The Zulu War 1879    |   home

The Film 'Zulu'

Zulu
Running time - 138 min's
Length of film - 12,494 feet
Certificate - "U"

Directed by Cy Enfield

Producer Joseph E. Levine Script John Prebble and Cy Enfield Cinematography Stephen Dade
Music John Barry Editor John Jympson

Cast

Stanley Baker (Lieutenant John Chard)
Jack Hawkins (Reverend Otto Witt)
Ulla Jacobsson (Margareta Witt)
James Booth (Private Henry Hook)
Michael Caine (Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead)
Nigel Green (Colour Sergeant Bourne)
Ivor Emmanuel (Private Owen)
Paul Daneman (Sergeant Maxfield)
Glynn Edwards (Corporal Allen)
Neil McCarthy (Private Thomas)
David Kernan (Private Hitch)
Gary Bond (Private Cole)
Peter Gill (Private 612 Williams)
Tom Gerrard (Lance Corporal)
Patrick Magee (Surgeon Reynolds)
Richard Davies (Private 593 Jones)
Denys Graham (Private 716 Jones)
Dafydd Havard (Gunner Howarth)
Dickie Owen (Corporal Schiess)
Larry Taylor (Hughes)
Joe Powell (Sergeant Windridge)
John Sullivan (Stephenson)
Harvey Hall (Sick Man)
Gert Van der Berg (Adendorff)
Dennis Folbigge (Commissary Dalton)
Kerry Jordan (Company Cook)
Ronald Hill (Bugler)
Chief Buthelezi (Cetehwayo)
Daniel Tshabalala (Jacob)
Ephraim Mbhele (Red Garters)
Simon Sabela (Dance Leader)
Richard Burton (Narrator (voice)




Now out on DVD
Original LP Cover


"Sentries have come in from the hill, sir.... They report Zulus to the southeast. Thousands of them."


This action was at Rorke's Drift, Wednesday 22nd - Thursday 23rd  January, 1879, when some 150 soldiers defended a supply
station against some 4000 Zulus, aided by the Martini-Henry rifle 'with some guts behind it'.

Last Man Out by Mark Churms
Robert Jones and William Jones evacuate the last of the patients from the burning hospital,
Rorke's Drift 7pm 2nd January 1879.

At Rorke's Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot,
one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department
and one to the Natal Native Contingent.

There may possibly have been more VC winners but the posthumous VC was only started in 1905, the first recipients being
Lts Melvill and Coghill who were killed whilst saving the colours from Isandhlwana on the 22nd. of January. One other VC winner
on the 22nd. of January was a Private Samuel Wassall from Birmingham. He rescued a comrade who was drowning in the Buffalo River
during the retreat from Isandhlwana. He went on to live until he was 70. He is buried in The Barrow-in-Furness cemetery,
section 3.B. plot 1952. There was another VC winner who died at Isandhlwana. He was Private William Griffiths, born in Ireland.
He won his VC in 1867 at Little Andaman Island. His grave is unmarked on the battlefield at Isandhlwana.

The action at Rorke's Drift is well covered by the numerous publications and web sites which are devoted to the
subject as well as the details of the lives of the VC recipients and their action in the defence.




The film 'Zulu' was made in 1964, starring Sir Stanley Baker as Chard, Sir Michael Caine as Bromhead.   Jack Hawkins as
Rev. Otto Witt, Ulla Jacobsson as Margareta Witt, Nigel Green as Colour Sergeant Bourne, James Booth as Pte. Hook,
and Patrick Magee as Surgeon Reynolds.

The film which was co-produced by Sir Stanley Baker and Cy Endfield with music by John Barry (who also created the James Bond theme)
and it still remains to me one of the most dramatic and gripping films ever made. It evokes the best traditions of the British Army and the
stuff of which legends are made. It features stunning scenery, filmed in the Natal National Park.


The film gives a good overall version of the events although the way they are portrayed in the film is not totally accurate.
This doesn't detract from the impact of the film. The film does portray also the courage of the Zulus. It must have taken much for them
to attack against a defended position, bare footed, and in many cases only armed with an assegai and a shield. It is unlikely that the
weapons used against the defenders were taken from the dead at Isandhlwana since Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande and his regiment
had not taken much part at Isandhlwana but wanted to have some glory.


Some details ought to be mentioned though. Rev. Witt was not a drunk. He, along with Rev Smith (who did not feature in the film but played an important role) and Surgeon Reynolds went up to the Oskerberg (Shiyane Hill) to look out for the approaching Zulus. There were two parties who warned the post of the possible approach of the Zulus and told of the events at Isandhlwana. One reported to Chard at the river, the other, including Adendorff, reported to Chard at the mission station. The command at the station was not decided between Chard and Bromhead on the basis of date of commission, it was decided by Capt. Spalding (Officer in command) before going to Helpmekaar, not before saying to Chard 'Which of you is senior, you or Bromhead?' Chard said 'I don't know.' Having then checked the army list Spalding said to Chard
'I see that you are senior, so you will be in charge. Of course, nothing will happen, and I shall be back again early this evening.'



The Natal Horse Contingent which arrived at Rorke's Drift from Isandhlwana were actually
deployed for defence but thought that their position was useless and then withdrew.


Hook was portrayed in the film as a petty crook in the hospital scenes. Not a true representation of him although the film version seems to be an accurate portrayal of the events during the fight in the hospital. The evacuation was not totally true. When the patients emerged, they were subjected to rifle fire and assegai attacks in their withdrawal. At least one of them was killed on the journey to the inner defences.

Commissary Dalton, (Dennis Folbigge) ('Pot that chap somebody!') was portrayed as a whimpish character. In reality, much of the success of the preparation for the defences was due to him, he being a long serving and experienced soldier.

The Native contingent (some 200 in number) deserted, ('They've hooked it... every one of 'em.') having helped to build the barricades. A British officer (Capt. Stevenson) and an NCO (Cpl. Anderson) deserted with them. The NCO was killed by one of the defenders while doing so, (some speculate it may have been by Hitch who was on on look-out duty on the hospital roof). Stevenson was later court-martialled and
dismissed from the army.

Pte. Cole (Gary Bond) died in the hospital. ('Well he's a dead paperhanger now!').
 In reality he was shot through the head, the bullet then striking another defender on the nose.
The film also featured on the fact that it was a Welsh regiment. Although it was then based in Brecon in South Wales and called the 24th. Regiment of Foot (later to be the South Wales Borderers), it was formerly the Warwickshire Regiment. Many of the defenders had never been to Brecon. Of the 24th. Regt. at the defence,
49 were English, 16 Irish, 1 Scottish, 32 Welsh and 24 of other Nationalities. ('This is a Welsh regiment, although there are some foreigners in it in mind').



 
"Oh, well... I suppose there are such things as gifted amateurs."
Lieutenant Bromhead: 60!, we got at least 60 wouldn't you say?
Ardndorff: That leaves only 3,940.



 
Please Click above to go to an Excellent Tribute Website
to James Booth which is run by Diana Blackwell


Some Stills from the Film
Please click above to read an Obituary to James Booth
James Booth (Private Henry Hook),
 Larry Taylor (Hughes),
 Dafydd Havard (Gunner Howarth)
James Booth
(Private Henry Hook)
James Booth (Private Henry Hook),
Peter Gill (Private 612 Williams)
James Booth (Private Henry Hook),
 Paul Daneman (Sergeant Maxfield),
Ulla Jacobsson (Margareta Witt)
Dafydd Havard
(Gunner Howarth)
James Booth
(Private Henry Hook)
Glynn Edwards
(Corporal Allen)
Ivor Emmanuel
(Private Owen)
Nigel Green
(Colour Sergeant Bourne)
Chief Buthelezi
(Cetehwayo)
James Booth
(Private Henry Hook)
David Kernan
(Private Hitch)
Peter Gill
(Private 612 Williams)
Denys Graham
(Private 716 Jones)
Patrick Magee
(Surgeon Reynolds)
Dennis Folbigge
(Commissary Dalton)
Richard Davies
(Private 593 Jones)
Dickie Owen
(Corporal Schiess)


Some of these Stills have Sound Files attached,
Click on Text to listen


Some Memorable Quotes from the Film

 Lieutenant John Chard: The army doesn't like more than one disaster in a day.
Bromhead: Looks bad in the newspapers and upsets civilians at their breakfast.


Colour Sergeant Bourne: A prayer's as good as bayonet on a day like this.


Lieutenant John Chard: I came here to build a bridge.


Private: Why us? Why does it have to be us?
Colour Sergeant Bourne: Because we're here lad.


            Reverend Otto Witt:  1,000 British soldiers have been massacred
While I stood here talking peace, a war has started.


            Private Henry Hook: Rourke's Drift... It'd take an Irishman to give
his name to a rotten stinking middle o' nowhere hole like this.


Lieutenant John Chard: What's our strength?
Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: 7 officers including surgeon,
commercaries and so on, Adendorff now I suppose, wounded and sick
            36, fit for duty 97 and about 40 native levies. Not much of an army for you.


            Reverend Otto Witt: There are 4,000 Zulus coming against you, you
must abandon this mission.


            Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: Damn the levies man... Cowardly blacks!
Adendorff: What the hell do you mean "cowardly blacks"? They died on
your side didn't they? And who the hell do you think is coming to
wipe out your little command? The Grenadier Guards?


            Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: 60!, we got at least 60 wouldn't you say?
Adendorff: That leaves only 3,940.


Colour Sergeant Bourne: It's a miracle.
Lieutenant John Chard: If it's a miracle, Colour Sergeant, it's a
short chamber Boxer Henry point 45 caliber miracle.
Colour Sergeant Bourne: And a bayonet, sir, with some guts behind.


            Lieutenant John Chard: Mr Bourne, there should be 12 more men
working on this redoubt.
Color Sgt. Bourne: They're very tired sir.
[Chard whirls around] I don't give a damn! And I want this wall 9
feet high, firing steps on the inside, form details to clear away u
Color Sgt. Bourne: Yes sir... very good sir.


Surgeon Maj. Reynolds: You know this boy?
Orderly: Name is Cole, sir. He's a paper hanger.
Surgeon Maj. Reynolds: Well he's a dead paper hanger now.


            Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: Now there's a bitter pill. Our own damned rifles!


            Surgeon Maj. Reynolds: Orderly! Keep the flies away. Damn you Chard!
Damn all you butchers!


            [points towards the fleeing cavalry]
Reverend Otto Witt: The way of the Lord has been shown to us!


            Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead: Zulu's... thousands of 'em. Wait 'til
you see the whites of their eyes boy's before you strike!







The late Neil McCarthy (Private Thomas)






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With Some Guts Behind It –
The Making of the Epic Movie

by Sheldon Hall


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456 pp

Lavishly illustrated with 400 rare B/W and colour images
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Here are some 'ZULU' Movie Posters
UK Original Release Poster