OT: ZULU

[ilovestrategy]

I was watching ZULU recently and laughed out loud when that British trooper dropped his bayonet and the sargeant called him a name. Omg, that was funny [:D]. and all those troopers had the same last name so they were just designated as numbers. No wonder that movie is a classic!

[Tankerace]

"You slobbenly soldier."

I agree, definately a top rate film.

The last scenes, where they are singing "Men of Harlech" as the Zulus charge, it just gets you, ya know?

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: ilovestrategy

I was watching ZULU recently and laughed out loud when that British trooper dropped his bayonet and the sargeant called him a name. Omg, that was funny [:D]. and all those troopers had the same last name so they were just designated as numbers. No wonder that movie is a classic!

As I recall the sargeant called him "a slovenly soldier"!

And as for the soldiers having numbers.."Davis 4125 and Davis 4217" or some such - hey they were a Welsh regiment (with many comon last names)[:D]

Yes a great classic! Especially the last battle scene when both sides lined up singing their peans before the charge - Xenophon and Aeschylus would have been proud!

B

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Tankerace

"You slobbenly soldier."

I agree, definately a top rate film.

The last scenes, where they are singing "Men of Harlech" as the Zulus charge, it just gets you, ya know?

Dang Tanker - we had the same post at the same time! lol[:D]

[Tankerace]

Hehehe, great minds think alike.

[netjam99]

It is one of my favorite war movie of all tiime! My kids actually bought me the DVD last year for Christmas. You gotta love how the Brits kicked butt back in their glory days.

I play World War II online...when i spawn a British Destroyer I always operate it as the HMS Zulu in honor of that movie...and I like those Tribal Class DDs the Royal Navy had.

link

I was just dissappointed they left Harry Flashman out of the movie since it was quite evident he was there as evidenced by George Frasers 2nd to last book in that 'historical' series.

[ilovestrategy]

I also like the part when the officer yells "Fire at Will!" and that trooper says"That was very nice of him!" ROFL!!!

[ian77]

ORIGINAL: netjam99

You gotta love how the Brits kicked butt back in their glory days.

Not sure we were doing much butt kicking that week..... a desperate last stand turned into a heroic victory, and the loss of the main column is forgotten.. victorian spin??[;)]

ORIGINAL: netjam99


I was just dissappointed they left Harry Flashman out of the movie since it was quite evident he was there as evidenced by George Frasers 2nd to last book in that 'historical' series.

GMF keeps hinting that a fuller account of Rourkes Drift is forth coming along with Sir Harrys exploits in the US Civil War and Mexican Revolution ..... hopefully sooner rather than later![:)]

[crsutton]

First movie I ever saw Michael Caine in. Not the last though. Brilliant acting. I love the opening scene where he rides in from hunting and admonishes his fellow officer for using his men without permission. What a foppish prig!

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

First movie I ever saw Michael Caine in. Not the last though. Brilliant acting. I love the opening scene where he rides in from hunting and admonishes his fellow officer for using his men without permission. What a foppish prig!

"Anyway, Do carry on with your mud pies"
and rides away

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

First movie I ever saw Michael Caine in. Not the last though. Brilliant acting. I love the opening scene where he rides in from hunting and admonishes his fellow officer for using his men without permission. What a foppish prig!

OMG, one of my favorite all time movies. [&o]

I loved the line after that where Cain suggests the other officer should send him his uniform to be cleaned. The other officer suggests that he shouldn't bother. Cain replies "Oh, no bother, not offering to do it myself." So on character!!

What I loved about this movie was the fact that the unit was mostly Welsh debters and thieves pressed into service. When the Victorians talked about this being a great vicotry for the empire, they likely would have said "To h@!# with that, I was just trying not to get shot by my Sargent for desertion or turned into a pin cushion by the Zulus." It is the classic unintended hero story.

[Tom Hunter]

There is a movie called Zulu Dawn about the battle of Rourke's Drift which is the British defeat that occurred a day or two before the battle depicted in the movie Zulu.

It is not as good a film as Zulu, but they had a lot of extras and the battle scenes are impressive. You can watch Zulu Dawn and then Zulu and get a good feel for the first two fights of the campaign.

[Big B]

Hi Tom,
I know you just got it a bit confused but ZULU was about Rourke's Drift,
ZULU DAWN was about Isandlwana

[IS2m]

Zulu has been one of my favorite war movies for over 30 years. Now get back to work, you Dozey Welshman!

[Mike Solli]

I read that the Brits lost only about 17 or so soldiers at Rourke's Drift. On the other hand, at Isandlwana, they lost the entire regiment (- the company at Rourke's Drift), some 1700 or so. Only 2 soldiers survived.

The Zulu impi at Rourke's Drift were in reserve at Isandlwana, so, after the battle, they were unable to go through the ceremony called "washing of the spears" and thus were unable to get married. They sort of went off on their own to find some Brits to kill so they could get their spears washed etc., etc., and they happened to find the guys at Rourke's Drift.

Interesting fact. Every impi that fought during the Zulu War was so wasted that they never fought again in the war. Even the impi at Isandlwana were trashed in that battle. Basically, the Zulu army lost each battle it fought. They really didn't stand a chance unless they could have thrown out the British early in the war.

[Roger Neilson]

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

There is a movie called Zulu Dawn about the battle of Rourke's Drift which is the British defeat that occurred a day or two before the battle depicted in the movie Zulu.

It is not as good a film as Zulu, but they had a lot of extras and the battle scenes are impressive. You can watch Zulu Dawn and then Zulu and get a good feel for the first two fights of the campaign.
[/quote]

That's not Rorke's Drift, but Isandlwhana where Chelmsford's column was attacked by the Zulus and they didn't have the ammo unpacked in time!

Roger[quote]

[demonterico]

I must have watched Zulu at least a dozen times, and god willing I'll watch it another dozen times. Its got to be one of the best war movies of all times.

[Tom Hunter]

My memory is clearly going [:(]

[Mike Solli]

Isn't age wonderful?[:D]

[Big B]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

I read that the Brits lost only about 17 or so soldiers at Rourke's Drift. On the other hand, at Isandlwana, they lost the entire regiment (- the company at Rourke's Drift), some 1700 or so. Only 2 soldiers survived.

The Zulu impi at Rourke's Drift were in reserve at Isandlwana, so, after the battle, they were unable to go through the ceremony called "washing of the spears" and thus were unable to get married. They sort of went off on their own to find some Brits to kill so they could get their spears washed etc., etc., and they happened to find the guys at Rourke's Drift.

Interesting fact. Every impi that fought during the Zulu War was so wasted that they never fought again in the war. Even the impi at Isandlwana were trashed in that battle. Basically, the Zulu army lost each battle it fought. They really didn't stand a chance unless they could have thrown out the British early in the war.

I didn't know that fact, but I do remember reading that at Isandlwana all 20,000 Zulus were pinned to the ground about 300 to 400 yards away from the British for about 20 minutes. Then the ammunition ran out (or very low), and the British attempted a withdrawal back to the camp where the ammunition supply was (which if can recall was a few hundred yards). At that point the Zulus were able to get up and charge before the British reformed...and then in the melee between 20,000 Zulus (minus casualties of course) vs. about 1200 or so British ensued and was quickly ended in slaughter of the British.

I also remember reading that in all ensuing battles of the 1879 Zulu war the British never again neglected to bring their gatling guns and place them at the corners of their formations. In all ensuing battles these weapons were used with devastating effect.