They are not the Welsh Guards. Most (the Welsh element) were from the 24th Regt. of Foot, later known as the South Wales Borderers. There were some sappers present, too, and a few others. No Welsh Guards.
They weren’t even a Welsh regiment. They were The Warwickshires at the time, but Stanley Baker couldn’t resist the stirring tune “Men of Harlech”. A bit of artistic license, as well as smearing Hook’s character as the Queen’s “bad bargain” (not worth the shilling he got to enlist) which I believe they apologized for later. Still my favourite film though.
@@jamesmason8436 No, in fact there wasn’t a lot of Welsh at Rorke’s Drift. Around 10-15% were Welsh. This is the invention to justify singing Men of Harlech. The 24th recruiting depot had moved to Brecon and Welsh boys were starting to fill the ranks and hence why they later became the South Wales Borderers.
Michael Caine is one of my favorite actors. Most people don't know that he is a combat veteran with some amazing and harrowing stories about combat operations during the Korean war.
Yup, cured him of communism. "He had gone into Korea feeling sympathetic to communism, coming as he did from a poor family, but the experience left him permanently repelled due to the human-wave attacks practised by North Korea and China, which left him with the sense that their governments did not care about their citizens. Caine experienced a situation where he thought he was going to die, the memory of which stayed with him and formed his character. In his 2010 autobiography The Elephant to Hollywood, he wrote that "The rest of my life I have lived every bloody moment from the moment I wake up until the time I go to sleep.""
As an adolescent, what I appreciated about the film Zulu is that it portrayed commitment and valor on both sides, and didn't try to paint this particular engagement as 'good vs evil'. It inspired me to read the wonderful book "The Washing of the Spears" about the rise and fall of the Zulu nation. If you enjoyed the film, the book provides a fascinating and lively read on the broader history of the Zulu people.
As a Brit, I'm used to the general view here, now, that the film was a big celebration of colonialism and that it was inherently racist as a result. But, as a kid, this was the first time I'd ever seen a well organised army of black men. That was quite something for me.
It featured Prince Buthelezi in the film playing his own Grandfather, and 500 real Zulu Warriors , The Zulus are a warrior race, with a long and noble history, I think that today people watching the film respect that , and hopfeully understand that we Brits picked a fight we could never hope to win
Chanting "we are the mighty wind, we will overcome!" during a time their warriors where a force of nature themselves. The British had technology on their side, rifles, artillery and mounted cavalry but were mowed down by thousands of Zulus who over ran their staging point of invasion. The little outpost held their own and ended up earning the respect of the Zulus. Real life adventures can be more powerful than fictional ones.
As an Englishman, I agree 100%. If a character in the film referred to the Zulu's in the pejorative, he was corrected within the script. They were certainly depicted as brave, noble and fair. I'm 38 and have loved the film since I was a kid. I can say, hand on heart I never really saw it as 'us v them' as you do in many war films. Brilliant film.
The thing about the film zulu is that everyone who sees the film, respects the zulus. The British Army to this day uses the word Zulu everywhere. There are zulu companies, zulu barracks, it's a word in the phonetic alphabet for radio use etc etc. The British won the zulu war but lost battles within it. This surprised the British public and the army. They had underestimated the zulu army. There is now a love between the zulu and British people. The Zulu Induna at Isandlwana said after the British defeat - "ah those red soldiers at Isandlawana, how few they were and how brave. Each man fought and fell in his place like a stone."
I once lived next to some white South African people who had immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970's. I was their neighbor in the early to mid 1980's. Their views of most Black Africans (They considered themselves to be White Africans.) were openly and extremely racist; like Grand Dragon of the KKK racist. However, those negative attitudes didn't apply to the Zulus, which was surprising to me. They appeared to have a genuine respect for the Zulu people. I suspect the Zulu's warrior tradition had made a big impression on them and their ancestors before them.
@@Kwolfx Somehow I doubt that as I believe it was the Zulu who massacred Boer civilians as they were expanding north and the Zulu were expanding south. A wagon train was attacked by thousands of zulu warriors near a river. It drew up into a defensive circle and thousands of Zulu died and I think none of the Boer did. The battle of Blood River is a very important event in Boer culture.
I saw Alfie as a kid and it meant nothing to me, went over my head. But then I saw it again, anew, at about age 35 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It's an extraordinary film on the human condition and broke all sorts of new ground for the time it was made. And its devastating.
And most of the British forces who fought at the Battle of Rorke's Drift were Welshmen, At the beginning of the Anglo-Zulu war, the British sent in some second rate regiments. They still won at Rorke's Drift because they were surrounded and fought for their lives.
@@jamesmason8436 I’ve read that from Literally every source that discusses the battle. Search battle stacks roarks drift in TH-cam. Go toward the end of the video.
Try the original Get Carter. It's a great, and the good and the not so good ensemble piece of British actors with a very gritty undercurrent. Plus fantastic theme by Roy Bud.
I probably saw Zulu on TV as a kid. I seem to remember the Jack Hawkins scene where he talks through openings in the walls of the shed. But when I saw it again as an adult and learned of the history of the battle it became one of my favorites. Excellent cast. Amazing story.
Zulu is since its day one one of my most favourite movie ...along with the Magnificent Seven ...and Michael Cane a remarkable actor . It seems now that he's also one of the most enjoyable cockney fella to hang around with,. Thumbs up.
Zulu was remarkable on many levels, some of which might not be apparent to those unaware of British culture. First of all, the two leads, Caine and Baker, took the part of posh people but were working class, and the lower end of it as well. Baker was all but a communist, and Caine was, then, a wee bit to the left as well. Baker was the son of a Welsh miner. In those days, posh people played those in the working class, and dreadfully. It’s hilarious now, unfortunately spoiling what otherwise might have been great films. Attenborough’s Pinkie Brown ruined Brighton Rock for me, but then I’m common and working class. Baker and Caine turned the tables, with two of the hoi polio playing posh, middle and upper class officers. The conflict between Caine’s toff and Baker’s middle class engineer is another aspect of the film that’s not often mentioned. Caine is, I think, one of our best actors. If you see Man Who Would Be King, he dominates every scene, especially alongside Sean Connery. Caine should have been James Bond, and probably was a better one as Harry Palmer. Baker did not want Zulu to show the native South Africans as anything but equals to the British, and in this succeeded. This was all but revolutionary at the time. It was clear he admired them. Mind you, as they had just inflicted the worst ever defeat of the British Army at Isandlwana, he had a lot of support for his point of view. There’s a bit of a dig in the film, where Bromhead says that the army doesn’t like two disasters in two days as it looks bad in the papers and upsets civilians. This is probably a reference to the hype of the battle, and all the awards for bravery, trying to overshadow the disastrous defeat at Isandlwana. Not that they didn’t deserve their VCs of course. It was a bit like Dunkirk. Again, a massive defeat for the British Expeditionary Force made to look like an example of success for the British soldiers and navy. Baker was a brilliant actor and was taken too soon. But Zulu should be seen as part of his legacy, both against racism and equality for class as well. Zulu showed that people with poor parents could act. The industry changed a bit after that.
Due to the laws in SA at the time the Zulu's were paid less and Baker couldn't do anything about it. So he gave them the cattle as well, which was worth much more to them than just money
These are all very cool comments! I think Dunkirk is viewed rather like the Apollo XIII failed mission. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat... They may have lost the battle, but they won the war.
That's the thing about Michael, a lot of people tended to look down on him for his humble beginnings yet the man has real intelligence, charm and taste. Some people can be very insecure...
@@ffjsb The English joke about Michael, who attended the same Boys Club as me and was born in my High Street in South East London is that he stops interviews with obscure facts and then when there is thr following silence he says " Not a lot of people know that!"...:) Charlie Chaplin was born in my street !
For me one the great things about Zulu was that it was unbiased. It showed the Zulu as a proud strong people and it ended with them saluting the British troops. In reality this did not happen but the film makers were determined not to be one-sided. It stands up as a great movie today.
Generations were brought up with the idea that the Zulu decided to cut the British a break because they were so brave but it seems the real reason they left was because Chelmsford's column had been spotted coming back after hearing of the battle at Isandlwana. They were too late to save the main camp but potentially saved the lives of the defenders at Rourke's Drift.
@@Catubrannos Just so. The idea of the Zulu singing a salute to fellow braves was just an invention, but considering the casual racism of the times, it was a lovely touch. Still one of my favourite movies.
Considering that real life Zulus played in the movie as the Zulus, you wouldn't expect them to be insulted or humiliated on set now would you? The credits at the end thank the Paramount Zulu chief for his cooperation for those who bothered to sit through the music and cast.
@@Mike-tf1yx The movie wasn't re-writing history, it was entertainment. Who gets their knowledge of history from movies? Have you ever seen a movie that was historically accurate in every way? At least Zulu it wasn't overtly racist like many others.
CORRECT--IT'S HISTORY, AND VERY ACCURATE HISTORY, WITH THE USUAL MOVIE TWEAKS. THE OPENING SCENE SHOWS A 'POST-BATTLEFIELD ' OF SLAUGHTERED BRITISH SOLDIER'S.
Caine wrote, in his memoir, "What's It All About?" that Stanley Baker, who was Welsh, produced "Zulu" and wanted to get the story right because it was mostly Welshmen fighting at Rorkes Drift. He also said that Baker insisted that the Zulu warriors not be portrayed as "savages."
What struck me when I first watched Zulu was how brave both sides were: the British soldiers for standing off a fierce, numerically superior enemy and the Zulus for charging the British guns, taking horrific losses in an attempt to vanquish their colonial interlopers. I wouldn't have had the guts to do what the Zulu warriors did; no braver warrior ever walked this Earth. Even today, "Zulu" is slang in African American culture for a fearless black man, and I'd like to think that film had something to do with that.
to be fair, most cultures have tons of proven episodes of limitless bravery -- the french, the germans, the brits, the russians, the japanese, the spanish, the americans/canadians/poles going all the way back back to romans and greeks etc etc etc.
Zulu is a great film. It is based on a true story so I'm really not sure why anyone would take issue with it. It is a story of incredible bravery of the British troops against overwhelming odds and the Zulu are portrayed with empathy as brave, intelligent, and merciful. Caine did not sufficiently defend a great movie.
Because the story is factually inaccurate and perpetuates the English view of the long oppressed Zulu people as noble savages. As a english speaking white South African I found it very under representative of Zulu culture.
It was also at the height of Apartheid when they made It, and it just felt condescending to the Zulu tribe and more made to satisfy British sentiments- who were doing nothing to stop Apartheid on a political level at the time tbh. Especially for those of us who know what the British really did here.
@@craighodgson6056 great explanation! The same can be said of movies made about the Brittish occupation of Northern Ireland one example being that of one titled Hunger. This is a horrible film that paints Irish Republicans in much the same manner as you describe the Zulus were. Plus it all but totally ignores Bobby Sands' election to the parliament. And to be quite frank the film Ghandi also whitewashes what the Brittish did in India. It certainly looks as if the Brittish film industry tries very hard to protect their deluded reputation.
I was a 1RTB recruit and Zulu was a film that we were made to watch. The movie was there to show us that the strength of a force that was out numbered could survive and stay alive.
I understand the painful history of SA, but I came away from "Zulu" with a good feeling about and respect for the Zulus, and for the British soldiers who found themselves in an untenable situation and who acquitted themselves very well. That's all. A great film, accurate or not.
A victoria cross winner William Jones is buried in Phillip's Park Cemetary, Clayton,. Manchester. I have been to his grave a few times, also a few other men who fought in the battle are buried in the cemetary.
Zulu is a great film . Essentially , the American director , Cy Endfield , made a colonial version of cowboys vs Indians - he even insisted on white pith helmets for the British soldiers , when in fact they were light brown tea stained - and insisted on them being clean shaven , when the actual participating British soldiers at Rorke's Drift in 1879 wore beards . There were many historical inaccuracies but it is a splendid film nevertheless .
Loved Zulu, it was similar in concept to Beau Geste, or films about Custer's Last Stand, The Alamo etc except the British survived. Never heard there was racial tension before about the film in the USA. Ten years after this interview the British Army kicked Argentine arse in the Falklands.
Have a look at Get Carter-my all time favorite Michael Caine film,a good example of what can be done with a minimal budget,good cast , locations and director
I found out years ago that Color Sergeant Frank Bourne, one of the British soldiers from the actual war of Jan. 22-23 1879, was a direct ancestor of mine, on my father's side.
Very good actor and probably underrated. He admitted that he has made a lot bad movies mostly for the money. He was also good in the Italian job (original) among others.
ive watched it countless times and I still love it. It showed the Zulus in high regard in my opinion, they were only trying to defend their land from the British.
I saw Zulu in the 1960s in a theater that was stuffed with young Marines. They loved that movie, especially the final battle. At the volley by rank scene they cheered through the whole thing!
That's pretty disturbing. Marines cheering on the slaughter of indigenous people by an imperial force that had no business being there in the first place...
Zulu has become a classic movie, one of my favorite action movies, which I watch often… both armies were committed to win, but, we all know theirs only one winner… no the Zulu’s realized that the small contingent at Rourkes Landing are brave men….and the Zulu’s gave the Brit’s their respect..
In "Zulu" 90 British Engineers held a pass against a force of 10,000 for 2 days........An inspiration for anyone who's ever been trapped in a tough spot.
I suppose the thing Americans didn't understand is the absolute respect the British had for the Zulus, as they do for the Gurkhas (who form part of the British army). Anyone who fights the British to a standstill will be respected and admired, regardless of anything.
Didn't stop Chelmsford's men slaughtering wounded Zulus where they lay or burying them alive with corpses. Perhaps as many as 500. Not so romantic an image, eh?
They showed Zulu to us in army basic training in Australia. Meant to show us the benefits of discipline. They didn’t show us Zulu Dawn, where the Brits lost.
The reason Zulu wasnt successful in America most likely it was the critics who belittled it.British history has its fair share of brave battles whether for right or wrong reasons,but its a history about the bravery of British soldiers and the yanks just hate that.
Michael caines top 10 movies are probably the best top 10 movies of any actor ever, its between him , al pacino, humphrey bogart and robert deniro. Incredible. I cant pick between alfie, zulu, get carter, italian job, man who would be king, ipcress, batman, californian suite, little voice etc But even the fun ones were great jaws 3,escape to victory , blame it on rio, etc
I was reminded of Dick’s own turn in one of the funniest comedy bits in the last fifty years, the “Banana Man” song in Beetlejuice. It was Catherine O’Hara’s shining moment, but ably supported by Dick and the other cast members.
Zulu was about the defence of Roarkes Drift. 140 British soldiers against 4000 Zulus. I wonder if Dick Gregory would have appreciated someone making fun of Pearl Harbor like he did of Zulu. Probably not.
STAR ALERT: The unidentified tall black gentleman on the left is the greatest basketball player of all time. His name is Bill Russell. As a senior, Russell led his high school team to a California state chamlionship. At the University of San Francisco, Russell's teams won the NCAA Championship twice. In 1956, he helped Team U.S.A. win the Gold Medal. In the NBA, Russell won 11 Championships in a 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell IS the greatest winner in the history of team sports. He is also a highly intelligent man who has worked tirelessly on behalf of civil rights throughout his life. Russell has also been devoted to developing mentors for young people.
Zulu is one of the best movies of all time...historically mostly correct, and the Zulu's were a heroic nation who battled the British and drove them back, as any invaded country should, even as a British man we salute the Zulu's now and back then!
Richard Alva Cavett (/ˈkævɪt/; born November 19, 1936) is an American television personality and former talk show host. He appeared regularly on nationally broadcast television in the United States from the 1960s through the 2000s. 87 AÑOS. (88)
Caine comes out, shakes hand with Cavett. "Oh, I didn't realise how tall Caine was," I think. Caine shakes hands with next guy. "Oh, I didn't realise how short Caine was."
And Cavett is taller than I am. How do you think that makes me feel? Saw Zulu in theater during U.S. release. Riveting movie-- especially the approaching "train" and the Zulus first appearance lining the hillsides.
Zulu is a great film. A real life story about an outpost manned by men making a last stand style fight with their backs to the wall, and fierce spear wielding warriors of the Zulu. Even the film itself respectfully portrays both sides. Any offense or shame about the film is manifestation of the one that feels that way.
The British army has a great respect for the Zulu’s, the Fuzzy Wuzzy’s of the Sudan and the Gurkhas. All of these caught the British army before the first two were defeated. the Gurkhas were invited to join the British Army and are some very hardy troops and and always stand their ground.
Michael Caine (nacido como Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr.; Londres, Inglaterra, 14 de marzo de 1933) es un prolífico actor británico. Famoso por su particular acento inglés de East End, Caine ha aparecido en más de 154 películas a lo largo de su carrera y es considerado un icono de la industria cinematográfica británica.
The English joke about Michael, who attended the same Boys Club as me and was born in my High Street in South East London is that he stops interviews with obscure facts and then when there is the following silence he says " Not a lot of people know that!"...:) Charlie Chaplin was born in my street!
Funny story. His birth name was Maurice Micklewhite. He adopted the stage name of Michael White but learned there was another actor who shared that name. While on the phone with his agent, who suggested he find another identity, he looked around and noticed " The Caine Mutiny " was playing at an Odeon theatre. Bingo! Michael Caine was born!
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
Brilliant movie, makes my spine tingle everytime the zulus chant and when the Welsh guard sing
They are not the Welsh Guards.
Most (the Welsh element) were from the 24th Regt. of Foot, later known as the South Wales Borderers.
There were some sappers present, too, and a few others.
No Welsh Guards.
Exactly
They weren’t even a Welsh regiment. They were The Warwickshires at the time, but Stanley Baker couldn’t resist the stirring tune “Men of Harlech”. A bit of artistic license, as well as smearing Hook’s character as the Queen’s “bad bargain” (not worth the shilling he got to enlist) which I believe they apologized for later. Still my favourite film though.
@@petemarshall8094 a lot of those involved were Welsh, however, so the Welsh element was true to the facts.
@@jamesmason8436 No, in fact there wasn’t a lot of Welsh at Rorke’s Drift. Around 10-15% were Welsh. This is the invention to justify singing Men of Harlech. The 24th recruiting depot had moved to Brecon and Welsh boys were starting to fill the ranks and hence why they later became the South Wales Borderers.
Michael Caine is one of my favorite actors. Most people don't know that he is a combat veteran with some amazing and harrowing stories about combat operations during the Korean war.
Now there’s not a lot of people who know that
Royal Marines.
Yup, cured him of communism.
"He had gone into Korea feeling sympathetic to communism, coming as he did from a poor family, but the experience left him permanently repelled due to the human-wave attacks practised by North Korea and China, which left him with the sense that their governments did not care about their citizens. Caine experienced a situation where he thought he was going to die, the memory of which stayed with him and formed his character. In his 2010 autobiography The Elephant to Hollywood, he wrote that "The rest of my life I have lived every bloody moment from the moment I wake up until the time I go to sleep.""
@@robertnegron9706Royal Fusiliers
As an adolescent, what I appreciated about the film Zulu is that it portrayed commitment and valor on both sides, and didn't try to paint this particular engagement as 'good vs evil'. It inspired me to read the wonderful book "The Washing of the Spears" about the rise and fall of the Zulu nation. If you enjoyed the film, the book provides a fascinating and lively read on the broader history of the Zulu people.
As a black man I can say that I thoroughly enjoined Zulu. The Zulus were depicted as strong proud and fierce warriors.
As a Brit, I'm used to the general view here, now, that the film was a big celebration of colonialism and that it was inherently racist as a result. But, as a kid, this was the first time I'd ever seen a well organised army of black men. That was quite something for me.
It featured Prince Buthelezi in the film playing his own Grandfather, and 500 real Zulu Warriors , The Zulus are a warrior race, with a long and noble history, I think that today people watching the film respect that , and hopfeully understand that we Brits picked a fight we could never hope to win
Chanting "we are the mighty wind, we will overcome!" during a time their warriors where a force of nature themselves. The British had technology on their side, rifles, artillery and mounted cavalry but were mowed down by thousands of Zulus who over ran their staging point of invasion. The little outpost held their own and ended up earning the respect of the Zulus. Real life adventures can be more powerful than fictional ones.
@@russthebiker but the Brits did defeat the Zulu's.
As an Englishman, I agree 100%. If a character in the film referred to the Zulu's in the pejorative, he was corrected within the script. They were certainly depicted as brave, noble and fair. I'm 38 and have loved the film since I was a kid. I can say, hand on heart I never really saw it as 'us v them' as you do in many war films. Brilliant film.
Amazing film I saw this as a very young boy on a Sunday afternoon watching with my dad.
I'm American and I loved "Zulu" when I first saw it in the 60s' and still enjoy it.
The thing about the film zulu is that everyone who sees the film, respects the zulus. The British Army to this day uses the word Zulu everywhere. There are zulu companies, zulu barracks, it's a word in the phonetic alphabet for radio use etc etc. The British won the zulu war but lost battles within it. This surprised the British public and the army. They had underestimated the zulu army. There is now a love between the zulu and British people. The Zulu Induna at Isandlwana said after the British defeat - "ah those red soldiers at Isandlawana, how few they were and how brave. Each man fought and fell in his place like a stone."
I once lived next to some white South African people who had immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970's. I was their neighbor in the early to mid 1980's. Their views of most Black Africans (They considered themselves to be White Africans.) were openly and extremely racist; like Grand Dragon of the KKK racist. However, those negative attitudes didn't apply to the Zulus, which was surprising to me. They appeared to have a genuine respect for the Zulu people. I suspect the Zulu's warrior tradition had made a big impression on them and their ancestors before them.
@@Kwolfx Somehow I doubt that as I believe it was the Zulu who massacred Boer civilians as they were expanding north and the Zulu were expanding south. A wagon train was attacked by thousands of zulu warriors near a river. It drew up into a defensive circle and thousands of Zulu died and I think none of the Boer did. The battle of Blood River is a very important event in Boer culture.
Actually, they only lost one major battle, but a few skirmishes.
Perfectly put
Guns vs spears 🤔 bravery?
Loved Zulu...I remember watching it as a kid in the 60's/70's on TV and really enjoyed it.
Watch Zulu at least once a year usually on TV at Christmas. Great film
Me too! The greatest film ever made. I've seen it so many times, I'm word perfect now.
Some films should be revisited often. One of my other favourites is Lawrence of Arabia. 🇨🇦
Zulu is one of the greatest films ever made. Both British and Zulu respected each other after their battles.
@@robin6797
Let him without sin cast the first stone.
Judge not least he be judged.
How can you not love Michael Caine, a British icon, the Italian job what a film.
I saw Alfie as a kid and it meant nothing to me, went over my head. But then I saw it again, anew, at about age 35 and it hit me like a ton of bricks. It's an extraordinary film on the human condition and broke all sorts of new ground for the time it was made. And its devastating.
Back when we had intelligent talk shows and great guests who were intelligent.
Zulu is a great movie about two proud peoples gaining respect for each other.
Just keep in mind the end scene didn’t actually happen in real life. The Zulu stopped fighting because the British got re enforced.
And most of the British forces who fought at the Battle of Rorke's Drift were Welshmen, At the beginning of the Anglo-Zulu war, the British sent in some second rate regiments. They still won at Rorke's Drift because they were surrounded and fought for their lives.
@@shovelcharge that's not what I've read. Anywhere. Ever.
Source?
@@jamesmason8436 his mind.
@@jamesmason8436 I’ve read that from Literally every source that discusses the battle. Search battle stacks roarks drift in TH-cam. Go toward the end of the video.
My favorite Michael Caine movie is The Man Who Would Be King!
There's an interview on youtube somewhere with Michael Caine where he talks about that film just after he made it. One of my favourite films as well 👌
Probably the best Connery film too.
Try the original Get Carter. It's a great, and the good and the not so good ensemble piece of British actors with a very gritty undercurrent. Plus fantastic theme by Roy Bud.
That was brilliant!
That's a Sean Connery movie!
Zulu was my all time favourite movie as a young boy as well as Jaws too. Both movies moved me as young kid.
As an old soldier I love Zulu,and greatly respect both sides.great movie epic stand and story
Zulu was one of my dad’s favorites movies.
It is my Dads favorite movie still to this day. One of my favorites as well 😊
Zulu is a really well done movie ... very suspenseful
@@tomwellman1757 the british army has won against most nations in the world.not lost michael .
@@williamfurlong9786 you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off
If I were a dad, I'd love Zulu.
I thought, whoah, Michael Caine is big.
Then I saw the other guest.
😂
Dick Cavett is about 5'6
The other guest is NBA Hall Of Famer Mr Bill Russell :-)
Oldskool G.O.A.T
He's a big man but he's out of shape.
I probably saw Zulu on TV as a kid. I seem to remember the Jack Hawkins scene
where he talks through openings in the walls of the shed. But when I saw it again
as an adult and learned of the history of the battle it became one of my favorites.
Excellent cast. Amazing story.
Zulu is since its day one one of my most favourite movie ...along with the Magnificent Seven ...and Michael Cane a remarkable actor . It seems now that he's also one of the most enjoyable cockney fella to hang around with,. Thumbs up.
Zulu’s my all time favourite classic movie, that I used to watch with my granddad when I was a young kid
When I was a kid I was so blown away by the Zulu people in the film that I became an admirer of the Zulu and read a great deal about African history.
One of the greatest films of all time.
Loved Zulu, best by far war movie ever. Not enough can be said about Second hand Lions.
Watched this and thought what an open frank talk , Head and shoulders above the present day interviews.
Zulu was remarkable on many levels, some of which might not be apparent to those unaware of British culture. First of all, the two leads, Caine and Baker, took the part of posh people but were working class, and the lower end of it as well. Baker was all but a communist, and Caine was, then, a wee bit to the left as well. Baker was the son of a Welsh miner.
In those days, posh people played those in the working class, and dreadfully. It’s hilarious now, unfortunately spoiling what otherwise might have been great films. Attenborough’s Pinkie Brown ruined Brighton Rock for me, but then I’m common and working class.
Baker and Caine turned the tables, with two of the hoi polio playing posh, middle and upper class officers. The conflict between Caine’s toff and Baker’s middle class engineer is another aspect of the film that’s not often mentioned.
Caine is, I think, one of our best actors. If you see Man Who Would Be King, he dominates every scene, especially alongside Sean Connery. Caine should have been James Bond, and probably was a better one as Harry Palmer.
Baker did not want Zulu to show the native South Africans as anything but equals to the British, and in this succeeded. This was all but revolutionary at the time. It was clear he admired them. Mind you, as they had just inflicted the worst ever defeat of the British Army at Isandlwana, he had a lot of support for his point of view.
There’s a bit of a dig in the film, where Bromhead says that the army doesn’t like two disasters in two days as it looks bad in the papers and upsets civilians. This is probably a reference to the hype of the battle, and all the awards for bravery, trying to overshadow the disastrous defeat at Isandlwana. Not that they didn’t deserve their VCs of course. It was a bit like Dunkirk. Again, a massive defeat for the British Expeditionary Force made to look like an example of success for the British soldiers and navy.
Baker was a brilliant actor and was taken too soon. But Zulu should be seen as part of his legacy, both against racism and equality for class as well.
Zulu showed that people with poor parents could act. The industry changed a bit after that.
Baker also produced the film and secured the financing.
the actual officers were considered rather hopeless.
Due to the laws in SA at the time the Zulu's were paid less and Baker couldn't do anything about it. So he gave them the cattle as well, which was worth much more to them than just money
These are all very cool comments!
I think Dunkirk is viewed rather like the Apollo XIII failed mission.
Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat...
They may have lost the battle, but they won the war.
Finally, my TH-cam viewing experience is complete now that I've seen Bill Russell and Michael Caine together in the same clip
Caine actually knew something about the Zulu's, that's impressive. Humble beginnings, but not an uninformed man at all.
That's the thing about Michael, a lot of people tended to look down on him for his humble beginnings yet the man has real intelligence, charm and taste. Some people can be very insecure...
@Rafael Herschel What are you talking about??
@Rafael Herschel Ok, that's pretty obscure...
@Rafael Herschel So it wasn't an actual quote but was coined by Peter Sellers? Well, not a lot of people know that.
@@ffjsb The English joke about Michael, who attended the same Boys Club as me and was born in my High Street in South East London is that he stops interviews with obscure facts and then when there is thr following silence he says " Not a lot of people know that!"...:)
Charlie Chaplin was born in my street !
For me one the great things about Zulu was that it was unbiased. It showed the Zulu as a proud strong people and it ended with them saluting the British troops. In reality this did not happen but the film makers were determined not to be one-sided. It stands up as a great movie today.
Generations were brought up with the idea that the Zulu decided to cut the British a break because they were so brave but it seems the real reason they left was because Chelmsford's column had been spotted coming back after hearing of the battle at Isandlwana. They were too late to save the main camp but potentially saved the lives of the defenders at Rourke's Drift.
@@Catubrannos Just so. The idea of the Zulu singing a salute to fellow braves was just an invention, but considering the casual racism of the times, it was a lovely touch.
Still one of my favourite movies.
Considering that real life Zulus played in the movie as the Zulus, you wouldn't expect them to be insulted or humiliated on set now would you? The credits at the end thank the Paramount Zulu chief for his cooperation for those who bothered to sit through the music and cast.
@@Outspoken.Humanistah yes, rewriting history to combat “racism”
@@Mike-tf1yx The movie wasn't re-writing history, it was entertainment. Who gets their knowledge of history from movies? Have you ever seen a movie that was historically accurate in every way?
At least Zulu it wasn't overtly racist like many others.
Zulu was/is my favorite Michael Caine movie. And, being a history buff, I really enjoyed it.
The battle of Roarke's Drift shows what can be done if an army can be disciplined while facing overwhelming odds.
Zulu, Rorkes Drift is a true story. Thats the point.
CORRECT--IT'S HISTORY, AND VERY ACCURATE HISTORY, WITH THE USUAL MOVIE TWEAKS. THE OPENING SCENE SHOWS A 'POST-BATTLEFIELD ' OF SLAUGHTERED BRITISH SOLDIER'S.
one of the best, those brave brave men
They took some liberties with the real story- i.e. Private Hook wasn't a drunk and shirker. IRL he was a stand-up guy who was a good soldier.
@@Conn30Mtenor absolutely
Caine wrote, in his memoir, "What's It All About?" that Stanley Baker, who was Welsh, produced "Zulu" and wanted to get the story right because it was mostly Welshmen fighting at Rorkes Drift.
He also said that Baker insisted that the Zulu warriors not be portrayed as "savages."
What struck me when I first watched Zulu was how brave both sides were: the British soldiers for standing off a fierce, numerically superior enemy and the Zulus for charging the British guns, taking horrific losses in an attempt to vanquish their colonial interlopers. I wouldn't have had the guts to do what the Zulu warriors did; no braver warrior ever walked this Earth.
Even today, "Zulu" is slang in African American culture for a fearless black man, and I'd like to think that film had something to do with that.
to be fair, most cultures have tons of proven episodes of limitless bravery -- the french, the germans, the brits, the russians, the japanese, the spanish, the americans/canadians/poles going all the way back back to romans and greeks etc etc etc.
Great movie. The Zulu war chant is unforgettable.
But never happened in real life…
Spine tingling it was.
@@robertnegron9706 💯.. as a kid had me me on edge of seat, probably why I signed up..
Alfie is one of his best performances. My personal favorite from this excellent actor.
Zulu is a great film. It is based on a true story so I'm really not sure why anyone would take issue with it. It is a story of incredible bravery of the British troops against overwhelming odds and the Zulu are portrayed with empathy as brave, intelligent, and merciful.
Caine did not sufficiently defend a great movie.
Because the story is factually inaccurate and perpetuates the English view of the long oppressed Zulu people as noble savages. As a english speaking white South African I found it very under representative of Zulu culture.
It was also at the height of Apartheid when they made It, and it just felt condescending to the Zulu tribe and more made to satisfy British sentiments- who were doing nothing to stop Apartheid on a political level at the time tbh. Especially for those of us who know what the British really did here.
@@craighodgson6056 great explanation!
The same can be said of movies made about the Brittish occupation of Northern Ireland one example being that of one titled Hunger.
This is a horrible film that paints Irish Republicans in much the same manner as you describe the Zulus were. Plus it all but totally ignores Bobby Sands' election to the parliament.
And to be quite frank the film Ghandi also whitewashes what the Brittish did in India.
It certainly looks as if the Brittish film industry tries very hard to protect their deluded reputation.
@@alanna8983 That's because they do.
@@craighodgson6056 Compare apartheid South Africa to today's SA. Surely you can't say things have improved.
I was a 1RTB recruit and Zulu was a film that we were made to watch. The movie was there to show us that the strength of a force that was out numbered could survive and stay alive.
At the same unit (1 Recruit Training Battalion), we were instructed to watch for the ‘fire control’ of the British (1969)
I understand the painful history of SA, but I came away from "Zulu" with a good feeling about and respect for the Zulus, and for the British soldiers who found themselves in an untenable situation and who acquitted themselves very well. That's all. A great film, accurate or not.
A victoria cross winner William Jones is buried in Phillip's Park Cemetary, Clayton,. Manchester. I have been to his grave a few times, also a few other men who fought in the battle are buried in the cemetary.
@@Mulberry2000 They deserve our respect.
The only painful part of South African history is the part the British played in buggering the place up!
@@mazambane286 The British and other Empires and White Supremacy buggered up much of the world and still does.
@@Glicksman1 You're correct. But for the wrong reasons.
OMG I love Dick...he asks where the Zulus are from in Africa and looks to Bill Russell first, thank God Michael Caine jumped in with the answer.
Zulu is a great film . Essentially , the American director , Cy Endfield , made a colonial version of cowboys vs Indians - he even insisted on white pith helmets for the British soldiers , when in fact they were light brown tea stained - and insisted on them being clean shaven , when the actual participating British soldiers at Rorke's Drift in 1879 wore beards . There were many historical inaccuracies but it is a splendid film nevertheless .
Loved Zulu, it was similar in concept to Beau Geste, or films about Custer's Last Stand, The Alamo etc except the British survived. Never heard there was racial tension before about the film in the USA. Ten years after this interview the British Army kicked Argentine arse in the Falklands.
Have a look at Get Carter-my all time favorite Michael Caine film,a good example of what can be done with a minimal budget,good cast , locations and director
It’s mine too. A great film!
It's a Classic.
I found out years ago that Color Sergeant Frank Bourne, one of the British soldiers from the actual war of Jan. 22-23 1879, was a direct ancestor of mine, on my father's side.
Nice
47 years ago! crazy.
1973
@@capitanfuturo594 1972, it's in the description
I have ever seen Zulu I guess it’s time love Caines work what a icon !
Very good actor and probably underrated. He admitted that he has made a lot bad movies mostly for the money. He was also good in the Italian job (original) among others.
As a fifteen year old at the time, the best part of the film was the eye popping wedding dance by those Zulu maidens.
Best seen in the flesh. Believe me.
@@MOGGS1942 I know, I was in SA about twenty years ago and saw tribal dancing.
😂😂😂😂😂🏆
Zulu is my favorite Michael Caine movie.
"Zulu" is still treasured as a classic. As for "X,Y, and Zee" - is that the title? - I've never heard of it before.
Same here...apparently called Zee and Co in the UK, probably due to us pronouncing it zed.
ive watched it countless times and I still love it. It showed the Zulus in high regard in my opinion, they were only trying to defend their land from the British.
I saw Zulu in the 1960s in a theater that was stuffed with young Marines. They loved that movie, especially the final battle. At the volley by rank scene they cheered through the whole thing!
That's pretty disturbing. Marines cheering on the slaughter of indigenous people by an imperial force that had no business being there in the first place...
@@SpaceCattttt Hey, that group had crossed the border in violation of their king's orders. That is the Zulu king.
@hiram hacklesworth At least they stayed on their own continent...
@Hector BRAVO-NELSON Nah, I'm laughing.
teppolundgren Well said.
Zulu has become a classic movie, one of my favorite action movies, which I watch often… both armies were committed to win, but, we all know theirs only one winner… no the Zulu’s realized that the small contingent at Rourkes Landing are brave men….and the Zulu’s gave the Brit’s their respect..
Pretty much loved all of Caine's early movies including Zulu as well as The Ipcress File.
Alfie is the best film he made imo.
What about his earliest and best one of all..."Alfie"?
@Gary Roberts Love Man Who Would Be King.The Hand though...hmm. Still, The Hand director was Oliver Stone so I guess everyone starts somewhere.
Zulu makes you think how brave both sides were , nothing wrong with it
In "Zulu" 90 British Engineers held a pass against a force of 10,000 for 2 days........An inspiration for anyone who's ever been trapped in a tough spot.
They are not engineers they are infantry Welsh regiment
Aw man, I really wanted to see that clip.
Zulu is an extraordinary movie.
I liked Zulu a lot, but The Last Valley is still my favorite Michael Caine film.
The film was made with the input of both Zulu and British army perspectives in mind, both sides in the film are portrayed as strong and determined.
i went to see zulu when it came out and loved it. one of those when it comes on i say i'll watch it a bit and then end up watching the whole,thing
imagine going back in time and being there , so different
I suppose the thing Americans didn't understand is the absolute respect the British had for the Zulus, as they do for the Gurkhas (who form part of the British army). Anyone who fights the British to a standstill will be respected and admired, regardless of anything.
Didn't stop Chelmsford's men slaughtering wounded Zulus where they lay or burying them alive with corpses. Perhaps as many as 500. Not so romantic an image, eh?
They showed Zulu to us in army basic training in Australia. Meant to show us the benefits of discipline. They didn’t show us Zulu Dawn, where the Brits lost.
I still watch this beginning to end
Some of your video titles are misleading. He talks fleetingly about Zulu, the bulk of the time he talks about his current movie and reviews.
Oh WOW. There's my favourite Celtic of all time! I like Michael but good God, I want to hear the conversation with Mr. Bill Russell
Get carter is my favourite film it’s great 👍🇬🇧
Love love love Michael Caine
My favourite Caine movie.. The man who would be king, with his mate Connery, that's Shaun, love it love it, adventure yarn good old movie brilliance
More Victoria crosses awarded in this battle than any other time in British history
The reason Zulu wasnt successful in America most likely it was the critics who belittled it.British history has its fair share of brave battles whether for right or wrong reasons,but its a history about the bravery of British soldiers and the yanks just hate that.
Michael caines top 10 movies are probably the best top 10 movies of any actor ever, its between him , al pacino, humphrey bogart and robert deniro. Incredible. I cant pick between alfie, zulu, get carter, italian job, man who would be king, ipcress, batman, californian suite, little voice etc But even the fun ones were great jaws 3,escape to victory , blame it on rio, etc
I thought when Caine looked over at Bill Russell he was gonna say “I’ll have my man clean your kit”.
I was reminded of Dick’s own turn in one of the funniest comedy bits in the last fifty years, the “Banana Man” song in Beetlejuice. It was Catherine O’Hara’s shining moment, but ably supported by Dick and the other cast members.
One of his best performances in my view was the T.V. movie Jack the Ripper (1988) with the late Lewis Collins.
@ the worst as in revolting?
Caine was excellent in Hannah and Her Sisters. One of Woody Allen's best movies imo.
Zulu was about the defence of Roarkes Drift. 140 British soldiers against 4000 Zulus. I wonder if Dick Gregory would have appreciated someone making fun of Pearl Harbor like he did of Zulu. Probably not.
The Italian Job…Dirty Rotten Scoundrels…another two great movies after this interview
Please watch his acting and delivery in the film ..to late the hero...fantastic
STAR ALERT: The unidentified tall black gentleman on the left is the greatest basketball player of all time. His name is Bill Russell. As a senior, Russell led his high school team to a California state chamlionship. At the University of San Francisco, Russell's teams won the NCAA Championship twice. In 1956, he helped Team U.S.A. win the Gold Medal. In the NBA, Russell won 11 Championships in a 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell IS the greatest winner in the history of team sports. He is also a highly intelligent man who has worked tirelessly on behalf of civil rights throughout his life. Russell has also been devoted to developing mentors for young people.
Zulu is one of the best movies of all time...historically mostly correct, and the Zulu's were a heroic nation who battled the British and drove them back, as any invaded country should, even as a British man we salute the Zulu's now and back then!
Well, the Zulus fought hard and drove the British back temporarily, but in the end lost badly.
Zulu is one of cinema's all time classics.
Michael Caine is so damn cool.
Richard Alva Cavett (/ˈkævɪt/; born November 19, 1936) is an American television personality and former talk show host. He appeared regularly on nationally broadcast television in the United States from the 1960s through the 2000s.
87 AÑOS. (88)
Caine is a succinct communicator.Great actor.
Caine comes out, shakes hand with Cavett. "Oh, I didn't realise how tall Caine was," I think. Caine shakes hands with next guy. "Oh, I didn't realise how short Caine was."
Well, Bill Russell is a bit above average in height.
And Cavett is taller than I am. How do you think that makes me feel? Saw Zulu in theater during U.S. release. Riveting movie-- especially the approaching "train" and the Zulus first appearance lining the hillsides.
Zulu is a great film. A real life story about an outpost manned by men making a last stand style fight with their backs to the wall, and fierce spear wielding warriors of the Zulu. Even the film itself respectfully portrays both sides. Any offense or shame about the film is manifestation of the one that feels that way.
Anyone know who the other guest is?
*edit Basketball legend Bill Russell
Yep, and is still with us at 86 years old.
Michael Caine was really great in the Woody Allen film "Hannah and Her Sisters."
Jimmy Johnstone special guest appearance in the merv griffin show on may 12 1979
A great film great music. Score
John Barry, the man.
The British army has a great respect for the Zulu’s, the Fuzzy Wuzzy’s of the Sudan and the Gurkhas. All of these caught the British army before the first two were defeated. the Gurkhas were invited to join the British Army and are some very hardy troops and and always stand their ground.
Michael Caine (nacido como Maurice Joseph Micklewhite Jr.; Londres, Inglaterra, 14 de marzo de 1933) es un prolífico actor británico. Famoso por su particular acento inglés de East End, Caine ha aparecido en más de 154 películas a lo largo de su carrera y es considerado un icono de la industria cinematográfica británica.
Susannah York and Elizabeth Taylor and he was getting paid for it!!
Some guys have all the luck.
Not to mention Nancy Sinatra, grrrr.
That is an outstanding pair of glasses
Michael Caine and Bill Russel ...how cool that 😃😃😃
Moy name, is Moical Caine, and oi am a nosy neighbour. Not alot of people know dat.
I said, NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT!
@@Ashfielder 😆
Where was that? Get Carter, or some Harry Palmer?
Václav Fejt
Sounds like Stella Street.
@@vaclav_fejt Fast Show innit
The English joke about Michael, who attended the same Boys Club as me and was born in my High Street in South East London is that he stops interviews with obscure facts and then when there is the following silence he says " Not a lot of people know that!"...:)
Charlie Chaplin was born in my street!
Funny story. His birth name was Maurice Micklewhite. He adopted the stage name of Michael White but learned there was another actor who shared that name. While on the phone with his agent, who suggested he find another identity, he looked around and noticed " The Caine Mutiny " was playing at an Odeon theatre. Bingo! Michael Caine was born!