Zulu
Seen it?1964 | 138 min | Drama, History, War
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes) and people are still talking about it. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved A Bridge Too Far or Operation Mincemeat, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 18 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1964: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
In 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War, man-of-the-people Lt. Chard and snooty Lt. Bromhead are in charge of defending the isolated and vastly outnumbered Natal outpost of Rorke's Drift from tribal hordes.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.4 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerSolid
$8 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactVery strong
About 351K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Cy Endfield
- Stanley BakerLt. John Chard R.E.
- Jack HawkinsRev. Otto Witt
- Ulla JacobssonMargareta Witt
- James BoothPte. Henry Hook
- Michael CaineLt. Gonville Bromhead
- Nigel GreenColour Sgt. Frank Bourne
- Paul DanemanSgt. Maxfield
- Patrick MageeSurgeon Reynolds
- Glynn EdwardsCpl. Allen
- Neil McCarthyPvt. Thomas