Stirring stuff!

Rating: 10/10 (9 September 2010)

This is one of the great British war movies depicting one of the most famous actions in British military history, albeit with more than a little poetic licence. In 1879 a force of 1200 British soldiers were slaughtered by the Zulu army at Isandlwana, soon after a force of 4000 Zulus headed to the mission at Rorkes Drift which was defended by a mere 100 men. It is this latter engagement which is depicted in this film.
This is not a film about heroic white men defeating 'savage natives'; through out the Zulus are depicted as a brave and highly disciplined fighting force and whenever one of the soldiers makes a derogatory comment about the Zulus he is quickly corrected and by the end of the film the soldiers on both sides have a deep respect of the other. The first hour shows the defenders at the mission preparing for the inevitable attack; setting up barricades, making firing holes in the walls of the buildings and putting out the cooking fires. Once the battle begins the action is fairly relentless with Zulu warriors continuing to pour towards the mission despite continuous fire from the defenders.
While the action may be tame by the standards of modern war films it still gives a feel of the battle this is helped by the excellent cast which includes Stanley Baker, Michael Caine and Jack Hawkins, it isn't just the stars who do well, the hundreds of Zulu extras made the opposing side totally believable. As well as the fine acting the great score by John Barry must be mentioned; it is impossible to hear it without it making ones hairs stand on end. Filmed on location in Natal the mountains prove in impressive back drop even if it wasn't filmed at the site of the actual battle.