Zulu Dawn 1979

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 113 min

genre: adventure

theme: war

director: Douglas Hickox

Score: 5 / 10

Zulu Dawn is a 1979 American adventure war film about the historical Battle of Isandlwana between British and Zulu forces in 1879 in South Africa. The screenplay was by Cy Endfield, from his book, and Anthony Storey. The film was directed by Douglas Hickox. The score was composed by Elmer Bernstein.

Plot

The film is set in British South Africa, in the province of Natal, in January 1879. The first act of the film revolves around the administrators and officials of Cape Colony, notably the supremely arrogant Lord Chelmsford and the scheming Sir Henry Bartle Frere, who both wish to crush the neighbouring Zulu Empire, which is perceived as a threat to Cape Colony's emerging industrial economy. Bartle Frere issues an impossible ultimatum to the Zulu king, Cetshwayo, demanding that he dissolve the Zulu Empire. Cetshwayo refuses, providing Cape Colony with a pretext to invade Zululand. Despite objections from leading members of Cape Colony's high society and from Great Britain itself, Bartle Frere authorises Lord Chelmsford to lead a British invasion force into Zululand.

Cast

More details

author	Cy Endfield
contentLocation	South Africa
director	Douglas Hickox
editor	Malcolm Cooke
genre	adventure historical
keywords	24th regiment of foot aide-de-camp ammunition artillery attack basuto battle of isandlwana battle of rorke's drift boer break british army british cape colony british invasion british soldier buffalo river cape colony capture cavalry cetshwayo colony of natal colour cut emerging industrial economy even fight force great britain hale rocket henry bartle frere high society impis infantry isandlwana laager mineral revolution mount isandhlwana move natal pass pretext river rorke's drift scheme silhouette sir henry bartle frere torture ultimatum ulundi union flag wild goose chase william hale wound zulu empire zulu kingdom zululand
musicBy	Elmer Bernstein
producer	James Sebastian Faulkner Nate Kohn
publisher	American Cinema Releasing
recordedAt	South Africa
theme	war