was highlighted while the missionaries witnessed a mass marriage at a Zulu camp. The daughter is repelled by the naked women, doesn’t understand why the marriages are taking place and has a general disdain for the local culture. That racism is repeated while the British soldiers prepare their battle positions at Rorke’s and one calls the Zulus savages. It was that attitude that led the British army to underestimate their foes.<br /><br />The film featured Michael Caine in his first starring role as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, the second in command at Rorke’s Drift. He starts off as a prissy young officer. He commanded the unit at Rorke’s, but was outranked by a visiting engineer officer Lieutenant John Chard played by Stanley Baker. The two have a prickly relationship at first because Baker has assumed control of his unit, but soon form a grudging respect for each other.<br /><br />The heart of the movie was the battle. Things start off slowly as the British build a wall and barricades at Rorke’s Drift and Caine and Baker get into petty arguments. The tensions eventually build when a group of farmer-soldiers comes by and refuses to help the detachment out of fear of the Zulu. Then the Zulus’ pounding on their shields can be heard in the distance. Eventually hundreds of warriors appear on the hilltop above Rorke’s in an intimidating display. The scene is impressive because it was made with no special effects. Then the first wave of Zulu fighters approaches the British making war chants and pounding on their shields. The shifting shots between the Zulus and the British show that the two sides were both organized military units with discipline and strategy.<br /><br />The film was noteworthy because it was filmed in South Africa and most of the Zulus were real Zulus. It also pays tribute to the fighting spirit and tactics of the Zulus. For example before the attack upon Rorke’s Drift a Boer officer explains the strategy of the Zulu using a buffalo head formation. The Zulus attack Rorke’s from two sides attempting to stretch the British defenders. They spot riflemen on a ridge to pin down one side of the camp while they attack another, etc.<br /><br />Overall, great war movie you just don’t see anymore<br />C
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 {"Genre": "Action & Adventure", "Format": "Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Anamorphic, Widescreen, Closed-captioned", "Contributor": "Michael Caine, Paul Daneman, Richard Davies, Glynn Edwards, Peter Gill, Patrick Magee, Stanley Baker, Denys Graham, Dickie Owen, Jack Hawkins, David Kernan, Ulla Jacobsson, Neil McCarthy, Dafydd Havard, Nigel Green, Larry Taylor, Gary Bond, Ivor Emmanuel, Cy Endfield, Tom Gerrard, James BoothMichael Caine, Paul Daneman, Richard Davies, Glynn Edwards, Peter Gill, Patrick Magee, Stanley Baker, Denys Graham, Dickie Owen, Jack Hawkins, David Kernan, Ulla Jacobsson, Neil McCarthy, Dafydd Havard, Nigel Green, Larry Taylor, Gary Bond, Ivor Emmanuel, Cy Endfield,\u2026   See more", "Initial release date": "2020-07-06", "Language": "French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), English (Mono), Unqualified", "Aspect Ratio": "2.35:1", "Is Discontinued By Manufacturer": "No", "MPAA rating": "Unrated (Not Rated)", "Product Dimensions": "7.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 1.76 Ounces", "Item model number": "1004529", "Director": "Cy Endfield", "Media Format": "Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Anamorphic, Widescreen, Closed-captioned", "Run time": "2 hours and 18 minutes", "Release date": "July 6, 2020", "Actors": "Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine", "Subtitles": "English, Spanish, French", "Studio": "WarnerBrothers", "Country of Origin": "USA", "Number of discs": "1"}

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