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Zulu

  • 19641964
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,404
385
Zulu (1964)
Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
87 Photos
DramaHistoryWar
Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,404
385
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Cy Endfield
    • Writers
      • John Prebble(original screenplay)
      • Cy Endfield(original screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Stanley Baker
      • Jack Hawkins
      • Ulla Jacobsson
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Cy Endfield
    • Writers
      • John Prebble(original screenplay)
      • Cy Endfield(original screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Stanley Baker
      • Jack Hawkins
      • Ulla Jacobsson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 287User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
    • 77Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:36
    Official Trailer

    Photos87

    Michael Caine in Zulu (1964)
    Michael Caine in Zulu (1964)
    Michael Caine in Zulu (1964)
    Ulla Jacobsson in Zulu (1964)
    Stanley Baker in Zulu (1964)
    Michael Caine and Stanley Baker in Zulu (1964)
    Stanley Baker in Zulu (1964)
    Zulu (1964)
    Zulu (1964)
    Zulu (1964)
    Zulu (1964)
    Zulu (1964)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Stanley Baker
    Stanley Baker
    • Lt. John Chard R. E.
    Jack Hawkins
    Jack Hawkins
    • Otto Witt
    Ulla Jacobsson
    Ulla Jacobsson
    • Margareta Witt
    James Booth
    James Booth
    • Pvt. Henry Hook
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Lt. Gonville Bromhead
    Nigel Green
    Nigel Green
    • Colour-Sergeant Bourne
    Ivor Emmanuel
    Ivor Emmanuel
    • Pvt. Owen
    Paul Daneman
    Paul Daneman
    • Sgt. Maxfield
    Glynn Edwards
    Glynn Edwards
    • Cpl. Allen
    Neil McCarthy
    Neil McCarthy
    • Pvt. Thomas
    David Kernan
    David Kernan
    • Pvt. Hitch
    Gary Bond
    Gary Bond
    • Pvt. Cole
    Peter Gill
    Peter Gill
    • Pvt. 612 Williams
    Tom Gerrard
    Tom Gerrard
    • Lance Corporal
    Patrick Magee
    Patrick Magee
    • Surgeon Reynolds
    Richard Davies
    Richard Davies
    • Pvt. 593 Jones
    Denys Graham
    Denys Graham
    • Pvt. 716 Jones
    Dafydd Havard
    Dafydd Havard
    • Gunner Howarth
    • Director
      • Cy Endfield
    • Writers
      • John Prebble(original screenplay) (article 'Slaughter in the Sun')
      • Cy Endfield(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Colour Sergeant Bourne was 24 during the defense of Rorke's Drift (Nigel Green, who played him, was 40). He was the last defender of the post to die as an honorary Lieutenant Colonel, on V.E. Day, May 8, 1945, age 91.
    • Goofs
      The Zulu chief Cetewayo did not send his impi to attack Rorke's Drift; he ordered that the installation be left alone. One of his half-brothers ordered and led the attack, figuring he would get a quick victory and impress the king.
    • Quotes

      Pvt. Cole: Why is it us? Why us?

      Colour Sergeant Bourne: Because we're here, lad. Nobody else. Just us.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the opening credits 'and Introducing Michael Caine' is shown, this would suggest that this was his first film. In fact MC had previously had five credited film roles, numerous TV appearances and several uncredited film roles before appearing in Zulu.
    • Connections
      Edited into Wizards (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Men of Harlech
      (uncredited)

      Traditional

      Performed by soldiers

    User reviews287

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Men of Harlech onto glory.
    "In the hundred years since the Victoria Cross was created for valour and extreme courage beyond that normally expected of a British soldier in the face of the enemy, only 1,344 have been awarded, 11 of these were won by the defenders of the mission station at Rorke's Drift, Natal, January 22nd to the 23rd 1879"

    Just typing out that spoken narration from Richard Burton brings me out into goose pimples, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, Zulu quite simply is my favourite film of all time, and my love for cinema to this day owes its credit to this 1964 masterpiece.

    Zulu is a perfectly staged, perfectly acted account of the British defence of Rorke's Drift, where 139 British soldiers held off 4000 Zulu Warriors at the height of the Anglo-Zulu War. Its strength is not in romanticism or over sentimentality in the name of glossy hard sell, the crux lies with just being a tale of pure courage, a tale of pure stoic heroism, it sticks vigorously to the actual events, and thus the film plays out with genuine honesty that few other War pictures can ever lay claim to.

    Where does one start when outlaying the brilliance this picture has to offer? The Natal location is stunning, beautiful lush rolling hills dwarf this tiny outpost, the sky a never ending eye witness to the courage unfolding, Stephen Dade's photography perfectly capturing this colourful extravaganza. The direction from the criminally undervalued Cy Enfield is excellent, along with his star and producer (Stanley Baker in a role of a lifetime) he manages to direct some of the most amazing battle sequences put onto the screen, the discipline of man to man combat perfectly orchestrated by Enfield. The Zulu extras, who once had no idea what they was supposed to do at first, finally grasped the concept of movie making and added weight to the drama. It's now down in legend that Baker showed the chiefs a Gene Autry Western and that got them into the swing of things!

    The acting right through the cast is astonishing, Baker, Michael Caine, Jack Hawkins, James Booth, Nigel Green, Ivor Emmanuel and Patrick Magee are just some of the cast that shine bright and bold. John Barry's score is blood pumping to the maximum, swirling strings collide with thumping base drums to give one the feeling of invincibility. Ernest Archer's art decoration, Arthur Newman's costumes and of course the John Prebble screenplay that is Zulu's heart. I could go on and name everyone involved in this picture, such is the admiration I have for the work involved. But really the story sells itself, not a glossy British victory in sight (the British defenders were allowed to withdraw from the engagement gracefully), this is not just another British fable of imperialistic fervour, it's just a tale of bayonets with guts behind them, and ultimately a story of when men really were men, all in the line of duty.

    Men of Harlech onto glory...10/10 and then some.
    helpful•59
    5
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jul 6, 2008

    FAQ2

    • Isn't that a bearded Peter O'Toole striding past a couple of diplomats early in the film?
    • How come Colour Sgt Bourne doesn't get the VC?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 17, 1964 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Zulu
    • Also known as
      • Zulu - Die Schlacht von Rorkes Drift
    • Filming locations
      • Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa
    • Production company
      • Diamond Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,720,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 18 minutes

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