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
Jack Hawkins to be Jack Hawkins. If he hadn't been free to play the part, then there wouldn't have been a film." "The Cruel Sea" was the most successful film of the year and saw Hawkins voted the most popular star in Britain regardless of nationality. According to one obituary he "exemplified for many cinemagoers the stiff upper lip tradition prevalent in post war British films. His craggy looks and authoritative bearing were used to good effect whatever branch of the services he represented." "Malta Story" (1953) was another military story, with Hawkins as an RAF officer in the Siege of Malta