Zulu (1964)
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A small British detachment must defend a remote outpost against a massive Zulu force during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War.
The story
In January 1879, following the defeat of 1,300 British soldiers at Isandlwana, Zulu warriors scavenge the battlefield. At a mass Zulu marriage ceremony, Zulu King Cetshwayo is informed of the victory. Nearby, a company of the British Army's 24th Regiment of Foot uses a station at Rorke's Drift as a supply depot and hospital. Upon receiving news of the Zulu victory and warnings of an approaching force of 4,000 warriors, Lieutenant John Chard assumes command of the station's 150 men. With no time to evacuate, Chard decides to stay and fight, fortifying the station with wagons and supplies to prepare for the impending assault.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the British defeat at Isandlwana, a small force of 150 men under Lieutenant John Chard defends the Rorke's Drift station against a massive Zulu army. The film depicts the desperate defense as the British soldiers face waves of Zulu warriors. The narrative includes the perspective of a Swedish missionary, Otto Witt, and his daughter. The defense is characterized by intense combat, the burning of the hospital, and the eventual retreat of the Zulus after a final, fierce assault. The film concludes with the British soldiers and the Zulu warriors showing mutual respect for each other's bravery. A final voiceover lists the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded for the battle as Chard plants a Zulu shield in the ground.
- First release year
- 1964
- Runtime (minutes)
- 139
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Cy Endfield
- Writers
- Cy Endfield · screenplay; John Prebble · story
- Cast and characters
- Stanley Baker · Lieutenant John Chard; Michael Caine · Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead; Jack Hawkins · Reverend Otto Witt; Ulla Jacobsson · Margareta Witt; Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi · King Cetshwayo; James Booth · Private Henry Hook; Nigel Green · Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne; Paul Daneman · Sergeant Robert Maxfield
- Genres
- historical drama; war
- Themes
- heroism; warfare; mutual respect
- Tone and mood
- epic; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; war; siege
- Source material / true-story basis
- John Prebble's 1958 Lilliput article 'Slaughter in the Sun'
- Reception
- The film received widespread critical acclaim for its performances, cinematography, and action sequences. It became a box-office hit and a television perennial in the UK. It is noted for its portrayal of the Zulus as noble figures.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 97% · scale: percentage · review count: 29 critics; Metacritic · score: 77 · scale: 100 · review count: 9 critics
- Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Award · Best Colour Art Direction · nominated
- Production trivia
- Michael Caine's first major role; The film was banned for black audiences in South Africa in 1964; The Battle of Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings was filmed in a manner reminiscent of Zulu
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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