Zulu

Michael Caine - Lt. Gonville Bromhead
Stanley Baker - Lt. John Chard
James Booth - Private Hook
Nigel Green - Colour Sgt Bourne
Jack Hawkins - Reverend Otto Witt
Ulla Jacobsson - Margareta Witt
Paul Daneman - Sgt. Maxfield
Patrick Magee - Surgeon Reynolds
Richard Davies - Private 593 Jones
Peter Gill Private - 612 Williams

Zulu, is a recreation of the January 22nd 1879 siege of Rorke's Drift. The British Army suffers one of it's worst defeats when Zulu forces massacre 1,500 of its troops at a British garrison, a short time after the main battle a Zulu force numbering in excess of 4000 warriors advances on a British supply dump guarded by 139 Welsh infantrymen in Natal. Two Lieutenants, Chard (Stanley Baker) of the Royal Engineers and Bromhead (Michael Caine) find their contingent has been isolated by the destruction of the main British Army column and that the Zulu warriors will descend on them in hours. Each has a different military background in tactics and they are immediately in conflict on how to prepare for the attack, Chard wishing to stand his ground while Bromley believes retreat to be the best option.

As the film progresses it becomes clear the soldiers are vastly outnumbered and surrounded by Zulu warriors, retreat is no longer an option so they prepare for the forthcoming battle despite the pleas of Reverend Otto Witt (Jack Hawkins). Nearly a third of the men are in the infirmary, as the Welsh company tries to somehow survive against the odds with no help in sight.