Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8977 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-11-18
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, Zulu
• Subtitled in: German, Finnish, Turkish, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, English, Bulgarian, Polish, Swedish, Hungarian, Icelandic
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 133 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics, Zulu was also one of the last war movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu warriors, fought one of the most celebrated defensive actions in military history. Zulu tells the story on an epic scale, bringing to life the heroism, courage, loyalty and sacrifice of those desperate hours. This is truly cast-of-thousands filmmaking, with vast action wonderfully captured in widescreen Technirama. John Barry, who also scored Goldfinger in the same year, provides a telling musical accompaniment.

The superb cast includes Stanley Baker and Jack Hawkins, but Zulu's final claim to fame is that it made an instant international superstar of a young actor whose name is Michael Caine. A belated sequel arrived in 1979 in Zulu Dawn, which despite even more spectacular action and a great cast died at the box-office. It is nevertheless well worth seeing.

On the DVD: Zulu on disc has excellent prologic stereo considering the age of the film, while the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 transfer is crystal-clear, boasting rich colours, strong contrast and detail and only occasional minor print flaws. The original American trailer, also presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35:1, is a worthwhile addition. There is a very good new 45-minute "making of" (1.77:1 anamorphic, in stereo), curiously split into two parts. The heart of the programme consists of interviews with survivors from the film, focusing on Stanley Baker's widow. The only let down is lack of input from Michael Caine and composer John Barry. The commentary by film historian Sheldon Hall, author of a forthcoming book on the movie, and Second Unit Director Robert Porter is serious and packed with information. --Gary S Dalkin

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Narrated by Richard Burton and starring an outstanding Michael Caine in his first starring role, ZULU is a tense and dramatic war film about the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879--which was part of the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa--where approximately 150 British soldiers held off 4,000 Zulu warriors. ZULU is an exceptionally well-made and beautifully shot film from 1964 that demonstrates the bravery of the British troops and also acknowledges the Zulu's bravery. The emotional score of the film was conducted by John Barry. Eleven Victoria Crosses were won in the action, the most in a single battle. Most of the characters in the movie were based on real participants of the battle.

Customer Reviews

Five rounds Independant FIRE !!
The accurate account of the defence of the small garrison station in Natal during the Zulu war of January 1879.

The battle takes place on the morning after the massacre of the entire column of 24th Regiment South Wales Borderes aswell as other serving regiments totalling well over a thousand men at Issandalwanna.

Over 4000 excited Zulu warriors under the orders of their King Chekawao advance six miles in the direction of the small garrisoned outpost known as Rourkes Drift.Many of the men there are either sick or injured lying in the small hospital leaving around 125 men and serving officers to defend their position.

With the use of the Martine Henry rifle and a bayonet these gallant men many of them Welsh held back the Zulus for nearly a full day and a half.

The film brilliantly retells the story without becoming factually innacurate,and with Michael Caine making his acting debut this is a film with real suspense and drama.

Naturally Ivor Emmanuels singing of Men of Harlech takes little away from the action.The Zulu warriors chant their battle cry so its only right a Welsh regiment should sing their replie in Men of Harlech.

How many war action films have you seen that provide supream bravery from both sides and both are treated with equal respect.

Stanley Baker along with Cy Enfield shared the direction of this superb film.The final onslaught and charge of the meally bags and sheer carnage really brings 19C warfare to a person used to the technological advances of computer guided missiles in todays conflict.This was real hand to hand combat of the highest order and bravery.

Every part of the film apart from the opening scenes at King Chekowaos coral is accurate.This was a conflict that really happened and if one reads accounts of what really happened the film is a pretty accurate account of the events.

Nobody really stands out in the film, all play their parts equally well and add real realism to the narrative.This is a film one can watch again and again and if your very observant you may see some of the Zulu warriors wearing the watches they recieved as payment for taking part.

This is quite true,many of the Zulu men were given watches for their acting and according to some film historians can be seen wearing them in the film.

Were 11 Vcs warranted in such a small but heroic confflict,possibly to remove the shame of the massacre the previous day at Issandalwana so many were issued but one cannot denie the incredible bravery of all these men against totally overwhelming odds.

A visit to the superb museum at Brecon barracks is a must.Most of those magnificent medals are on display as are many of the artifacs of the battle including a blood stained colour of the regiment gallantly rescued from the battlefield of Issandalwanna.

One of the greatest adventure films of all time
Zulu is one of those films that left an indelible impression of the unique power cinema can have on those of us who saw it on the big screen as children. Intellectually and emotionally other films may have the advantage over it, but as a purely cinematic experience Zulu is unbeatable.

Siege epics were curiously popular in the Sixties - 55 Days at Peking, El Cid, Khartoum, The War Lord, The Alamo among them - but perhaps none have quite such a hold on the public's affections as Zulu, particularly in the UK. It's a celebration of national courage (but not nationalism) with its eyes wide open. The besieged men aren't there to build empires but because it's their job - "Because we're 'ere. There's no-one else," as Nigel Green's memorable Colour-Sergeant puts it to a young soldier.

It's a film with dignity on both sides of the conflict but no self-importance, it manages to extol heroism without glorifying war. It's also one of the few films to show the sheer physical arduousness of prolonged battle - it ends not with triumph and jubilation but with sheer exhaustion.

The narrative construction is deliberate and belongs to the days when films built up to a climax instead of throwing them in every ten minutes to keep the audience awake. John Prebble and Cy Endfield's script is strong, its subtle clash of egos between Stanley Baker and Michael Caine never over-emphasised and surrounded by memorable vignettes among the rank-and-file that gives the film a depth beyond the superbly handled battle scenes - Nigel Green struggling to maintain his composure as he takes the final depleted roll call, drunken missionary Jack Hawkins' truly irritating Bible-bashing unnerving a young private, Neil McCarthy's concern for a sick calf taking precedence over the ongoing battle.

Co-producer Baker was never to get (or give himself) so good an opportunity in a mainstream movie again, and nor were Endfield and Prebble (the three had previously collaborated on the terrific 1957 thriller Hell Drivers). Mention in despatches to Green and Gert Van Den Bergh as a Boer fighting alongside the Welsh too among a splendid cast from the days when you could still fill a regiment with memorable British character actors.

John Barry's epic score perfectly sums up the heroism and bloody turmoil without lapsing into jingoistic cliches, while Stephen Dade's superlative photography benefits from a good widescreen transfer (that said, the first appearance of the Zulus loses some of its impact even on a large widescreen TV). Definitely one to add to your collection, but you're best off going for the new 2-disc UK PAL edition.

Show Stanley Baker the respect due!!!!!!!

This is one of the best war films ever made and on this DVD you have the added bonus of an informative documentary that explains all you could need to know about it's making.

What comes across from watching this documentary is that ZULU is Stanley Baker's film. He was the star and producer. Without Stanley there would have been no Michael Caine. Without Stanley there would have been no ZULU.

So to my point: Why is Michael Caine solely brandished on the front of the DVD box cover art? His name is the only one that is mentioned. Have the movie going public forgotten Stanley Baker? I mean, he only made 115 movies! Michael Caine was an unknown when Stanley Baker cast him.

I feel this does an injustice to the film as a whole. I would like to see a little more respect shown to the creator of this film. As Chief Buthelezi said when Stanley died - "He was the best white man I ever knew."