Zulu
Zulu is a 1964 British epic historical drama film depicting the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift between a detachment of the British Army and the Zulu, in the Anglo-Zulu War. The film was directed and co-written by American screenwriter Cy Endfield. He had moved to the United Kingdom in 1951 for work after being blacklisted in Hollywood. It was produced by Stanley Baker and Endfield, with Joseph E. Levine as executive producer. The screenplay was by Endfield and historical writer John Prebble, based on Prebble's 1958 Lilliput article "Slaughter in the Sun".
Plot
In January 1879, following the defeat of 1,300 British soldiers at Isandlwana, Zulu warriors scavenge the battlefield. At a mass Zulu marriage ceremony witnessed by missionary Otto Witt and his daughter Margareta, Zulu King Cetshwayo is informed of the great victory. Witt and Margareta flee to their missionary station when they realise the Zulus will attack the remote outpost at Rorke's Drift in Natal. A company of the British Army's 24th Regiment of Foot are using the station as a supply depot and hospital for British forces in Zululand.
Cast
- David Kernan
- Dennis Folbigge
- Denys Graham
- Dickie Owen
- Gary Bond
- Gert van den Bergh
- Glynn Edwards
- Harvey Hall
- Ivor Emmanuel
- Jack Hawkins
- James Booth
- Joe Powell
- Larry Taylor
- Mangosuthu Buthelezi
- Michael Caine
- Neil McCarthy
- Nigel Green
- Patrick Magee
- Paul Daneman
- Peter Gill
- Richard Burton
- Richard Davies
- Stanley Baker
- Ulla Jacobsson
More details
| author | Cy Endfield |
|---|---|
| contentLocation | South Africa |
| director | Cy Endfield |
| editor | John Jympson |
| genre | adventure drama historical |
| keywords | 24th regiment of foot all round defence battle of isandlwana british army british soldier build burning building cetshwayo colony of natal defensive perimeter gonville bromhead hardtack crates henry hook impi isandlwana john chard kill locked in mealie men of harlech missionary morning natal natal native contingent nco non-commissioned officer oscarberg redoubt rorke\'s drift royal engineers sing south african victoria cross wagon warn wound zulu king cetshwayo zulu kingdom zululand |
| musicBy | John Barry |
| producer | Stanley Baker |
| productionCompany | Diamond Films |
| publisher | Paramount Pictures |
| recordedAt | South Africa |
| theme | epic war |