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Date	Original Topic
8th January 2002	Henry Hook-Why the bad image? By John Cameron I have just finished reading about the battle in hard facts for the first time. I have veiwed the film some 20 times or more. I noticed that old Henry Hook's protrayal was made to look like the archityple rebel without a cause mode. The reality was completely different, (over 20 seperate regiments were present at his funeral),the question remains: Why didnt anyone object?He was placed in the hosptial to protect the patients and not as a "malingering Hector" to paraphrase Reynolds in the Endfield film,it seems to me this man was made to be a sort of antagonist, or unwanted hero, when the oppisite was true. At least I have done my bit to clear his image! PS If you find yourself in the same boat as our heros at Rourkes, no problem, just import plenty of catus plants and leave them around the preimeter!
Date	Replies
8th January 2002	Diana Blackwell John, Actually, lots of people have objected (see, e.g., earlier pages in these message boards). But accuracy isn't the only cinematic virtue; drama, humor, and sex appeal are what make a movie entertaining. The fictionalization of Hook was, obviously, intended to introduce these elements and I think it succeeded brilliantly. Far from presenting him in a bad light, I (and other admirers of Hooky) believe the film made him *more* appealing than an accurate characterization would have done--that, in fact, the film glorifies him. (Certainly the brandy scene is pure glorification, in the tradition of 19th C romanticism.) Lastly, his rebelliousness is hardly uncaused: the details of his subplot provide ample explanation for his disaffection.
8th January 2002	brian best John, There is a very good small book entitled "Rorke's Drift and the British Museum - The Life of Henry Hook VC" by Barry C.Johnson.pub London 1986. He interviewed Hook's daughter and produced an accurate portrayal of the old hero.
8th January 2002	Martin Everett Dear John, My yardstick to judge Henry Hook is quite simple. In Victorian days the gap between soldiers and officers was greater than it is today. The Regimental Chapel in Brecon contains brass memorial plaques to most of the officers of the 24th who served in the Zulu War. Only one private soldier has been honoured with a plaque in the Chapel - Henry Hook VC. He was highly thought of by members of the Regiment.
8th January 2002	John Young Don't forget the brandy-drinking, either. Alfred Henry Hook, wasn't noted for his drinking habits. So much so that he took a tot of rum on the morning of 23rd January, Frank Bourne expressed his surprise at seeing there. Hook replied with words to the effect he felt he deserved it after all that. John
9th January 2002	Fred It's probably because Zulu was a film of its time, a time when there were certain stock characters that had to appear, whatever the circumstances. There usually had to be a ne'er do well who makes good in the end in most British films of the period, especially military based ones. The film makers decided to award that `honour' to Hook. Probably the decendants of Otto Witt could also object about their ancestor's portrayal, the 24th (if it still existed) could object to being portrayed as a Welsh regiment and Frank Bourne's family that he was portrayed as a middle-aged man. Artistic licence they call it. Thankfully none of the military were portrayed as an American from the wrong side of the tracks, which they probably would be if there was a Hollywood remake. If the latter occurred, I suspect it would have the same effect on the truth that the Zulu's had on the 24th Regiment at Isandhlwana.
9th January 2002	Gary Laliberty Hi Fred, Yes, 24th regiment does exist today,it's called the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Reg.) Gary
10th January 2002	Alan Critchley I have had correspondence from one of Hook's decendents who was quite happy with the rogue image as portrayed in Zulu even though it's not accurate. Alan
10th January 2002	Arthur Bainbridge Henry Hook is played as an anti hero,a typical working class hero akin to Albert Finney in Saturday night Sunday morning,after all there are more than one type of hero,we can admire Chard Bromhead and Bourne but we can be Hooky.
10th January 2002	Diana Blackwell Arthur, Good points overall, but..."we can be Hooky"?? In our dreams. Hitch or the Jonses, perhaps--they're characterized as everyday, ordinary guys. But Hooky is presented as an extreme personality: mouthing off to his CO, risking his life for a gulp of brandy, not to mention the dionysian, frenzied way he fights. It's a testament to Booth's skill that he makes Hooky seem so believable and real when he's so much larger than life.
11th January 2002	john cameron Hi Guys, a big thank you to all who took the time to write a reply to the above as this was the first time I have participated in such an excersise, so I was very curious as to whom, if anyone, it should appeal to! I healthy subscribe to all the comments and would honestly say, that as ever the politician, the truth lies somewhere in the middle!I must say what ever the appeal or what ever happens in future both the film and the brave people at Rorke's ( I spelt it the Irish way last time,belying my Celtic roots!)will in this humble writ- er's oppinion, always be remembered. PS cant you get "spell-check to work on here,my spelling is useless!
13th January 2002	Alan Critchley Diana, I can't find the word 'dionysian' in my dictionary. What does it mean?. Not trying to be funny. Alan
14th January 2002	Diana Blackwell "Dionysian" is derived from "Dionysus," the Greek god of wine. It means "ecstatic." It suggests passionate surrender, a melting of the boundaries of the self, a following of instinctive or animalistic drives, and a release from the demands of ordinary rationality.
29th January 2002	Vaughan Birbeck I once attended a screening of 'Zulu' where the audience broke into a spontaneous cheer when it was announced that 'Hooky' won the VC. Obviously a successful cinematic character however unhistoric!