Zulu (film) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Zulu was a 1964 film (American English: movie) depicting the (1879) Battle of Rorke's Drift between the colonial British and the Zulus. The film was directed by Cy Endfield and starred Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins and Michael Caine. The film is essentially of the Western movie genre, but located in South Africa with the traditional roles of the United States and Native Americans taken by the British and the Zulus respectively.
The Battle of Rorke's Drift was part of the Anglo-Zulu War, where 150 British redcoats held off 5,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven Victoria Crosses were won in the action, the most in a single battle, thus ensuring its place in British military history.
The film contains a number of factual errors, including;
- The 24th Foot is described as a Welsh regiment: in fact, although based in Brecon, its designation was the 2nd Warwickshire Regiment, although it became the South Wales Borderers in 1881.
- Private Henry Hook VC is depicted as a rogue: in fact he was a model soldier.
- The role of Reverend "Ammunition" Smith is completely overlooked.