ZULU movie myths

[ryman1]

I'm not having it. If Michael Caine says it was Welshmen in immaculately pressed scarlet, then that's good enough for me.

He's never let me down before. Remember that documentary that he did about a bullion robbery using British cars somewhere in Europe?  Who can forget that time he parachuted into England to murder Churchill, or a few years later when he led XXX Corps to Arnhem?

No, my friends, if Michael Caine says it's so, then it's so.

I believe he's going to make another film about war in South Africa, in which he plays an artillery commander whose battery mistakenly shells British troops of the crest of a kop. It's named after the cry of anguish he raises when he sees what his guns are doing. It's called (can you guess?) "You're only supposed to blow the bloody Boers off!" 

That's a man who gets about.

[Luddite]

ERE!!

Are you talkin' abaaht me squire?

[Hertsblue]

The VC is a singularly bizarre award, which does appear to be given fairly randomly, or typically where it's politically expedient to do so.

That of course is not in any way to denigrate the actions of the men to whom it is awarded.

Its just when you read despatches concerning the awards, and other similar but 'lesser' awards, you wonder sometimes how these decisions are made.

The VC is awarded for:

'Most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy'.

Which leads one to wonder, is there any soldier who's ever been 'in action' who doesn't deserve one?

Rorke's Drift saw an inordinate amount of VCs awarded i would suggest for two reasons; the valour displayed on the day by men who could have run but didn't (although shoukld they not all have received one?), and the need for the politicians to provide a well-lauded 'victory' to obscure the disaster at Isandlwana (when our troops apprently DID run).

The other factor that often influences the award to "other ranks" is whether or not there was an officer present - just to make sure the hoi-poloi are not making it all up.

[Bernie]

"Zulu Dawn" was closer to the reality of Isandlwhana than "Zulu" was to Rorke's Drift. Yet the latter is the far better film with tension, action, acting and of course the dramatic film music and enhanced with Ivor Emmanuel singing Men of Harlech!

[Russell Phillips]

If you listen, the Zulu Battle Cry is the same as the one used by the Germans in Gladiator.  Maybe someone should game out Zulus vs. Imperial Romans.

A poster in this TMP thread says it was done as a tribute to the earlier film.

It also featured in my 21st birthday - my brother-in-law led us in a Zulu chant while we were in the pub

[ryman1]

A poster in this TMP thread says it was done as a tribute to the earlier film.

It also featured in my 21st birthday - my brother-in-law led us in a Zulu chant while we were in the pub

Aye, Ridley Scott named Zulu as one of his all time faves and wanted to pay homage.
When I first sat down to watch Gladiator my jaw dropped with disbelief at what seemed to be laziness by the crew in poaching the zulu chant and it tainted the film for me.
However, finding out the reason makes it all okay, I've seen Gladiator 5-6 times now. 

[Luddite]

That's the least of the problems with Gladiator.

[NTM]

Zulu on More 4 this afternoon then a bit of a break and Zulu Dawn on Channel 5

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

watching the F1 qualies though.....then there's the f****ing tennis.... which stop most of you seeing it.

IanS

[NTM]

Yeah, no chance of me watching them live but they've gone into record in the Sky planner

[Hertsblue]

Got 'em both on DVD. They were going cheap. 

[sixsideddice]

Really interesting thread...

Well to be honest I think the awarding of VC's ( and yes the men at Rourkes Drift were brave)  was a bit of a cover up for Isandlwana

... and yes, totally correct; it was to cover the embarrassment of their earlier botch up.

[Maenoferren]

They also didn't use anywhere near Rorkes Drift as it was too dusty and brown. They chose somewhere with a lot of green grass sothat there would be a nice contrast betwen the red of the tunics and the surroundings.

There was also one of the company that ended up outside of the compound for the whole battle hidden up inside a brick chimney and another of the Natal native police who spent part of the battle one the wrong side of the mealie bag wall.

Then when the hospital fell the survivors had to cross an area between the new defence lines and the hospital. This was dangerous as the Zulus could get to them.

[Leman]

Actually it all took place in North America. The British wore blue and rode horses and they were wiped out to a man, not by Zulus but by pesky redskins.

[Luddite]

Really interesting thread...

... and yes, totally correct; it was to cover the embarrassment of their earlier botch up.

It was a disaster, but in what way was the battle a 'botch up'?