First Time Watching!!! Zulu (1964) Amazing Movie!! (Reaction)
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- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- First Time Watching!!! Zulu (1964) Amazing Movie!! (Reaction)
Join me as I react to the movie Zulu that tells the story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879 during Anglo-Zulu War where 150 British soldiers held off 4,000 Zulu warriors.
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The family of Private Henry Hook were extremely upset about the film portrayal of him. He was in fact, a model soldier who deserved his VC, not a workshy malingerer.
The film portrayed Hook as not only a malingerer, but also a drunk. He was in fact teetotal, and a firm supporter of the 'Temperance Movement', and would never touch a drop of alcohol.
I'm related to Henry hook. He was my grandfather's grandfather.
I read that they went overboard to portray the zulus with respect and dignity and saddened to hear that they didn't do the same to victoria cross recipient private henry hook.
He was also a standout character and for what it is worth my favourite character in the film, artistic license allowing, I think we all love Hookey
@@kaiser5344 He was fun but for me Colour Sergeant Bourne steals the show.
My great, great, great Uncle died at Rorkes Drift, Pvt 801 Thomas Cole, he was portrayed in the film by Gary Bond as somewhat of a scared kid guarding the Vicar, then getting shot at the sand bag defence and then dying on the operating table, "A paper hanger". I don't doubt that he was utterly terrified, but he actually died trying to rescue people from the burning hospital building, he ran outside and caught a ricochet from a Zulu rifle and died instantly. He was nicknamed "old king Cole" in the regiment. Brave young man.
It's impossible to no what happened in the battle and who deserved the VC all the VCs were awarded to take the light of Lord Chelmsfords disastrous mistakes at isandwhala
@@mickdavis8163 So you're saying none of these men who defended the garrison against overwhelming odds deserved their VC ? I would think the officers who survived this battle were well aware of what happened there, unless of course you say they lied.
I recommend reading Wilbur Smith books, starting with When the Lion feeds, then sounds of thunder, will give you a good history of South Africa. 😂❤
@4Kandlez they ALL deserve them, but politicaly it was to bost moral after the greatest defeat of the British forces ever before. 😂❤
It's interesting to me that so many generation on people are still so proud to their relatives. I too would be proud if I learnt one of my relatives had been there.
One of this movie's technical advisors was a Zulu Princess, and the tribe's historian. She knew the battle strategy perfectly, and drew it on the sand. Director Cy Endfield shot it exactly as she drew it.
Nice back story there, I've seen this great film countless times but didn't know that 👍
Ah yes, drawing it on the sand, very precise. Yes, I can see the battle strategy perfectly, even after 85 years have passed. And what is that little back thing there? Ah, a dung beetle. Never mind, we'll shoot it exactly as you drew it. We wouldn't know otherwise.
@@2eleven48 pretty sure that would be the initial description.
@@2eleven48 🤡
I wish I was you 😎
Epitome of discipline and courage. Epic portrayal of British military tradition and the reason why the Brits fight above their weight in every conflict. Magnificent film.
And British colonial brutality it happened all over the world during the time of the British empire
@@davidcorrie4794Woke Blurt !
@@davidcorrie4794 shaaddapp
@@davidcorrie4794give it a rest, mate. No more brutal than the Romans, Khan, Spanish, Portuguese, French etc etc. And a lot less brutal than some.
@@davidcorrie4794 Yeah, also built schools for the locals, halted some of the barbaric, local customs and ended slavery across the Empire and, later the majority of the Western world and (according to a Japanese study) produced (if memory serves) around 70% of all significant inventions so, y' know.........swings and roundabouts! 🤣🤣
All the Zulus in the film are actual Zulus not actors
And the person playing the Zulu King is an actual decendant in real life.
@@richardwest6358with his wrist watch on lol
Michael Caine is Welsh.
@@phillipjohngreenslade1333 No he is not.
@@phillipjohngreenslade1333Michael Caine is from London, Stanley Baker was from Wales
For me the advancing kneeling and standing ranks reloading and firing scene was one of the most memorable of the film. It showed how effective disciplined soldiers and tactics could be against terrifyingly overwhelming odds.
Yes, this and the scene where the zulu start singing to honor the british.
Trooping the colour today is based on this. 😊
@@gerhardadler3418 that never happened in RL tho it was added for dramatic effect
I love the way he explains to a British audience what's happening, but fails to realise that we know much more than him about it. 😅😅
@@kevinadamson5768 No it isn't. Trooping the colour goes back centuries.
The last British survivor of this battle, Frank Bourne, died on the 9th May 1945. The day after World War II ended in Europe. He was portrayed by Nigel Green in the film.
Great fact👍
At the time he was 25, the youngest Colour Sargent in the British Army. He chose a commission instead of a VC, and rose to the rank of Lt Colonel.
Man wanted to live long enough to end another conflict 😂.
@@nicksykes4575 No, actually Bourne was offered a battlefield commission but refused it because he couldn't afford the lifestyle of an officer. He was commissioned later in his career and he was never recommended for the VC, he was awarded either a DSC or DSM, I can't remember which.
My Mrs moms great great great uncle was in Rorkes Drift his surname was hook, he won the V.C, its in a museum in wales I believe
I have loved this movie for decades. As a woman living in a time when men are so disparaged, we women have to remember we were always spared from the front line. The bravery on both sides is remarkable. God bless the souls of all who lived or died in this horrible battle. Thank you, men.
No you were not spared the front line per se. Read a good account of the battle of Trafalgar. There were women on the ships of Nelson's Navy. Some were wives of officers and there were others. Their Lordships would not allow them to be entered in the muster books. In battle when push came to shove, women helped the surgeon(s) and even carried powder. The irony is in the Trafalgar bronzes in the Square, on the famous tapestries and paintings of the battle, you can see black sailors and Gunners performing their duty. Nelson's Navy was colour blind, all that mattered was a man was competent and did his duty. You will not find the women represented, but they were there.
@@TheArgieH Yes, they were. But they were not loading the cannons. We have physical limitations difficult to fully employ in war. We have a place for sure and history is full of stories of powerful women - if you take a second to see. And look at the powerful role women had as Abolistionists. Or as bad and good Queens. What we as women don't have - and you can argue this with me overnight - we are NOT as physically strong and are not the same biologically. The men have a natural advantage when it comes to physical prowess. And that takes nothing from women - we have crafty talents too. Sick of this ridiculous denial of basic biology.
your verry wlcome hen , both ma grandads fougt in WW1 , ma dad was workin down the coal mine in ww2 but a couple o ma uncles served in ww2 , they gave us the fredom we took for granted now it's bein stolen from us by evil people of all coulers an creeds , sad days for the ununited kindom , aye !
@@TheArgieH yeah but not exactly the front line when war changed an bacame industral women did not fight they were in the forces but no where near any battle , the exception ti this was russia where women did fight but stalin did not care who fought an died at the end o the day just as long as he was safe , aye !
@@thomasw.glasgow7449 Ah well, consider the history of Violette Szabo. British Father and French Mother she was a Londoner. When her husband was K. I. A. she volunteered for SOE. Trained as a radio operator she was dropped into occupied France. Her resistance group was betrayed and whilst they were fleeing she was injured and unable to escape. While the rest of the group did a runner she held off the German pursuers with a Sten gun to buy them some time. She held the line until her ammunition was all gone, then she was taken prisoner. What followed was interrogation, torture and a one way ticket to a death camp. She was finally executed on the same day with a number of other female agents. She had only just turned twenty one. There is a memorial to the killed women of SOE in London. I'd say that was pretty much the front line for some and just as critical.
The women of the Auxiliary Air Force were trained pilots, who delivered aircraft from the factories to the squadrons. The aircraft ranged from Spitfires and other fighters to multi-engined bombers. Some died whilst performing their duty. One of the best known was Amy Johnson whose Air craft came down just off Herne Bay. Her body was never recovered.
Women manned anti-aircraft batteries and launched And serviced barrage balloons which was not without its own dangers.
IMHO those are examples of women serving on the front line, there are plenty of others. There are several good books about it eg "What did you do in the war Mummy" and "Spitfire Women".
My favourite war movie of all time.
Bravery, Discipline and Respect all around.
And introducing Michael Caine.
What a film!
"Why us?"
"Because we're here lad, nobody else."
The Zulu warriors in the battle were veterans in their 30s 40s. Their discipline was by all accounts magnificent.
I never tire of this film and have seen it many times.
I served in a Royal Engineer Regiment which celebrated the centenary of Rorke's Drift, particularly as three of the Regiment's Squadrons were serving together for the first time since the Zulu wars. True to military fashion we were ordered to parade in the evening and were then marched to the gymnasium and 'forced' to watch ZULU on a large screen. No one complained.
I was working at my local petrol station a few years back when a couple of squaddies came in, in uniform and I asked them what regiment they where from and they said the Royal Engineers based in Gibraltar Barracks, Minley (at the time) just up the road ( about 1 1/2 miles away) and I mentioned Rourke's Drift and they know all about it and watched the film Zulu when they joined the regiment.
What I didn't reveal a year ago was that the on camp celebrations, presided over by General Sir Rupert Diddly Squat Farquhar, or whoever the visiting officer was, consisted of the Regiment marching to the Parade Square in their best pressed No2 Dress. Apart from the handful of black guys in the regiment. They paraded dressed as Zulus, complete with Zulu shields and grass skirts.
That wouldn't happen today and I was ashamed that it happened then.
Private Henry Hook VC was not the waster he was portrayed to be in the movie. He was an honest, decent man of good moral standing, fully deserving of his Victoria Cross!
Moral standing is irrelevant when it comes to Victoria Crosses
@@kingspeechless1607 I know, but the film portrayed him as a bit of a scumbag which, given he was a real person is rather uncharitable I would say! edit, I've just re-read my original comment and I can see how I might have given that impression. Forgive me, I should have proof read it before I posted it!
The Zulus were Very BRAVE . Running Into gunfire with spears
And there's me thinking ultimately they portray Hook as a brave soldier who becomes a hero.
He's not portrayed as a scumbag. More loveable rogue and comic relief.
@@lyndoncmp5751 He was a teetotaller.
The Sergeant Major at Rorke's Drift was offered a Victoria Cross. He refused it and asked for a commission instead He finished his military career as a Colonel
One of the main reasons the British stayed put at Rorke's Drift was that the Zulu were extremely mobile and had they retreated it is more than likely they would have caught up with them. Hindered with the Wagons and the sick and injured they would have been cut to pieces in the open. They had a fighting chance defending the post.
"Extremely Mobile" is putting it mildly.A Zulu Impi had impressive mobility.
They can thank James Langley Dalton for that.
The officers were considering evacuation, Dalton was the most experienced soldier on the station, having served in the infantry before he joined the commissariat.
He also organised the building of the barricades, he never gets the recognition he deserves.
Also hold until relieved was drummed into the British soldier meaning you held your ground no matter what. Indeed the Zulu's themselves were very impressed by the way the British soldiers fought and died line abreast at the battle of Isandlwana. Not one British soldier so said the Zulu's took a backward step
@@pauldurkee4764 Yeah I follow a RUclips channel called "Red Coat History" and when he covered the battle of Rourke's Drift he made a point of stating the Dalton was tough, experienced soldier. Nothing like the slightly camp character portrayed in the film.
The Zulu King's brother commanded the warriors - the King ordered him - do not cross the river & attack Rorke's Drift' - Rorke's Drift was on the Natal side of the river, not the Zulu side
Learn you’re history young man.I’m so proud to be British 🇬🇧💪
An Aussie that I used to work with had served with the Australian army in Vietnam. He told me that during training they watched this film. And no it wasn’t about shooting down natives armed with spears, it was about discipline and obeying orders. It’s how some 17000 or so members of the roman army defeated 200000 celts at the battle of Watling Street. It’s why the mob break ranks and run when charged by the police.
Whatever comes out of those gates, if we stick together, we survive.
It's called holding the line. 😊
The mob break ranks when charged by the police because they know there are serious consequences for attacking and injuring a police officer. There are many occasions where the police are outnumbered and could easily be overpowered by the mob but they don't do it.
The ‘train’ sound of the zulus is not their footsteps… it’s the beating of the spears on their shields.
Despite there being a number of inaccuracies, this is one of the greatest movies in British history.
The CSM was the youngest in the army and died on VE day.
The soldiers who fought a Rorke's drift where not a Welsh regiment but the ,2nd Battalion of the 24th Foot based in Warwick , England.
Quite true didn't become the South Wales Borders for about another 5 year's.
Their depot was actually in Brecon, South Wales and they did recruit locally as well, but yes in name they were 2/24th Warwickshire regiment. There was a mix of English, welsh, and Irish at Rorkes Drift, there was even one Scottish solider present
I was wondering who would be the first to mention that 🙄
Well Stanley Baker did produce the film as well..
Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded in the Battle of Roukes Drift. The highest honour in the British Military.
It was a political decision to award so many VCs at once (there have never been so many awarded in one action, before or since), largely to compensate for the massive defeat at Isandlwana, and to hearten and encourage the troops. I don't mean to suggest that the medals weren't all earned, or to devalue them in some way, but there are dozens of real stories of British acts of heroism in war which weren't rewarded with a VC, in some cases quite unbelievably. As for the film, I find it quite modern in its outlook; there is no suggestion of racist bias towards the British, and in the few incidences where a white person speaks disparagingly about Africans he is put right in no uncertain terms.
You have to winder why all the survivors weren't awarded.
@@Muckylittleme They're notoriously stingy when handing out VCs, and you wouldn't believe the stories of some who were not considered quite heroic enough for the top gong.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 The soldier who does his duty exceptionally well and survives does not win the VC.
It needs to be witnessed by others who will be believed, AND has to be 'put up' for a VC by the soldiers' commander, AND it has to survive the test of 'have the Brigade of Guards been given the same number of VCs or not' test, as in the Falklands and other conflicts.
It was awarded to any soldier, officer or 'other rank', who made a single or sustained action or actions that far exceeded even that courage normally expected of a British Soldier in the furtherance of duties. It's actually really hard to do that, have an Officer see what you did, and also survive.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 They will only get stingier, there's only so many medals they can make out of that one single cannon the medals are made from. A distant relative of mine won his VC in the boer wars, twenty years after this, I wonder if he "did enough" to be considered nowadays.
My great, great, grandad was killed at Rourke's Drift. He was camped in the field next door and went over to complain about the noise.
"Zulu Dawn" with Peter O'Toole and Burt Lancaster shot a decade later is a worthy prequel to Zulu and worth a watch. Not as good as Zulu but they upped the budget and the battle scenes are spectacular.
My uncle was in that movie. We played with real Zulu shields and spears when he came back from filming. It was a strange moment watching your uncle die on screen when you are a kid.
Wasn't happy when Billy Casper got stabbed - come on Kes! Ha ha.
It covers the bigger battle Isandlwana, the aftermath of which was shown at the beginning of this film.
@@vomgrady
That is very cool, I bet he had some great anecdotes from the filming, what part did he play in the film?
@@pauldurkee4764 He played Lt. Coghill. He is holding the flag when he gets shot. He had a great time out there with Burt and the Zulus.
Two soldiers from this battle are buried in Philips Park Cemetery in Manchester U K . One of them a VC holder, both died in abject poverty and are buried in Paupers Graves. They were finally given a headstone by the War Graves Commission during the 1980s.
One of the best films of all time. Men of Harlech is fantastic.
The song was never sung
2nd/24th Was a Warwickshire Regiment, sod-all to do with Wales.
This was Michael Cain's first major role, he wasn't even credited in most of his earlier films. Stanley Baker was the producer and "star" of the film. Jack Hawkins who played the missionary was a huge star. I grew up watching him playing officers in black and white war movies, and police inspectors in crime dramas.
The natives in this film were actual Zulus who knowingly helped recreate the events. I think the closing chant given by the tribesmen before they departed was one acknowledging the valour of the British defenders. A warrior to warrior mark of respect
It's a terrific scene, just as the earlier one where the two armies sing to each other, but alas, not true. There were absolutely no accounts of these incidences from any of the survivors. And historians now think the zulus only left Rorke's Drift because a British relief force was marching in.
@@justinchetham-strode5234 The Zulus that crossed the river did so under the command of a Prince, and he exceeded his orders, invading foreign territory (and breaking treaties) by crossing the river.
He had been forbidden to do it, so that any fighting would always be the British attacking another sovereign nation with whom the British had treaties.
Rorke's Drift, or KwaJim as the Zulus knew it, was more important than this film or most histories care to mention, as it removes the fact that the British and South Africans attacked the Zulus, intending to wipe them out, and broke their own agreements, trading and political.
They didn’t salute the British like it was portrayed in the film, they walked off dejected.
After the battle the work for the 24th wasn’t finished has they had to bury the dead Zulu’s .
@@stevetheduck1425 Aw, the slavers that massacred dozens of tribes in their expansion across south east Africa were going to be put down? How sad.
@@Reaper08 You do know that Africans sold their own people to all slavers and the Arabs had been taking slaves for a 10000 years? and that the "First" Empires where in Africa and the Middle East and slavery was common all over the world until the British ended it for everyone. you really should try and educate yourself before making yourself look silly.
Two of the lead actors in this Nigel Green (the Sargent) and Stanley Baker (the officer in charge) both died relatively young. Baker at 48 and Green at 47.....both were well established British actors having been in multiple big movies....Baker a Welsh man himself, was instrumental in making his movie!
Stanley Baker also owned Lt. Chard's Victoria Cross, which is now in the Imperial War Museum. I have seen it at the VC exhibition the museum had and when you see it, it's not very remarkable in itself; it's knowing the history of how and why it's there which makes it so astounding.
@@RBS.23 I know I'm a year late here but Stanley Baker bought a copy of Col Chards VC in 1972. In 1996 it was found to be the original cross.
Baker died never knowing he was in possession of the real thing.
@@JumboSeventyNine never too late for additional information! Thank you, I didn't know that part of the story.
This film was surprisingly praised at the time for its depiction of the Zulu.
Like most films at the time would have shown the soldiers in a positive light, and nowadays they might have shown the Zulu as the heroes.
But the film protrays neither as bad or good people; just people fighting in a conflict.
The soldiers are scared of what the Zulu are capable of, and the Zulu are scared of what the British will do to their home.
The prequel "Zulu Dawn" essentially does the same thing. The real villain of Zulu Dawn of course is Chelmsford and not the Zulus.
' the Zulu are scared of what the British will do to their home' - yes, they were scared the British would make them stop slavery and massacring the surrounding tribes, which is why they were at war.
That is not why they were at war. Don’t even imagine that.
@@davidwoolbright3675 I agree. It was a pure expansionist move on a pretext by the British. It might be true to say that the Zulus were warlike, but wtf...They didn't travel half way around the World to invade someone else's homeland. It was hardly a peacekeeping mission.
@@TransoceanicOutreach that's not at all why we were there...the two primary causes of the war were we wanted to expand territory further, and we wanted the Zulus to provide men (either their own or slaves) to work mines in South Africa; both dialogues went nowhere, and Chelmsford got cocky after being ordered in by Lord Frere
Zulus did have slaves, almost every African civilisation did, it was part of war culture for most of the world. That's not why we went to war with them though, we didn't care squat about that so long as we got some juicy diamonds
I don't know how many times I've seen this film, but I'm not ashamed to say that every time I see the part with the ranks of soldiers keeping up continuous fire I cry. It never fails to shock me.
I remember seeing this film as a child when it came out. The scene you mention was impressive - the camera pulls back and you see all the dead zulus. The whole cinema audience was completely silent for a short while at that point.
Stanley Baker, "Chard" got the producers to bring a projector and movies to the set to play for the tribesmen as they had no understanding of what they were actually doing, Also I served under Brigadier Bromhead when he was commanding officer of the Berlin Brigade in the late 80's he was Michael Caines characters Great Grandson....
That's pretty freaking cool, on both accounts. I'd love to have seen the tribesmen faces when they seen a film for the first time. And serving under Bromhead's great grandson is pretty cool.
@@TheEclecticBeard there is a great documentary out their about the making of this movie Stanley baker Died of cancer a year younger than Chard who also died of cancer, Baker actually owned Chards VC until his death in 1976. Chard died.
Stanley Baker (Chard), as a hugely patriotic Welshman, struggled for years to get this film made in honour of his countrymen
@@richardwest6358 Chard was born in Devon and the 24th of Foot where not a Welsh Regiment ( they where later posted there) but from Warwickshire, Stanley Baker was Welsh and that is why he changed certain details.
As I mention in another entry,a memorial plaque to Lt.Chard is in Rochester Cathedral,a few miles down from the Royal Engineers HQ and Museum at Brompton Barracks.👌👍
I remember my grandmother telling me about her uncle "Blackie" who I think fought in the battle of Isandlwana. He lived with her when she was very young. She told me that whenever he regaled stories about the battle he would break down in tears. God knows what he witnessed.
I doubt he was at the Battle of Islandwana as there were only about 20 survivors. It was a complete massacre.
@@davidwoolbright3675My grandmother told me the story over 40 years ago so I may well be wrong, he could have been at Rorkes Drift or part of the regiment who got there after the battle. I will try and find more information, my uncle is 91 and lives in New Zealand. He may have a clearer picture of what Blackie's roll was..
One of the greatest movies ever made. It's why you see so much that looks "very modern"; this is Beatles' era movie making, the bridge between the gungho stuff from WW2 and beyond to the modern. It has its flaws, there are some historians here on RUclips that point them out, but that doesn't diminish the Story the movie tries to tell.
Totally agree - although for most (non Welsh) it's the Welsh 'only' flavour that's brought to it. There were Welsh lads there, but it was a bit overdone - obviously because Stanley Baker was a proud Welshman (no bad thing). Now if there's a Valley Commando out there with deep pockets, he might want to look at the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division (Monty's Butchers) in Normandy 1944, that would be a film worth watching.
RIP Chief Buthelezi played the role of his own great-grandfather, the Zulu King Cetshwayo, in the film Zulu.
I am very proud to say, this was my fathers Regiment. My dad took me to see it when it premiered in the Garrison Cinema. If you have never seen a hundred plus Welsh squaddies standing on their seats and singing Men of Harlech at the top of their voices? You do not know what you have missed. You can guess what game was played during play time in the Garrison School. Lets just say it was very hard getting any of the lads to be the Zulus, we must have re enacted the redoubt volley scene a million times. Long time ago now, but I still remember it like it was yesterday, just like I remember him taking me to the Garrison Tailor for my first pair of long trousers!
The "sing-off" was the most awesome part of the movie. If it didn't really happen, it should have.
it was mostly English troops of the 24th / 2nd Warwickshire regiment ..... 49 English , 32 Welsh , 16 Irish , 1 Scot
@@dougearnest7590 Stanley Baker had bought the rights and made it into a Weish propaganda piece, as at that stage as @jessy-cs1jz says they weren't a Welsh Regiment. Then again, feature films aren't documentaries so it doesn't really matter, if it helps the entertainment.
@@Jessy-cs1jz Yup, my family mostly served in the Warwicks during WW II. Even though I have Welsh heritage, I still see the defense of Rorke's drift as a fantastic British thing.
You can be accurate and entertaining at the same time.
My favourite movie of all time. Makes me proud to be British. I have it on DVD yet still watch it every time it is on TV.
The main reason the British lost so many at Isandalwana was that they couldnt open the boxes of Ammunition as the boxes still had the screws securing the lids on them.
It also didn't help that their standard formation didn't work against fast-moving infantrymen.
and maybe the Zulus having 20,000 men might of help and camp commander was a desk office on a field officer also the Zulus lost over 3,000 men at Isandalwana
It was also an extremely poor defensive position. I have been there. It is surrounded by high ground on all sides. You can't see more than a couple of miles. Lord Chelmsford was a bumbling incompetent and was rightfully shunned on his return from South Africa.
sorry pal urban myth. the british army was profefessioal and knew how to open an ammo case FAST, a blow with a rifle butt could get the lids off and they have found the bent screws littering the battle field
@@philiprice7875 Sorry, but a little inaccurate here. The Ammunition boxes were held together with metal bands which were fastened with screws. Any soldier using his rifle butt to knock open an ammunition box would have been up on a charge before you could say Jack Robinson.
I'm a Historian, I wrote my thesis on the Battle of Isandlwana. I highly recommend the book The Washing Of The Spears by Donald Morris for a comprehensive, but easy to read and understand account of the Anglo-Zulu War. And the sequel to this film, Zulu Dawn, is also pretty good.
Zulu Dawn Is not pretty good. It’s freaking amazing! One of my favorite films ever!!
I read that book back in the early 80's it's since been debunked as very inaccurate,
Absolutely, it's a superb book. I'd also recommend James Mace, a US Veteran who has written a series of very accurate historical novels about the Zulu War, the 2nd volume, Crucible of Honour, the Battle of Rourkes Drift covers these events. 😊
Im afraid that book is old and outdated and gets many things wrong, including perpetuating myths.
More modern works by Ian Knight and Mike Snook are far superior sources. They don't repeat old outdated myths.
@@lyndoncmp5751 Neither does The Washing Of The Spears. It's a quite factual account :)
Chard's thinking at the time according to his memoirs, was there was no way they could out run the Zulu even if they left the sick and injured, better to try and hold a defensive position,and fight than be caught out in the open and massacred.
There's a really good reference book on the defence of Rorke's Drift by an author called Ian Knight.
It's title pretty much sums up the realities of the situation; "Nothing Remains but to Fight".
The decision to stay and defend wasn't "heroic" in itself, it was the only viable option.
The actions of the defence thereafter were fight or die, helped massively by the piecemeal attacks of the Zulu impi.
Ive seen this film so many times that i find myself saying "Be a good gentleman" quite often.
Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite) -- excellent actor who with a few exceptions is one of Britain's finest exports!
And just 10 years or so after he served with the Royal Fusiliers in the Korean War.
Saw this at my local cinema in a small Valley town in Wales when it first came out! Magificent watching it as a 10 year old! I have seen it many times since as an adult... it never fails to bring me to tears.
This is one of the greatest war films ever. It takes historical liberties, but it's a great film, with an incredible caste and breathtaking cinematography. But it was also more respectful to the Zulu warriors than many other depictions of indigenous peoples from that era.
The officer in charge Stanley Baker lived a few doors away from my nan in Epsom , England , she was friends with him and about 1970 when i was about 5 years old i remember my nan taking me around to his mansion house to meet him .He answered the door and i shook his hand , great actor back then .
Much respect to the British soldiers and the Zulu warriors, one of my top 5 all time history based war films.
This is one of my favourite movies , first saw it when I was 11/12, the firing by ranks scenes made a huge impression on me as did the 11 VCs awarded. My brother visited the battlefield and the guide was a descendant of one of the Zulu’s from the battle. As I got older , I learnt that the British government / military realised that they needed a positive news story to offset the embarrassing defeat at Islandwana so the 11 VCs was partly a PR thing. Also learnt that the film does have inaccuracies ; unfortunately there was no singing / sing off , no respecting the defenders as warriors before departing and as people have mentioned private hook was not as portrayed . But it did show the zulus as a brave warrior national and respected foe. The music is haunting 🇬🇧
So much so, that the Zulu chant at first contact was nicked and later re-used in the film Gladiator before the first Battle
My favourite film of all time! Even the clips that I'm seeing in your reaction have got me weeping - again! Bloody amazing - Roukes Drift was a magnificent piece of soldiery and this film paid wonderful homage to them all.
Loved watching your reaction, mate. Thank you. It would have been impossible to outrun the Zulus, even with the amount of notice they had. So Chard made the right decision to stand their ground.
Another great movie based on a true story is the aussie movie Breaker Morant set during the Boer war.
Agree we’ll worth a watch
Great film
Great reaction EB to a great film! Stanley Baker, the star of this film, was a stalwart of the British film industry in the 1950’s and 1960’s and made some great British films! One of his you might want to check out is Hell Drivers (1957) which is about truck drivers competing with each other to drive sand and ballast from one point to another to get the highest bonus money. It has outstanding early performances from Patrick McGoohan, Sean Connery (5 years before becoming James Bond), and William Hartnell (6 years before becoming the Doctor in Doctor Who!) The film was directed by Cy Endfield, who went on to direct Stanley Baker in Zulu which you’ve just reacted to!
Three films you might want to see with Michael Caine is Alfie (1966), The Italian Job (1969) and Get Carter (1971). The latter two are both highly regarded and much loved film by us Brits), and are great films in their own right!
Hell Drivers fantastic film, now great social history.
"You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off"
Sorry could'nt resist it.
Thank you!
I was a little boy when this movie was released and my Dad took me to see it. I was blown away even at such a young age and it's been my favourite movie ever since.
I saw it as a little kid in the 90's. Brilliant movie about insurmountable odds being overcome. All be it desperately. It's an amazing piece of history. The story is told extremely well, with a couple of liberties taken with Hook's characterisations but it was one of the first movies that made me fall in love with films and film making. A really strong childhood memory for sure.
The 1950s and 60s were the era of incredible, historical epic films. No expense was spared in these type of films.
🙌 The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) is another excellent film.
Actually Baldwin could not find a backer Nd shof in a budget.
Lots of manpower but not many sets
This Movie has the greatest line in cinema history, just before the singing. "what do you think? well sir, they have a great bass section but no top tenors" nothing ever written has been as clever as these words.
One of my favourite films of all time. I have lost count of how many times I have watched it, often in recent years sparked by seeing a clip or a reaction to it on RUclips :).
I can only tell you that as a young English boy seeing this for the first time, it was one of those moments when you learn some lessons about courage and discipline - it's why stories are *so* important to a culture and why is it so insidious and not a trivial thing that the modern media are being allowed to poison our societies.
That scene where they were backed up against the redoubt firing in three lines has been etched in my minds eye since that first watching and then in subsequent watchings I began to understand and agree with other messages, such as the moral core to Chard and Bromhead's post battle conversation.
You summed it up perfectly with your video title tho', my friend, it is an amazing movie.
Sgt Vaughn’s story is worth a look. He was an NCO at the battle in his 20’s, reenlisted in 1914 and eventually passed the day after VE Day 1945 as an highly decorated honorary Lieutenant Colonel.
@johnashtone7167Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne DCM later Lt Col.
Known as The Kid as he was the youngest CSgt in the British Army, only 5ft 6” Tall not the 6ft 4” Nigel Green who played him.
I love the way the film shows the mutual respect between two warrior cultures. Great film.
you have to remember beardy 'the army doesn't like more than one disaster a day, looks bad in the papers, upsets the civilians'
Makes total sense. Love that line.
What I so love about this film is it shows the incredible bravery and respect of those both British and Zulu deserve. Have been looking at the history of Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Edward Bourne OBE DCM (27 April 1855 - 9 May 1945).
This has been my number 1 movie for years now since I first saw it.
Brilliantly made movie.👍
Michael Caine and Stanley baker. And Nigel green what a cast
Great movie. Great review stay safe 👍
There was much mutual respect for the warriors on both sides.
The Zulus were well organised in military tactics a and were a fearsome foe.
Zulu is a brilliant movie, showing the bravery of both sides.
One of my favourite movies.
It’s well worth reading the history of the Anglo-Zulu war
Love your reaction, this was bravery beyond bravery on both sides.
A terrific film , based on actual events . So many British actors , we don't have productions of this size today , some at the peak and others at beginnings of their careers . It hasn't been on tv for quite while but very memorable nevertheless.
Oddly, it used to be on pretty much every year at chirstmas/new year - I almost think of it as a Christmas film!
The last time it was on UK tv channel 4 it was censored to shreds. Wokeism gone mad. Thankfully I have an old video thats the original.
@@johnferguson2721 If you're talking about either blurring out or just not showing the female Zulus 'breasteses' I hate to break this to you but they were doing that on local American television in the 70's.
@@Shadowman4710 No not the breasts but some of the scenes were seemingly to bloody and gory for somebody who had to shoe their woke credentials. Personally I don't care what the "land of the free"want to censor. I'm not American.
This was an astonishing defence by the Royal Engineers and the 24th of foot(2nd Warwickshires) I watched this with my old man when I was a kid and was sooo proud. Only 17 British soldiers were killed against approx 350-500 Zulu warriors(some of the officers disagreed with that tally, citing that is was closer to 800. That's not including the wounded who the British put to death after hearing what the Zulus did to their wounded comrades at Isandlwana, no quarter given.
Great vid again bud.👍
There was only 1 Royal Engineer - Lt Chard - Stanley Baker
Misunderstanding
Zulu fir spiritual readonsyslit the bellies if the dead. Seen as atrocity but. Not intended as sych
Nigel Green should have won an award for the most fearsome set of mutton chops
This was the film that was Michael Caine's big break and he pulled it off despite his real-life persona being very different. He was born just off the same High Street in Walworth SOUTH East London as me,15 years earlier and we attended the same famous Boys Club where The Prime Minister,Queen Mother, and Bob Hope visited ad where Sir Michael first appeared on stage. It was Clubland.
Michael Caine said in his autobiography that he once did a spot on a Bob Hope show, and Hope sent his fee directly to the club. When Caine asked him why, Hope simply said "you owr it to them".
My parents lived in Kenya, in the 60's when they were in their early 20's. They returned to Scotland and had a family. Seeing old 8mm home movies from their adventures was a yearly event when me and my siblings were growing up. African ornaments and figures were everywhere throughout the house. They are in their 80's now and the family had a get together earlier this year and we watched their old movies. i asked my dad if he remembered when i was about 8 years old i asked what his small scar/skin tag was on his chest.... he replied, it was when i was in Africa fighting the zulu's and he said 1 ran at him with a spear and he shot him between the eyes and as he fell dying his spear grazed his chest. My elderly father totally denies saying this and we all had a good laugh about it, but i have a vivid memory of him saying that :)
Superb.. Never thought I'd see a reaction to this film.. Thank you 👍 👍
The formation of 3 lines of armed soldiers firing in alternate patterns dates back to at least the napoleonic wars and was called a "British Square" and was pretty effective as there was a non stop barrage of rifle fire and it was pretty much impenetrable from cavalry soldiers.
Love the film, love the reaction and I damn near start crying every time I hear Men of Harlech being sung
But the fuzzy wuzzys did it. They broke the British square.
British soliders in the Napoleonic Wars actually fought in lines of 2 files deep, unlike most other European nations, and the British Army itself in the 18h Century, which fought in ines of 3 files deep. 2 deep lines enabled every musket to bear whilst 3 deep required one file to lean in between the ones in front, which was less effective. Infantry squares were formed 4 deep to present a hedge of bayonets to cavalry, whilst 2 files behind fired at them.
The original machine gun
This isn't a square. A square was the formation infantry adopted to resist cavalry attack, with the four sides made up of ranks of men ready to fire, with fixed bayonets to resist cavalry charges. The remainder of the soldiers sheltered in the centre of the formation.
The formation was almost impenetrable to cavalry attack but left the soldiers as sitting ducks for bombardment from enemy artillery. Hence it was used only when necessary to defend against cavalry as casualties from artillery bombardment against squares (as happened at Waterloo) were horrific.
Not quite. The "square" was formed so infantry could defend against Calvary effectively, with the front rank knelling having their muskets butts in the ground and the bayonets pointing out. The horses would instinctively cower and not charge home. The rank by fire, as seen in this film was called "volley fire".
I'm British-born, but the son of South African parents who were exiles from the bad old days of apartheid, partly because my dad grew up with Zulus. There is a lot to this story (which is essentially true, but incomplete) that doesn't get told.
Rorke's Drift, heroic as it certainly was, arguably should not be treated as a battle in it's own right.
The importance of the engagement was played up by the British government and media to help downplay the larger engagement, which was the Battle of Isandlhwana.
That was the greatest defeat ever inflicted on the British by a native army. Rorke's Drift was an engagement between this small detachment of Welsh Guards and others and a couple of battalions from the main Zulu army sent to harry the survivors of Isandlhwana as they fled.
Be careful not to think of the Zulus as military simpletons. Their army had structure and discipline, with regiments, officers, special forces, the whole deal. Think of them as a sort of African version of the ancient Romans... who were famously serious and organised. They were incredible warriors.
Their king ,Cetaswayo, was also no fool. For sure, they won a great victory in the main battle, but when his military people talked about pressing their advantage, he told them very clearly that they could not afford more "victories" like Isandlhwana. A battle in which thousands of them died defeating the invading British forces (they were invading the Zulu homeland at the time).
Following these engagements, the British brought up reinforcements with more competent officers (than Lord Chelmsford, commander of the column, who died in the battle I believe). They also brought up big guns. Zulu resistance was fairly promptly, and maybe, tragically, swept aside.
But don't let any of that diminish the respect for these men. All you can do is what's there for you to do. They did it with courage and tenacity which is rightly famous.
Chelmsford died in 1905 in London. The Impi at Rorkes drift was ordered not to cross the river but to cut off retreat (yes it was a very good army). However the commander heard of Isandlhwana and wanted some glory
Largely true, but Chelmsford left the camp at Isandlwana and led a flying column to chase down the Zulu army at its last known location. He died in Britain some years later, probably haunted by his mistakes.
The defenders of Rorke's Drift were mainly B company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regt.).
The Zulu army were a hugely impressive skirmishing force, and had hearts like lions. It's impossible to show the damage a Boxer .45 round would make in a film of this age, but I own one of their original lead bullets, and its density is incredible. A single round would've penetrated 2-3 ranks deep, smashing bones and ripping through vital organs on the way.
To face that kind of fire power with nothing more than an isinene and cow hide shield as protection, takes the kind of courage most people can only dream of.
Trust me, the Zulu nation has the utmost respect of anyone in Britain who knows anything about this particular war.
Welsh Guards were founded in 1915 !!
for some reason these old movies don't get shown anymore.... despite the immense respect most people who know about it have for the Zulus.
for important history context, the British were invading Zulu land, the column of approximately 1750 men at istlandwana was wiped out in an ambush they were totally unprepared for. the old man and his daughter are missionaries from rorkes drift and the Zulu king ordered his men ONLY TO DEFEND, his nephew disobeyed and crossed the border into South Africa and attacked rorkes drift.
Yeah, read up on it some after I reacted. At some point I'll look at the Anglo-Zulu War on the channel a bit more in depth.
@@TheEclecticBeard the old Zulu king was educated in Britain and knew full well the power of propaganda. he tried hard to upgrade his fighting ability with modern weapons and only defend his land long enough to turn British public opinion against the invasion. he used European telegraph (mostly German i think) to spread his side of the story. it all went wrong after his idiot nephew attacked rorkes drift, the Zulus had invaded south Africa and nobody was prepared to go to war against Britain to save Africans.
The land wasn't originally Zulu land - they had attacked several other tribes & drove them off - wanted a better aspect I guess - Rorke' Drift wasn't located on Zulu land - the river was the border with Natal where Rorke's Drift was located
"Zulus, thousands of 'em!"
It is a great movie, one of my favourites, I have seen it so many times as it gets shown over here quite regularly.
Edit another movie set in S Africa, against the Boers, is Young Winston
Bromhead's line, "I feel ashamed"
The most important line of the film.
Hi Alan, the actual number of men at Rorkes Drift is quoted in a lot of places as 137, not sure if that is the total, or just the men of the 24th Foot. The casualties for the 24th Foot was a lot lower than it appeared in the film, 17 kia. If they'd have tried to get out the Zulus would've caught them in the open, and it would've been goodnight Vienna, pvt Hooks family were not impressed with the films portrayal of him, by all accounts he was a model soldier. The Zulu King Cetshwayo was portrayed by his great-grandson, King Buthelezi, because of the apartheid laws in South Africa at the time, there were problems finding ways to pay the Zulu People, the film company got around it by gifting all the cattle in the film to the Zulu Nation.
Hook's family walked out of the premier in disgust.
@@norman9792 Yeah, before Hook gets his heroic turn near the end of the film.
There were about ninety combatants plus others able to fight such as Schiess, Adendorf, Dalton and some of the patients.
About 100 were from the 24th, the wounded were both men from the 24th and a variety of colonial and British army units. Also present was another Royal Engineer (Sapper Robson who was Chard's batman) not seen in the film.
"The Zulu King Cetshwayo was portrayed by his great-grandson, King Buthelezi" Chief Buthelezi not King, yes he was the great grandson of Cetshwayo, but he was not King, the Zulu King at the time the movie was shot was King Cyprian Bhekuzulu Nyangayezizwe kaSolomon.
The Zulu chief in this movie was actually playing his own ancestor
Also was a South African Prime Minister a lot later.
I know this movie. I have it on dvd. One of my top 10 of all time.
Anything that has an introduction with Richard Burton narating automatically gets five stars!
_No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that human affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of space_ ...
_To begin at the beginning: It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black_ ...
_The secretary of state for war has received the following dispatch from Lord Chelmsford: Broadsword calling Danny Boy_ ...
Oh and absolutely amazing musical score!
Another classic historical British war film that you might like is "Reach for the Sky". Douglas Bader was an officer in the Royal Air Force in 1930 but he crashed his aeroplane and became a double amputee. As a consequence Douglas was discharged from the RAF. After the outbreak of the Second World War Douglas re-joined the RAF. His skill as an aviator was immortalised in the book and film ‘Reach for the Sky‘.
Nigel Green had quite a good part in Reach for the Sky - one of Bader's 2 buddies at the rehab hospital
Astounding result for the Warwickshire regiment. 🏴
The Welshmen in the ranks did well too.
Bloody English lol
yes exactly that it wasnt a welsh regiment until after the zulu war and so most of the british soldiers were infact english not welsh, stanley baker being a producer wanted to make heroes of the welsh.
@@ransomedavis2208 yes exactly aren't all soldiers heroes no matter of what nationality ? This includes the the betrayed Zulu people.
@@ransomedavis2208 i take it they were all english and no welsh there then by what your saying 😂
There is one fascinating postscript to the Battle of Rorke's Drift that is hardly ever mentioned.
Before the Battle of Isandlwana (which preceded the Battle of Rorke's Drift by three hours), the Commanding Officer Lt Gen Sir Augustus Friedrich Thesiger (2nd Baron Lord Chelmsford) led his troops out of their encampment at Isandlwana at about 4 am on the morning of 22 January 1879.
Chelmsford was looking for the main body of Zulu forces, but by the time the Zulus attacked the British encampment at Islandlwana, Chelmsford (and the bulk of the British force) were having lunch some 10 miles away at Mangeni Falls. When they looked back at Isandlwana using binoculars, Chelmsford's lookouts at Mangeni Falls could see some activity back at Isandlwana, but could not be sure of what they were looking at through the midday haze.
Finally, at or about 2 pm, a rider from Isandlwana arrived at Mangeni Falls and informed Chelmsford that the main body of the Zulus were attacking his encampment at Isandlwana and thus that he and his force were needed back at Isandlwana immediately.
Chelmsford promptly ordered his men on a forced march back to the encampment and set off at once, hoping to be of some assistance. By the time Chelmsford and his men reached Isandlwana, all was quiet. But there having been a solar eclipse the previous day (for the Zulus: 'The Day of the Dead Moon'), it was now a moonless night and there being no human habitation nearby, it was a pitch black night - one account later spoke of it being so dark, you could not see your hand in front of your face.
So, after consulting with his officers, Chelmsford drew up his artillery and after firing a few salvos into what they estimated was the camp, Chelmsford's troops fixed bayonets and charged. There were no Zulus there, of course, but after posting piquets, Chelmsford ordered his exhausted men to get what sleep they could and so they just lay down where they were, fully clothed and without food.
The men were were awakened before dawn the next day and without stopping for breakfast and set out for Rorke's Drift, still some miles way, hoping against hope that by some military miracle, the small detachment left behind at Rorke's Drift had somehow survived the night. Perhaps, the Zulus had not crossed the border into British Natal Province? Perhaps the Drift had not been attacked? Chelmsford could not know of the epic battle that had taken place at Rorke's Drift overnight, and which was then still only just coming to a close.
As Chelmsford and his force left Isandlwana, the men could finally see in the pre-dawn twilight that they had slept the previous night in and amongst their dead comrades, in many cases sleeping on top of dead bodies which had been their mattresses and that the grass of the battlefield was still wet and greasy with their blood.
At Rorke's Drift, as the morning dawned, there was no sign of the Zulus - it seemed they had simply upped sticks and disappeared and everyone in the British force there breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then suddenly, at 7 am, the Zulus quietly re-appeared and gathered on the slopes of a hill opposite Rorke's Drift, but well out of rifle range.
Just as tension returned at Rorke's Drift, it could be seen through telescopes that Zulus were looking and pointing at something away to east of the mission station. Then, as silently as they had re-appeared, the Zulus suddenly disappeared once more, never to return.
It was a hazy, misty morning on the 23 January 1879 and unbeknownst to the defenders of Rorke's Drift, what the Zulus had spotted from their elevated position on the hill was the first signs of Chelmsford's force marching back to Rorke's Drift from the direction of Zululand. By now exhausted themselves, the Zulus had no wish to engage with an even larger British force than the one they had failed to defeat the night before. Deciding - wisely - that discretion was now the better part of valour, Prince Dabulamanzi ka Mpande ('He Who Cleaves The Water'), the iNduna ('Officer') Commanding Zulu Forces at Rorke's Drift, ordered his amaButho ('regiments') to withdraw and they quietly slipped away, into the morning mist.
But in 1879, there were only so many places to cross the iMzinyathi ('Buffalo') River that marked the acknowledged border between Zululand and Natal Colony, so the Zulus headed quite naturally towards the drift (or: 'ford') after which the British post was named. And after crossing the river at the drift, there were only so many tracks back to Isandlwana, which the Zulus - by now, fully enveloped themselves in the heavy morning mist - naturally decided to follow.
In the process, the Zulus lost sight of Chelmsford's force, who were pursuing the same track themselves, albeit in the opposite direction. The Zulu soldiers were not speaking - defeat leaves men silent and sullen - and likewise, Chelmsford's men were also marching in silence: after the horrors that had greeted them earlier at dawn as they left Isandlwana, the British soldiers were also not talking, by now fearing the worst and expecting to find another massacre awaiting them at Rorke's Drift They, too, were tense and silent.
Admittedly, the feet of three thousand Zulus walking through long grass would have made a lot of noise, but then so would the feet of a similar number of British soldiers and without knowing exactly where the enemy was and blinded by the blanketing mist, neither force would have been able to know where the other was.
But suddenly, the mist parted and the two massive forces found themselves no more than fifty yards apart and staring at each other from a distance close enough to see the whites of each other's eyes. Startled and surprised and shocked by the proximity and sudden sight of the enemy, both sides made not a move towards the other. Exchanging no more than sullen stares, the two forces passed each other by without a shot being fired, an assegai ('spear') being thrown or even a hostile remark being made.
In total silence, both sides continued to march in opposite directions, until they disappeared from each other's view, enveloped once more by the heavy morning mist.
If the scriptwriters of the movie had put this scene into the film, would anyone have believed it?
Oftentimes, truth really is stranger than fiction.
Thank you for sharing this 😊❤ xxxx
South African political leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi played Zulu King Cetshwayo kaMpande, his great-grandfather. Also, this film was Michael Caine’s first starring role.
@@earnestlad1872never thought of that, but I didn’t think it was cringeworthy 😊
@@Max-wl7jnquite right, just sounds like a typical stuck up posh boy. They sound the same today
@@earnestlad1872I don't find it cringeworthy at all. He pulls it off very well.
Thought Michael Caine's first staring role was in Alfie
@@louispetherbridge9754 Zulu was 1964 and Alfie was 1966.
If I remember right, it was the single most bloody engagement with the most awarded VCs
One of the greatest British films ever made. Meks me prahd t'be English. /Salutes King
Since its inception in the 1850s the Victoria Cross has only been awarded 1358 times. Major battles involving thousands of British troops in two world wars often resulted in just one or two VCs being awarded. It puts the heroism of these men into perspective. This action was roughly contemporary to the battle of the Little Big Horn. There was similar war background of the government and military trying to control a large native group.
One of my favourite films. The zulu chants when they are saluting them are awesome. Was lucky enough to see the regimental flag and an exhibition on the battle at pembroke castle in wales 37 yrs ago when i was on honeymoon. If you ignore michael caine trying not to speak with a cockney twang, it is brilliantly acted 🙂
Don't forget it is just a movie. Watched it as a 17 year old recruit, week 6, recruit training Australian Army, 1969. All recruits were shown this movie and probably still are today. When the Zulu's starting singing praise for their enemies at the end I remember thinking. ""Yeah right. Absolute BS!
Not bs
Warrior society
The two things they got the MOST wrong in this movie were (1) Private Hook was not a malingerer, thief and coward, he was actually a model soldier; and (2) the Reverand Witt was not a pacifist drunken coward. The Reverand actually helped to prepare the defenses for Roark's Drift, then left shortly before the battle began to go take care of (defend) his wife and young children. (He wasn't much older at the time than the actress playing his fictional daughter.)
Why they maligned Hook so badly I don't know - the true story was awesome enough without doing that.
As for maligning the missionary - a lot of movie makers never miss an opportunity to dismiss Christians' faith and show them in a negative light. This is a perfect example. So maybe he's not the "dumbass" idiot SOB the guy making the movie got you to believe he was.
(Take a little time to think about that next time you want to kill someone.)
Also, the "sing-off" was the most awesome part of the movie. If it didn't really happen, it should have.
As for the true parts, you are right that both officers were out of their depth. Bromhead (M. Caine) was from the aristocracy, so it was natural and expected for him to look down on everyone, even fellow officers who were not so high born. Chard (S. Baker) came from a non-aristocratic family, so he had to make his way by merit as an engineer. Basically, the story is that after the battle nobody who knew them were surprised they didn't run (that would be very un-British) but were surprised by how well they did.
---
Greatest lines from the movie:
- It's a miracle.
- If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a short chamber Boxer Henry .45 caliber miracle.
- And a bayonet, Sir, with some guts behind.
You also forgot to mention most of the soldiers were actually English not Welsh.
@@douglastaggart9360 This is an English Regiment, though it is was the process of becoming a Welsh One (The 24th Foot didn't officially become the South Wales Boarders until 2 years after this battle). 24th Foot was the 2nd Warwickshire Regiment at the time of the Zulu War.
@@douglastaggart9360about 50 odd English to 35 Welsh. Imagine how many times over the years everyone’s been called english automatically in film when it may not be the whole truth
Why us Sarge? ...cos your 'ere. Nobody else...
@@howardbowen-RC-Pilot"because we're here lad, nobody else. Just us."
Zulu is an all time great movie. It's interesting though that no mention is made of how the war started, which was that the British Governor of Natal, Sir Bartle Frere, seeing the Zulus as a roadblock to his dreams of expansion, one which he believed would have to be dealt with sooner or later, gave the Zulu king an ultimatum to either disband his army completely, or face war, an ultimatum he well knew the Zulu King could not and would not bow to. He did this without approval, as communications between Britain and Africa took months in those days, by which time he thought the war he desired would be over. The disaster at Isandlwana, the worst defeat ever inflicted on a modern British army by a native force, where over 1,000 regular soldiers were slaughtered by a force over over 20,000 Zulus, was the first battle of the war, taking place earlier in the same day as Rorke's Drift. This film inspired many of those who went on to become the leading historians of the Zulu War, which is a great testament to its power.
Excellent, stirring music by John Barry.
Commissary James Langley Dalton gets overlooked in the film as it was his idea to stand & fight.
The Witt's were Swedish missionaries.
Stanley Baker was a proud Welshman but it was a liberty to portray an English regiment a mostly Welsh as that didn't happen until about 10 years later. Despite Apartheid he insisted on equal pay for the Zulus.
Rourke's Drift has stores for the battalion which helped as most of the ammunition was used up by the battle.
I have seen his VC at Buller Barracks Aldershot Officers' Mess, before amalgamation into the Royal Logistics' Corps. I don't know where it is now.
12,000 rounds in store if memory serves, when the battle was over, there were only 1000 rounds left.
Approximately a third were Welsh when you include soldiers from Monmouth
The Zulus were considered by many the greatest Light Infantry in war!!!
The greatest without guns maybe
Private Robert Jones VC is buried in my village churchyard, he commited suicide a few years after the battle. He was one of the men who helped the wounded out of the hospital.
my family lost a few in the later Boer wars
Several of the surviving soldiers from this action went on to either take their own lives, or suffer serious mental health issues. Sadly, at the time, mental health was neither really understood, nor given much sympathy......
One of the things I love about the movie is the respect it shows to the British soldiers AND the Zulus.
I saw this film in the cinema in NW London when it was released. Not sure what rating the film had but I was 8 or 9 years old & I went with my school friend & his father. All these years later & it is still one of my favourite films. Used to be shown on UK TV every Christmas.
I think it was an "A" certificate.
There were three certificates at the time: U for Universal, meaning no age restriction, X for 18 and over only and A where children would only be admitted if they were with an adult.
I used to absolutely LOVE watching this movie and "The Great Escape" (1963) growing up.
Reverand Witt and his daughter were missionaries at the Rorke's Drift mission. They were actually present at the mission that morning but fled after hearing the impending hostilities that would take place later that afternoon. They were never at the Zulu kraal. Rorke's Drift used rival Zulu tribes as levies and axillary troops to fight the enemy Zulu. The mission station was a depot, military store and staging post for the bigger invasion of Zulu land by Lord Chelmsford. The initial footage of the battle dead at the start of the movie was the Isandwana fight early in the afternoon. 4000 Zulus who didn't take part in the battle took off towards Rorke's Drift, about 7 or 8 miles away.
At this point the British army didn't practice marksmanship (relying on volleys) and the Martini Henry rifle tended to jam. Analysis after the war indicated that only 1/13 shots killed anyone (about 8%) even though through and throughs were possible. It took the 2nd Boer War thirty years later to convince the army to emphasise accuracy. In 1914 the British rifleman was so good the Germans often thought they were facing machine guns even where there were none.
Whilst much of what you said is correct and post the 2nd Boer War the British army did indeed massively improve its marksmanship training, I am afraid the old wife's tale about the the use of the 'mad minute' of fire to gain fire superiority making the German Units facing the BEF believe they were facing MG's is one of those monumental tales of daring do that has taken on a life of its own. It simply didn't happen and is purely a post war myth.
very good info i wasnt aware of this.
@@garyross4602 Aye, I reckon you're right that it is likely a myth that has grown in the telling about the Germans thinking they were facing machine guns but they did note that if they received fast and accurate rifle fire then they knew they were up against British troops :)
A quote I pulled from a source on the internet (so it must be true :D) :
“Mad Minute” was a pre-World War I term used by British Army riflemen during training at the Hythe School of Musketry to describe scoring a minimum of 15 hits on a target at 300 yards within one minute using a bolt-action rifle (usually a Lee-Enfield or Lee-Metford rifle). It was not uncommon during the First World War for riflemen to greatly exceed this score. The record, set in 1914 by Sergeant Instructor Alfred Snoxall, was 38 hits.
I have shot that fast myself in competition, so I know it's possible; but can report that the old Parker Hale 7.62 I was using did start to get hard to bolt cycle once she got hot! I had to really slam the bolt home to get it to close, which slowed me down rather ... never had an accidental discharge thankfully :lol: As to my accuracy ... well I was using a scope, so that was cheating :)
@@dallassukerkin6878 Regardless of the source [the ever truthful www] what you have written is accurate. The professional British Army that went to France in 1914 was superbly trained and superb marksmen. The issue, given the nature of the combat, was that compared to the European forces they either fought or were allied to, is that it was miniscule in size in comparison. Plus, it was decimated during the opening Battles. Having read extensively on the subject [I am ex-military, an amateur military historian and hold a degree in War Studies] , part of the myth surrounding the 'machine-gun' claim was that the Germans were surprised as they didn't possess much experience of MG's, or weren't equipped with many themselves. Actually, they were very well equipped with MG's compared to their opponents and had an excellent tactical training regime in situ well before the commencement of hostilities, that both exposed and conditioned them to MG fire and its tactical usage. None of which takes anything away from the professionalism and bravery of the men involved, it's just one of those military myths that refuses to die gracefully.
@@garyross4602 Always a pleasure to meet a fellow historian :salute:
I've maintained an amateur interest in specifically military history all my life, being drawn into it by a book on the Norman Conquest that I read when I was about five or six! My focus there has largely been naval but also, inevitably, the World Wars in general.
I have a Masters in History but that did not particularly emphasise the military side of the street - not Western military at any rate. But one of my areas of special interest was Japanese history, which is what in turn has lead to my obtaining a mid-high grade in Japanese swordsmanship :grins:.
Just some trivia, you might find interesting about this film.
This was filmed in South Africa during Apartheid, and the South African government had placed heavy restrictions on the zulus seen in this film, however the director respected the Zulu so he found ways to get around the rules.
For example they could not pay the zulu directly, the production company had to give the pay to the government, however there was no restriction on other methods of payment, so the director gave the zulu all the cattle seen in the movie in lew of cash.
The South African government banned the zulu from performing the war chants shown, so the director didn't show the government censors the footage of war chants, they didn't know they were in the film till after the film was released.
Black Africans were forbidden from going to the cinema, so the director snuck a projector and screen to the tribe and gave them a private showing under the government's nose.
He had a great deal of respect for the Zulu, and in turn the king had a great deal of respect for him.
Thank you for that additional context. I knew about the Apartheid stinginess of the South African observers and SA government, and the ban on paying the Zulu extras, and a few other bits from what you just said, but I wasn't aware of the story about the film projector sent to the tribe. That was really moving to learn. I know Stanley Baker was pretty annoyed with the entire situation and that Michael Caine was 'done' with it. They thought it was a 'bad show' and no way to treat the Zulus. Pretty ironic, considering some of the visuals in the film. But yeah, thank you for that additional knowledge.
The great thing about this film was that it showed the bravery of both sides.
Completely agree.