I cannot say enough about this movie! It belongs in everybody's video collection.

UPDATE: As of May 2004, ZULU is finally available in a fully restored widescreen DVD by MGM. You can finally chuck that old, grainy full screen VHS copy and get a copy of ZULU as it was seen in theaters in 1964. 2.35:1 Super Technirama 70 and Technicolor. Absolutely beautiful print. Sound is fantastic and includes English subtitles and the theatrical trailer. Get yours today!

Starring Stanley Baker as Lt. John Chard and introducing Michael Caine in his film debut as Lt. Gonville Bromhead, Zulu depicts the heroic defense of Rorke's Drift in the Natal Colony South Africa.

Chard is an engineer, a technical specialist sent to build a bridge for the column marching up from HQ. He is not one for spit and polish. Bromhead is the green lieutenant, from a long line of military heroes, dating back to Wellington and Wolfe.

It is early morning. Out of the blue, the alarm sounds. A drunken minister (Jack Hawkins) has brought the word: the column is no more! Ten thousand Zulu warriors have attacked and destroyed it to the last man! Chard and Bromhead and company scurry back to the mission station at Rorke's drift. It is really not a fort but only a few buildings in close proximity. On hand are about 120 soldiers, of whom about 100 are fit for duty. The rest are in sick bay.

Chard begins giving commands, but the men protest to Bromhead, their commanding officer. Showdown! Since the two officers are the same rank, they state their seniority. Baker wins by a few scant months. The engineer is now in command of the troops. They begin fortifying their position, turning over wagons and stacking mealy bags.

Suddenly, all around the fort appear uncountable hordes of Zulus, brandishing their shields and spears. They advance to within a hundred yards and stop. The British commence firing, killing dozens. A Boer farmer tells them the Zulus are gauging the firepower of the British weapons. The Zulus retreat, the British breathe a sigh of relief. Suddenly, enemy fire rains down from the surrounding hills. The Zulus have guns! Of course! From the British column they earlier destroyed. Now the British are really scared!

Then follows attack after attack by the valiant Zulus, but somehow, the British always prevail. Even the soldiers in Hospital join in the fray. When the night finally falls, Rorke's Drift is in flames.

As the dawn breaks, Bromhead and Chard pace amongst the smoking ruins.

Standing amid the debris after successfully driving off attack after attack, the two officers have the following exchange:

Bromhead: "Fear certainly dries the throat, doesn't it? I was never so thirsty in my life!"

Chard: "I could have drunk a river."

Bromhead: "Was it like this for you, I mean how did it feel the first time?"

Chard: "How do you feel?"

Bromhead: "I feel afraid and there's something more. I feel ashamed. There. You asked me and I told you. How was it your first time?"

Chard: "Do you think I could stand this butcher's yard more than once?"

Only then do we realize that Chard, who did a bang-up job commanding, was a novice, too!

As a witness to the night of horror they have just passed through, you know exactly what they are talking about!

Supporting cast was superb, featuring some of the best British actors playing the soldiers, including James Booth as "Private Henry Hook" and Nigel Green as "Colour Sergeant Bourne." Photography is brilliant, capturing the battle from all angles. Particularly good is the 2.35: 1 widescreen composition by director Cy Endfield showing the mission station surrounded by heights almost like a large crater.

Besides the gripping action, Zulu has some of the finest singing performances I've heard in a military movie. Both the British and the Zulus have formidable choirs and use them alternately to taunt and salute the enemy. Original music score by John Barry is among the very best in cinema and suitably heroic to suit the events.

History buffs, war film aficionados, action fans, and nearly anybody who enjoys a good tale of adventure will like this movie. For people who like movies depicting heroism above and beyond the call of duty I also recommend -

Khartoum

The Four Feathers (1939)


Happy viewing!

Recommended: Yes