MJ Simpson

To my mind, Zulu is the finest war movie ever made. For those who love it, I can thoroughly recommend Sheldon Hall's book 'Zulu: With Some Guts Behind It - The Making of the Epic Movie'. One of the most thoroughly researched and eminently readable books ona single film that I have ever read.

www.tomahawkmedia.co.uk

716Jones

Agreed, it's a brilliant book, and one of the most interesting parts is discussing ideas for the film that never made it into the finished film, such as a love interest between Chard and Margeretta Witt! I think we'#re all sorry that never made it.

Dirigoboy

The test for me has always been whether I'd watch it again. For me, one of those that foots the bill is "Zulu"(1964). I was riveted the first time I saw it, and whenever it plays I try to catch it. It's companion piece "Zulu Dawn"(1979), an American piece, I've watched once, but I liked it as well. I believe Zulu was Michael Caine's first movie.

Bridge Over the River Kwai(1957) is another film that comes to mind for me.

merryowen

According to IMDB his first film was A Hill in Korea (1956).

However, the one that really caught my eye was his role in The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956). Apparently he was the third knight.

Harleybloke

Didn't I read somewhere that Chief Butaliezi (Have I spelt that correctly...proably not, sorry!) the King of the the Zulus starred in it..........?

Moor Larkin

He's in the credits at the end.
buthelezi

[code]http://www.flickr.com/photos/29487363@N02/sets/72157606700675506/code]

thirdlady

I've not seen it yet!

but will check it out!

Michael caine is an exceptional actor!

A.S.Carroll
"Happiness isn't sold in bottles you have to achieve it in your own lifetime!"

merryowen

This is a silly point I know but until I saw the various interviews in the Special Edition, was what a cheerful bloke Stanley Baker was. In most of his movies his characters tends to b e a bit dour and have a bit of an attitude, but from all accounts he was a jovial, positive chap who was always up for a laugh.

Jim

That's interesting merryowen; I too always had the impression of SB as being a bit serious and humourless - just shows, he was a good actor. I saw a snippet of a film with Peter Finch in the other day and I must say that I miss him as an actor.Sadly taken before his time.

By the way, visit one of the Rourke's Drift websites - the film 'Zulu' wasn't all that faithful to the facts!!

Good morning boys.

Steve Crook

That's an understatement
About the only thing they were accurate about was that a battle happened.

The film was "very loosely" based on the real event.

Steve

leon

For me ,the actor who stole the show was Nigel Green as colour sergeant Frank Bourne his understated performance was so convincing,superb!
As regards Michael Caine ,i must be missing something,as every film i have seen him in he plays "Michael Caine"although in this film he did at least have a posh accent.He always gives me the impression that he has just come out of drama school.

dremble wedge

Agree with you there, but then Nigel Green stole most of the films he was in...

batman

He was also excellent in The Criminal. Another one who died too young.

Bats.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

716Jones

Interestingly, Nigel Green ended up with a larger part than originally written. In his book on Zulu, Sheldon Hall mentions that Joe Powell, who played Sgt Windridge (the sergeant with the muscles) contracted an infection from an insect bite, and lines written for him were given to Nigel Green.

The character of Sergeant Bourne is another example of the film changing things, as the real Frank Bourne was only 24 at the time of Rorkes Drift. Evidently a bit of a high flier to make Colour Sergeant at 24!

christoph404

There is a special screening of "Zulu" on the 17th November 2007 at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London. The screening is followed by a talk given by author Sheldon Hall who is mentioned in the threads here and is author of the definitive book on Zulu "with some guts behind it" Sounds like a good day out, not sure what form the screening will be whether its a digital projection or film projector, will have to wait and see,...see you down there!.....