Two things, quite embarrassing, 😅 1) I had no idea Michael Caine was in Zulu. 2) According to Wikipedia, "The Zulus did not sing a song saluting fellow warriors, and departed at the approach of the British relief column. This inaccuracy has been praised for showing the Zulus in a positive light and for treating them and the British as equals, but it has also been criticized as undermining any anti-imperial message of the film." Is this true?

Could not be prouder of my great grandfathers brother who fought and died and is buried at Rorke's drift. Pvt J Scanlan rest easy.

I’m a proud Welsh woman and Brit and I absolutely love this movie.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇬🇧

"Why us?" "Because we're here lad, and there's nobody else."

Bit of back story. The Zulus agreed to take part in this film only after Stanley Baker met with them and assured them they would be portrayed with respect.

One of the greatest war films ever made. This is just an epic film that could never be remade. The story (despite any historical changes) is just fantastic, the action scenes are first class, and all of the acting - including Michael Caine in his first major film - is great. I watch this at least once per year.

Interesting fact, Colour Sergent Frank Bourne, depicted here as a grizzled old soldier, by Nigel Green, was actually one of the youngest men there. He was the last British survivor, and passed away on the day Nazi Germany surrendered, May 8th 1945. Also, this wasn't the Zulus land, they'd taken it from another tribe, so really, they had no more claim to it than Britain did.

A friend of mine, now deceased was the sound editor on this film (Rusty Coppleman) and he said they tried hard to make as accurate as possible. The Zulu's were the cream of African fighters, commanded respect from other tribes without ever fighting. This sound on this film is brilliant (yes he was my friend) compared to todays wham bang-a joy to LISTEN to. Dont forget that 11 VC's were awarded for this fight at Rorke's Rift- it just shows the calibre and bravery of these British Soldiers.

I served with The 1st BN Royal Regiment of Wales for 10 years, which is an amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers depicted here. We as a Regiment watched this movie every year on Rorkes Drift Day.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defence at Rorke's Drift. The VC is the highest award for bravery in the UK, probably in the world. Extraordinary.

I've only seen this film a few hundred times. Epic battle. Epic film. Epic music score by John Barry. Pre-emptive like, obviously.

ZULU was used as a number of training films for recruits in the Australian army many years ago. I was such a recruit in 1978. It was teaching us discipline, and training “win” battles. A well aimed shot from the shoulder win’s battles.

I bloody love my country❤

Although British, between 1981 and 1984 I lived and worked in the nearby town of Newcastle Natal. Zulu friends loved to recreate this battle. Just like in the movie they would sing, then stamp their feet. A shout of ‘Zulu’ would ripple down the line and then they would charge holding broom handles. We the white men would stand in ranks. The object of the game was to face the charge without taking a step back - None of us able to do it. The movie does have a few differences with actual history. Perhaps the most notable is that the Brits were mostly English with only a handful of Welsh. The regiment did not become the South Wales Boarders until after the battle.

I first saw this film at the cinema as a child and almost 60 years later it's still a favourite. Even more impressive because it is based on a true story. Great reaction, thanks👍

one of the best war movies ever made in my opinion.

Even though I'm a born and bred cockney and have no influence of taffery in me, this still makes my hair on the back of my neck stand up. Meanwhile, the conversation between chard and bromhead regarding who was in command was already had before that day, colour sergeant Bourne was early 20s not middle aged like in the film (the bbc interviewed him and there is an audio copy). Private hook was not a rogue and a villain, so much so his relatives walked out of the Premier in disgust, he held that hospital for approximately 3hrs whilst they evacuated the wounded, even when the zulus were grabbing at the barrel of his rifle he stood his ground.

Stanley Baker who played Lt Chard bought his campaign medals and a replica of his VC at auction in the 1970s. In 1996, 20 years after Bakers death it was discovered the replica was actually the real VC once thought lost.

Over 40 years ago I watched a Zulu war dance in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. They were all massive muscled guys dressed exactly as in this film. Their singing/chanting was magnificently menacing and part of the dance involved stomping on the hard dry soil - I swear you could not only hear it, but feel it. They beat their cow hide shields with their assegai. The whole dance was the most intimidating display I've ever seen - and they were doing it for entertainment - the real thing must have been terrifying.

Zulu is definitely in my top 5 greatest movies of all. I can't remember how many times I've seen it. My dad took me to see it at the local fleapit when it was released, it's stuck with me ever since. It made a big impression on me.

the filming of the high veldt is simply stunning - the defensive holding of Roark's Drift was heroic, obviously following the British defeat at the battle of Isandlwana (which makes the battle of the Little Big Horne look like a spat at kids garden party)

Two things you might not know: This was Michael Caine's first major movie, and he had only returned a few years earlier from active service against the Chinese in Korea having had a vicious encounter with a scouting party one night. He played Lt Bromhead. Stanley Baker, the other senior officer, Lt Chard (in point of fact on the day was an engineer, and only assumed overall command due to seniority), was playing the smaller part of the bad guy Naval Lieutenant in the Cruel Sea, the biggest hit of 1956. The Lead role in that film - Captain Ericsson - was played by Jack Hawkins, who by now was suffering from throat cancer, and carried that far smaller role as the terrified pastor in this film.

If you ever visit Brecon in Wales, have a pint in The Blue Boar pub, where there are many mementoes of Rorke's Drift - shields, assegai spears and some of the medals won that day (there were 11 Victoria Crosses won, the most given for one battle ever!)

A truly fantastic movie, one i never get tired of no matter how often i watch it .

It was an english battalion not a welsh one at Rourke's drift ....just a little fact , yet still a wonderful movie with a great score .

They weren't muskets, they were Martini Henry rifles, single shot cartridges. To this day this engagement is still the highest number of VC's awarded, and we don't exactly hand out VC's lightly. Unfortunately a few hours earlier the main column of British troops were wiped out at Isendhwana, one of our greatest defeats caused mainly by the incompetence of Lord Chelmsford who later by using contacts at Horse Guards managed to avoid the scandal...he had sympathy from Queen Victoria which helped, but it was the beginning of stopping bought commisions based on 'birth' rather than competence.

Ivor Emmanuel was a fine Welsh singer. With a name like Gonville Bromhead how could he not be famous? Michael Caine's character had a great career in the military and was awarded the Victoria Cross. A true great and only 33 at the Battle of Islandlwana.

I remember attending the Lewis bonfire celebrations a few years back when a troop of Zulu dancers joined the Borough society march (Borough have a section that dresses in Zulu costume while others wear colonial uniform). Borough had just finished their Cenotaph ceremony when the Zulus arrived at the top of the hill and one of the "Colonials" and the Zulu troop leader greeted each other with a hug. Brought tears to my eyes.

Private Hitch VC is buried in my local cemetery in Chiswick west London , he has a monument which was erected by public subscription.

Awesome film respect to us brits holding out with grit and determination like us brits do respect to all men on that day 🇬🇧

'Don't go chucking bloody spears at me!'

Sir...A VERY PROUD GREAT GRANDSON of Private John William Fielding VC...well documented, well received, and even a Wetherspoons Public House named in his memory, (in Cwm Bran, South Wales), my dear Mum, OLIVE, just passed away at the age of 95. John fought side by side with Private Hook in the Hospital...also receiving a VC for Valor. The "Fielding" family name follows on through my Cousins, Peter and Colin...and now their extended offspring. And for ME....I had the profound privilege of shaking hands with Zulu KING GOODWILL ZWELITHINI at a Pageant held at Brecon Barracks on the 21st July 2019, never to be forgotten. STAY SAFE...Regards G.A.R.

This action actually took place before the regiment was re designated as “the South Wales Borderers”. At the time of Rourke’s Drift, it was an English county regiment - so no “Men of Harlech” happened, unfortunately

I gave this movie to my late Uncle many years ago - according to my Aunt, he had watched it 26 times before he passed.

Have I ever seen this movie?. Only about two hundred times. lol.

Little bit of trivia for you here. At the beginning of the movie we see the Zulu's in camp with the king Cetshwayo kaMpande. The man playing the part is his own great grandson Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. In 1994 Buthelezi became South African Minister of Home Affairs in Nelson Mandela's government.

im a proud englishman and this movie is fantastic and portrays both the brave british and zulu , our glory time ,

Loved this! thank you. Ten years later the Zulu's and the British fought together.

The two impis that were at Rorkes Drift were there because they were already in disgrace with the Zulu king. They'd arrived late at the muster of the Zulu Army. Because of that the king didn't allow them to take part in the Battle of Isandlwana thus earning glory, honour and loot from the British camp. Instead he sent them to keep patch on the mission station at the frontier. However the king gave strict instructions that the impose were not to cross the border and attack the mission station. His entire strategy depended on not being seen as the aggressor in the hope other European powers would pressure Britain to leave Zululand alone. This was obviously not pleasing to the men or commanders of the impis as it earned them no glory no honour and no loot so they decided to attack anyway hoping the king would be pleased once they presented him with a great victory. Sadly they miscalculated as Zulu experience and military doctrine had never been designed to deal with fortified positions and Rorkes Drift was fortified. Chard was an engineer and he'd built the mealie bag wall on top of a six foot high rock ledge. The buildings were also solid and had been well fortified, The defenders also had plenty of ammunition as the place was a logistics depot. Thus the first attacks failed and the Zulu indunas were in a quandary. They were already in the king's bad books, now they had disobeyed him again and failed upsetting his entire strategy. They went into a kind of mental paralysis and just kept attacking across the only viable route to the post into the teeth of heavy disciplined fire. Finally a relief column hove into view and although it was still some distance away the Zulus realised they had to retreat or be caught by a combined arms force including artillery and cavalry equipped with lances which they neither had nor could defend against.

This was a well-produced film reflective of its time, There are lots of KZfaq on the actual battle of Rorke's drift, The actors chosen did not reflect the real personalities, and the hospital scenes were filmed in London they were not predominately a Welsh regiment at the time. and nobody sang. But it was a Great film and for sentimental reasons it is one of my favourites.

11 VC's awarded after this battle. The highest award for bravery. And the most VC's awarded for a single action.

The truth behind the Zulu retreat was because their scouts had seen the British relief column approaching and they knew that they were in great danger. This however takes nothing away from the courage of the defenders of Rorkes Drift who held out against 4000 + Zulus. More Victoria Crosses were awarded for that one action than ever before or since.

Don't know how many times I've seen this movie over the years, can recite most of it word for word. It is a true 'classic' movie, probably the best ever, IMHO.

I always loved that the historical inaccuracies are often really bad in the film but that doesn't stop it being great - I'll list 5 that are very funny. 1) Hook was a career soldier and a tee-totaller - he would very likely have been appalled by his portrayal in the film. 2) Bromhead was in charge of Rorke's Drift not because he was some inexperienced fop but because he had been an artillery officer and an explosion had rendered him effectively deaf. People found him annoying because of that and they had left him behind in an out of the way backwater because talking to him was difficult. It would of been a very different film with a slightly confused Michael Caine going "What" whenever someone asked him something. 3) Bourne who is portrayed as an older man was in his early 20's (somebody else mentioned that below) 4) Dalton who is portrayed as somewhat ineffectual in the film was in fact the most experienced soldier there and won the VC because it was his ideas on how to set up the defences that kept them alive. In the film they have Chard come up with the plans but Chard was actually more of a road/bridge engineer than an expert on defensive structures but he was smart enough to listen to the 46 year old who had more than 25 years of military experience 5) Of the 122 soldiers only 32 of soldiers were Welsh with 49 being English ,16 Irish, 1 Scot and 3 from elsewhere - 21 are of unknown background but are likely to mainly have been English.

Any scene with colour sergeant Bourne in it is well worth re-watching!

It's a brill film and always get goosebumps when they start singing men of harlech

Have you seen Zulu Dawn? _it deals with the battle and massacre at Isandlwana that took place earlier in the day, 22 January 1879, before the attack on Rorke's Drift that features in the 1964 classic_

Brilliant film. x

Indeed, I remember seeing Zulu whilst at Senior School in South Africa. The movie was very good, ideal for a young teen boy, but was an historical travesty, of course. We had an entire history lesson dedicated to it at my Cape Town school. My roomie, of Welsh heritage, pointed out that "Men of Harlech" or Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech, would have been sung in Welsh by the soldiers, of course, if it had been sung at all. The Welsh words were only written in 1860, so were not all that popular by the time of the Zulu Wars. More likely would be that the men might have chanted the tune. Of course, it was included in the movie because the song refers to another defence of a siege, at Harlech in the 1460s. It was a nice bit of artistic license.

It wasn't just Welsh Troops, it was Royal Engineers, Royal Warwickshires etc etc. Every single one of them a hero that showed the back bone of the British fighting man... Lest we forget. Oh, yes, the Zukus had rifles to, it was like shooting fish in a barrel for them even though they were not trained with the rifles.

I remember my dad loving this film and it always seemed to be repeated on tv every Sunday when I was growing up. The minty python send up of it the meaning of life.

I'm from Yorkshire England. There are no better singers then the Welsh . Very brave heroic people . I love this song plus the Welsh national anthem to . Even though part of the United Kingdom. Its a devolved country has its own government and Parliament. To decide on issues concerning the Welsh themselves. But also comes under the British government for major issues

My all time favourite movie!

ZULU I saw this with my lovely 12 year old Auntie ,same age as my older brother, but you had to be 12 to take in us children. Loved the South Glamorgan's, I am from Yorkshire, not Welsh. My SINGING would have caused every ZULU to RUN away for Hundreds of Miles BUT the Brits would also have run away even further, well my family and neighbours do.

During the period of the muzzle loading flintlock musket, the British soldier was trained to reload and fire approximately three shots a minute - much faster than any other army of the time. So volley fire was very important, as the muskets weren't particular accurate - though a curtain of lead was pretty terrifying. By the stage of the Zulu Wars, the Brits were using the Martini Henry rifle, that was far more accurate, but could only shoot one bullet at a time, requiring the old tactic of Volley Fire to reload. The rate of fire was much higher, but gave the Brits a false sense of power when it came to overwhelming odds of armies equipped with leather shields and wooden spears. The Zulus had trained from very young to be fearsome fighters and would generally fight as long as they lived. The Zulus in this film had just previously come from butchering a much larger British unit, where the Zulu forces were completely underestimated.

A Magnicent film with the best movie soundtrack ever.

More VCs awarded in this action than in any other.

i was 21 (70s now) when I first watched this, the sound, the screen was massive, so impressive never forget Zulu.

I went swimming one day in the nineties and I decided to go into the jacuzzi and this bloke next to me was talking to a guy near him and I was blown away with his story. He was a great great grand son of one of these officers that was fighting the Zulu’s that day. And he was asked to go to Africa to make a documentary about this war. When he was in Africa he met the great great grandson of the Zulu King. Anyway a couple of months later I saw the documentary on TV and you would be shock how small the area that those remaining British soldiers were in, it was so small and nearly a hundred soldiers was quashed so tight, the space was a lot smaller than you see on TV. If you can find that documentary it’s well worth watching.

Makes you proud to be welsh.small nation the welsh but u wont get a prouder nation.respect to the welsh guards

Please don’t forget that they had given us a bad body blow earlier . I hope all soldiers rest in peace from both sides.🌹🌹

One of the greatest movies we’ve seen. Thank you for this.

Got to love a war film with a song contest in the lead up to the final battle.

Men of Harlech is an emotional song for me as it is the one song I remember my father singing to us when we were children. On long car journeys we would have a sing a long and that was always the song he would sing. Sometimes he'd sign the fun alternative words, which as young children we found funny.

I saw this film at the theatre with my dad when it first came out in the 60’s. Portrayal of Private Booth was so inaccurate his descendants walked out of the theatre . There are many inaccuracies in the film. The Zulus left because Lord Chelmsford was approaching with the rest of host Regiment. Plus Pastor Witt and his daughter were never at Rorkes Drift during the Battle. Apart from that Stanley Baker has made a remarkable film that will never be dated. A must also is Zulu Dawn made in 1979 a 100 year anniversary if the battle at Isandalwana!! Starring Peter O’Toole John Mills Burt Lancaster and many other stars.

Well presented. This was a great film with so many memorable scenes.

Excellent, and thanks for putting it on large screen( makes all the difference }👍

Its just an incredible film. My dad took me to see it when I was only about 7. What an impression it left, I felt I'd been through the battle! Have watched it many times since, including with my son who loved it.

I remember watching Zulu when it first came out in the cinema in 1964. We used to play "Zulu", running around the school playing fields. Since then, I have watched it so many times on the TV, that I can say most of the lines before the actor does. It has never dated. Stankey Baker was supposed to be the "star", as Michael Caine was relatively unknown at the time. Nearly all of his movie appearances before Zulu were "uncredited".

The South Wales Borderers museum in Brecon displays Zulu shields taken from the field, plus several of the 11 VCs awarded that day

Saw it in the sixties at the cinema. It's still heart grabbing. Good reaction.

So many inaccuracies in the film, yet it is still one of my all time favourite war films... it certainly fixed firmly in my young head that I was going to be a soldier. (Joined the army in 1972)... years later, whilst still serving I was in South Africa and had the chance to visit Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana and did a battlefield tour there... it had always been an ambition of mine to one day stand on the ground of that mission station, (which is now a museum, or was then) and to see the actual lie of the ground, plus the marked off areas of the perimeter and the final redoubt, the film doesn't do it justice... being there gave me goose bumps and I'll never forget it.

More of these movie reviews(or scene reviews) please.Youre one of the more balanced an intelligent reactors on youtube,so itll be interesting to see your take on some films.

Grew up and spent half of my life in SA, was privileged to have visited Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana more than once. Very eerie, has left more than a lasting impression on me.

I saw it at 10 years old, in 1964. It's been my favourite film ever since.

More victoria crosses were won that day than in the history of battles and warfare x

There are two movies about the Zulu war, the other one being the Battle of Isandlwana. Not too Fare from where I live is Litchfield cathedral, there's a section dedicated to the Zulu war. Happy Days from England.

Superb film ,so affected me in later years went to visit all the battlefields in Zululand.

This battle saw the most Victoria crosses ever given out.

I have seen this movie more than any other, by far. Whenever I need some inspiration I watch it.

one of my favourite films - probably my favourite.

Great video feller. My all time fave movie. i was in army back in the day as an 18 year old, and as part of our training we were taken to an army museum where we were shown all the original medals including all those Victoria Cross medals won at Yorkes Drift.

Always goosebumps…. Those Zulus were something else ❤

watched it my my dad and bro when i was a kid, always reminds me of the oul feller (r.i.p.), particularly the 'men of harlech' song..... zulu dawn is a great film about the battle the day before where the zulu wiped out a british column

At 3:56 there is a subtle yet brilliant shot where Chard sees a soldier giving in to fear, looks around at his men before approaching the sergeant. This is military leadership at it's best - he ignores his own feelings because he knows that if the men's spirits drop it's all over.

once a year, every year, i make time for this film.

I seem to remember reading that the leader of this Zulu contingent was disobeying strict orders not to attack Rorkes drift, I wonder if part of the decision to leave was because to take the mission would cost too many of his warriors, and he'd be in even more trouble, even if he won.It's fascinating to read up on the lives of those who were there.

I was eleven when this film came out and watched it twice a week for the four weeks it was on at the cinema.

Even the Zulu's had honour in those days. Now none of us have it.

Just in case you did'nt know this movie is a cultural icon in my generation at least. yeh sure there's a fair bit of artistic license but even so the makers did a grand job of depicting the zulu and they're fight and culture. Absolute respect to those brave zulu who fought magnificently and of course those british and (welsh) who defended there post without hesitation. in Hine sight they were not defending the post but they're very lives. "And a bayonet sir with some guts behind it" Fact some of the VC winners sold they're medals sometime after leaving the military due to poverty.

Yea i remember Zulu as its on tv somewhere most Sundays here in the UK

Watching this scene always makes me cry. It’s about honour - a lost virtue

These epics were great, no expense spared, and no CGI!

My grandad fought in the Boar war in s africa At Lyons Neck and Tamborskloof. I have his service medals.

I was 14 when this film came out and went to see it every day for a week.

One of the first ever "true" surround sound movie my parents went to see it at Leicester square Odeon the night after the royal premier, dad said there was a speaker at either end of every row of seats in the auditorium he said the beating of the spears on the shields was amazing. I was lucky enough to visit Rorke's Drift while working in South Africa in the early 90's & the place is still littered with Martini-Henry rifle cartridges from the battle.

What I find amazing is, there are people able to watch this on KZfaq, only because their ancestors that fought in this battle, survived and lived to see another day.

I love the way he's picked out the two things that never actually happened in the battle.

Utterly brilliant film. I saw it when I was young at the cinema. The suspense, tension and fear are palpable and the sense of impending doom had me crying! Not suitable for young children!!! But now one of my all time favourite films.

Absolutely love this film