| Date | Original Topic |
| 12th December 2001 | Who started on 'Zulu' or 'Zulu Dawn'
By Glenn Wade
I've just put this here out of interest. Could anyone whos' interests in the Anglo-Zulu War began with the films 'Zulu' or 'Zulu Dawn' please state how old they were when they saw it and what effect it had on them. Chow! |
| Date | Replies |
| 12th December 2001 | Alan Critchley
Glenn,
from all the correspondence we've received, it is undoubtedly Zulu which sparked peoples' interest in the subject. Zulu Dawn was an attempt to match the popularity with a more accurate rendition, but failed to acheive box office success. In my view that was unfortunate.
Alan
(I was 20 when I first saw it, but age seems to not have any effect on the enthusiam for either the film or the subject) |
| 12th December 2001 | Diana Blackwell
I saw "Zulu" for the first time in 1964 at age twelve. I instantly loved everything about it--script, scenery, music, costumes, performances, camera work, and cast (especially James Booth as Hookie--hothotHOT!). The experience put me into a state of trembling ecstacy that lasted at least an hour. "Zulu" has been my favorite movie ever since. |
| 12th December 2001 | Gary Laliberty
Diana:
WOW!! A woman after my own heart... :) Sorry guys I lost my head for a second. I think I was in my early 20's when I saw the movie. It got me interest to read more about the war. And into Wargameing it with 25mm figtures. Well that's all...Diana if you would like to talk about Rorke's Drift, you can e-mail me.
Gary |
| 13th December 2001 | Barry Iacoppi
I saw Zulu when it first came out in London at the "Ritz" Turnpike Lane. I guess I was 16 or a little older. The film just blew me away but would have been a lot better had it not been for an elderly couple of women, one of whom was hard of hearing, sat behind my friend and I in the cinema.
On a very regular basis the deaf one would ask her companion in a very loud voice "What he say ?" and in an even louder voice her companion would repeat the last line delivered by the actor. This made my friend and I miss a lot of the script. However we both tolerated it until the part where in the middle of the battle Bromhead screams at the top of his voice "FIRE". And sure enough the deaf lady shouts to her companion "What he say"?
This was too much for my friend. He stands up and turns around to face the women and says in a VERY loud voice. "He said F------ FIRE". The silly women then mumbled something about there being no need to shout but remained quite for the rest of the film. In the foyer later two other patrons thanked Mike for the action he had taken.
In his defence this was the first time I had known Mike to sware and this couple had ruined for us and others a classic movie. The folly of youth. Over the top maybe.I guess now that we should have left or spoken to the manager. We went back to see the film the following night and were made very much aware how much this inconsiderate pair had made us miss. However to this day when I hear Michael Caine shout "Fire" you can guess what words go through my head and a smile crosses my face.
Ladies and Gentlemen. I apologise if the use of the F letter upsets anyone but it is a vital part of this story. |
| 13th December 2001 | Peter Critchley
Hi Barry,
Well told! I can see it now...
Hehe.. Thanks for the anecdote..
Peter |
| 13th December 2001 | Arthur Bainbridge
Iwas 10 when I saw Zuklu for the first time at the pictures the ESSoldo ib Hartlepool its long gone now but it seems like only yesterday,a great movie,cant wait for the dvd
merry christmas everyone zULU ON itv CHRISTMAS EVE |
| 13th December 2001 | Greg King
I was 5 yrs old in 74` I watched it with my grandad the Zulus terrified me.Shame its on ITV at Xmas as breaks can really spoil some films, I think we`d all agree its best watched being uninterupted. |
| 14th December 2001 | Colin W
I cant remember how old I was when I first saw Zulu but I can remember the hype that went with it even then. I am now 46 and that seems to be the main age range of people in this hobby/interest. As for Zulu Dawn, I never saw it at the Cinema. In fact it was only a couple of years ago that I was able to finally see the film. I brought a copy when it was realsed on VHS and I have almost worn my copy out! I have an interest in the colourful Col Durnford and am a fan of Burt Lancaster's performance, as Durnford in Zulu Dawn. I know that Durnford was perhaps nothing like the way Lancaster played him but Zulu Dawn does seem to have the upper hand out of the 2 films as far as authenticity goes. This unfortunatly meant it was of limited appeal to the "General Public".
Merry Christmas!
Now that Zulu is on TV over Christmas I guess it means I will be able to give my VHS copy a Christmas Holiday! |
| 15th December 2001 | Dan Rudary
Hi Glenn!
You already know me! If I haven't told you before, I saw Zulu for the first time when I was about 11. At the time, I was really into militay histoy, but not that of the Anglo-Zulu War. As you know, I am into it now, and I would have to say that if it wasn't for the movie, I would not probably be interested in it. Well, talk to you later!
Keep Well,
Dan |
| 19th December 2001 | Richard Howes
Just to put my two penneth worth in- I saw Zulu when I was seven in 1977, on telly. I remember my dad telling me how good it was all during the day and after tea we went out to cut lettuce (we lived on a farm). My dad kept going on and on about it, and when we came home, the folks allowed me to stay up late to watch it. I was totally mesmerised, actually- and its stayed my top film list ever since. I eventually got my first Zulu War book in about 1982/3 and remember being freaked out that some of the veterans looked like they did, especially William Jones, with his goatee beard. (Well, I was only 12...) |
| 5th December 2004 | Andrew Holliday
My interest in the Zulu war started with Zulu. I was about 7 or 8 when I saw 3/4 of it and I remember saying to my grandad the next day "Grandad they had to keep putting the bullets in the guns"
Anyway the next year it was on again and my grandad asked me had I saw it I said no because I hadn't seen the begining. but as bits came on I could remember it and it has remained my favourite film ever since and when it comes on I always watch it even though I have it on both video and DVD. |
