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Date	Original Topic
15th February 2002	Goofs & Gaffs from 'Zulu' from a historical angle. By John Young Goofs & Gaffs in the motion picture �Zulu�: Let�s start at the very beginning, and before you think I about to go into �The Sound of Music�, I assure you I am not. Opening date from the telegram which is spread across the frame is �23rd January 1879�, yet although that was the date the dispatch was written, The Secretary of State for War, Colonel the Rt. Hon. F.A. Stanley, M.P., A.D.C., late Grenadier Guards would not read it until 11th February, 1879. The contents of the dispatch are incorrect, in fact �Isandhlwana� does not even merit a mention, rather it was referred to as �the camp about 10 miles in front of Rorke�s Drift�.� I will spare you the location inaccuracies they go without saying. Isandlwana scene: The cannon with the soldier draped over it is of a too larger bore; it is certainly not a 7- pounder Rifled Muzzle Loading cannon. The soldiers are wearing a post 1888 pattern Slade-Wallace equipment, and error that carries on throughout the film. Ulundi scene: I am reliable informed the wedding song being sung is a Christian wedding song, taught to the Zulu by missionaries, and we all know King Cetshwayo kaMpande�s opinion of missionaries, don�t we? Look at the driver of the cart as it is hurriedly decamping from the ikhanda, Jack Hawkins has suddenly sprouted a moustache and side-whiskers. The pontoons at Rorke�s Drift: The late Sir Stanley Baker is wearing a post-1881 Full Dress tunic, as well as a Royal Artillery pouch belt. 24th soldiers, well I shall not bore you with the facts about the uniform inaccuracies, save for one major gripe the non-commissioned officers are all wearing their stripes on the wrong sleeve. More if the film fans want it? Also before anyone cries plagiarism at me and says I have lifted this from an article entitled �Observations on the film Zulu� by John McAdam, which appeared in 9th Edition of �The Journal of The Anglo Zulu War Historical Society�. I would like to openly declare that it was I who supplied the information to Mr. McAdam for most of his recorded errors. John Young, Chairman, Anglo-Zulu War Research Society.
Date	Replies
15th February 2002	Bob Bennett John Yes, I believe the film fans want it! I also thought that the gun in the first scene should have been limbered and stuck in a donga? I also have learned more in the last few days about Isandlwana from the delightful "banter" that both you and Julian have been conducting. Keep it up. Bob
15th February 2002	Julian Whybra Thank you, Bob, that's very nice of you to say so. It would be useful if other people feel the same way for them to say so as there's plenty still to say. If anything, I've been saving the best till last but I wouldn't want to bore anyone. To add to the goofs: the rider accompanying Adendorff on arrival is (supposed to be) dressed as a Natal Mounted Policeman in the film. In reality the only accounts which mention him speak of his being a Carbineer (hence the Sibthorpe connection mentioned in answers to Diana's question).
15th February 2002	Arthur Bainbridge Who cares it's a great movie just enjoy it have a whiky for each vc that makes the film even better
17th February 2002	John Young Arthur, I'd take your advice if I knew what the heck a 'whiky' is! John
18th February 2002	Arthur Bainbridge sorry John I meant whisky but u can substuite for whatever your poison reckon i had one too many when i did the original hey just enjoy the film
18th February 2002	Arthur Bainbridge sorry John I meant whisky but u can substuite for whatever your poison reckon i had one too many when i did the original hey just enjoy the film