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Date	Original Topic
2nd February 2002	James Langley Dalton By Steve Tiplady Can anyone provide a theory as to why in the film "Zulu", Commissary James Langley Dalton appears to be portrayed as a rather small timid man,when in all the accounts that I have read (and believe me I've read quite a few) James Dalton is described as a man of significant stature and considerable military experience prior to Rourke's Drift (I think he was a Seargent or Seargent Major of some years standing)and was instrumental in the decision to make a stand and fight and the organisation of the defences.
Date	Replies
2nd February 2002	John Young Steve, It is just a theory, in 1963, when 'Zulu' was being made there was not the attention to detail, or even the thorough research that might be undertaken at this time. Cinema is just that - storytelling on a big screen for the consumption of a mass audience. To Hell with history that's make a movie look at 'Braveheart' or 'U571', each has a basis in fact but do they stick with it? No they do not. Dalton's film persona or his physicial characteristics in no way match the real man, who you can find more about by clicking on his link under 'The V.C. Winners'. In my opinion a great injustice was done to James Langley Dalton by the makers of 'Zulu'. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.