British Empire epic.

Rating: 8/10 (4 November 2018)

Remarkable epic, staring a brilliant debut by Michael Caine (as a posh sounding officer) and with the established command, Stanley Baxter (of who he has come to replace). The film is largely accurate to events leading up to and during the 'Battle of Rorke's Drift', where just 150 British Soldiers (many who were sick or injured in field hospital), held off a Zulu force of 4,000. The 24th Regiment of Foot won 11 V.C's (the most in a single battle) for their efforts, which in turn averted a certain massacre. Rorke's Drift was an actual supply depot for a British invasion force (into zululand) that went terribly wrong. Hours before 1,300 british soldiers were killed by the Zulu's, which was the biggest defeat of any British army (up to that date). the Zulu war was instigated by an aggressive British, expansion policy in the region (of Natal) but the high command hugely underestimated the fighting spirit of the Zulu warriors. Armed mostly with traditional weapons, some were also skilled with the musket (a nice detail depicted in the movie). Overall a satisfying and educational picture, though some of the battle action now looks a bit tame. Michael Caine stated that after 'Zulu', he would never again try to act with any type of an accent but despite criticism of his (put-on) upper class voice, the movie made him into an international star. For every film after he spoke with his natural voice.