An unforgettably colourful depiction of a great moment in British history slightly spoiled by artistic licence

Rating: Null/10 (21 January 1999)

Driven by a majestic musical score the film rises to a terrible finale where the brutal killing power of Victorian volley fire is stunningly portrayed. it takes an hour for the film to get going, but this is partly forgivable given the first rate cast who hold our attention. unfortunately, a significant part of this hour is taken up with the rantings of a hysterical preacher and his daughter, both of whom were nowhere near the fight. If this is bad, the character assassination worked on private Hook, the hero of Rorkes Drift is disgusting. The man was a fine example of the Victorian professional soldier, but he is depicted as a drunken, wife abusing, malingerer, skulking in the hospital. The British army would not have given him a medal with that background if he had fought off the Zulus single handed. On top of this, an awful lot of 60's philosophical hogwash is put in the soldiers mouths. Some of the soldiers must have spun in their graves with dismay! The fighting when it comes is brilliantly staged. Only 600 Zulu extras were used, but the careful camera work makes it seem as if the original 4000 are there on screen. Colourful beyond describing, the battle builds to the same ponderous magnificence of John barrys spare, but telling score, totally gripping throughout. John Ford once said words to the effect "If the legend seems more real than the truth, print the legend". This film illustrates the point. The 24th South Wales Borders had been fighting bush wars in Africa for a long time, yet they are shown in parade dress. The mealie bag barricades at the real Drift were much more formidable than the flimsy stacks shown in the film. At some points the Zulus have to wait for someone to come and stop them climbing over the bags. And nobody mentions the fact that Bromhead - Michael Caines character was stone deaf. An excellent reason for Chard to take command. Was this a glorious page in British history? The Boers held us in contempt for it. 136 men went into the fight and a third became casualties. The Boer settlers took on the entire 50,000 Zulu army and BEAT it, with no appreciable loss at Blood River. Oh well! Print the legend. All this aside, it is a glorious piece of cinema and must stand high in the Panthenon of great action movies. Much of the dialogue is outstanding. "He's a Peeler 716. Come to arrest the Zulus!"