One of the last great 60's 'Sagas'

Rating: Null/10 (30 October 2012)

*Spoiler/plot- ZULU, 1964, A small British unit is trapped in a small farmhouse when war breaks out between the Zulu nation and the British forces in Southeastern Africa. The Zulu army is sent to wipe out the unit, but British courage, training and leadership saves it from another Zulu massacre/victory.
*Special Stars- Michael Caine, Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, James Booth
*Theme- Military unit teamwork and training will defeat overwhelming odds.
*Trivia/location/goofs- Several obvious camera shadows, microphone boom in frame, and continuity errors in the action and battle sequences. Historical errors dealing with the farm house British unit and the real lives of the Victorian Cross (gallant valor) winners are differing from what was presented, but those matters are trivial to the screen action and dramatic story. Richard Burton (Welshman) was the narrator in this film about a Welsh regiment. This was Michael Caine's first film appearance. Micheal Caine wanted to play the Cockney character, 'Private Hook' in this film but an actor Cockney friend, James Booth, got the role. Stanley Baker saw that Mr. Caine's casting was more upper-class, so Mr.Baker(producer/star) and Cyd Enfield had Mr. Caine change his dialect and play the 'Bromhead' officer role. Jack Hawkins was fighting off oncoming throat cancer (from cigarette smoking) and so his dialog were later re dubbed. Real present day Zulus were used in this film and were paid with wristwatches for their work. Some wristwatches are seen on camera in battle and dance scenes. A film sequel(Zulu Dawn) was made many years later, while more historically accurate starring Burt Lancaster; it flopped.
*Emotion- One of the last great 60's 'Sagas' on film. This film's iconic scenes and action have never been duplicated successfully and with such heroic fervor. This story was magnificently shown on film and this film has become a 'place-holder' in the minds of it's viewers. Other Victorian British army subject matter films like Four Feathers, Khartoum, and 55 Days in Peking are good but only shadowy knock-offs of the iconic work in the original, ZULU.