Zulu (1964 film) in the background. The real location of the battle was 100 kilometres (60 mi) to the northwest, on the Buffalo River near the isolated hill at Isandhlwana. Other scenes were filmed within the national parks of KwaZulu-Natal. Interiors and all the scenes starring James Booth were completed at Twickenham Film Studios in Middlesex, England. The majority of the Zulus were real Zulus. 240 Zulu extras were employed for the battle scenes, bused in from their tribal homes over 100 miles away. Around 1,000 additional tribesmen were filmed by the second unit in Zululand. The film was compared by Baker to
The Cruel Sea (1953 film) they doggedly pursue and sink another U-boat, marked as , "Saltash Castle"s only 'kill'. As the war ends the ship is shown returning to port, as guard to a number of German submarines that have surrendered. Although the role of the cowardly officer Bennett was an Australian in the book, the Englishman Donald Sinden was originally screen-tested for the part and the Welshman Stanley Baker was screen-tested for the part of Lockhart. Subsequently, at Jack Hawkins' suggestion and after further screen-tests, the roles were swapped. The film was shot on location in Plymouth Naval Dockyard and the English Channel. Scenes