Zulu Dawn (1979)

Actors: Ronald Pickup (actor), Peter O'Toole (actor), Patrick Mynhardt (actor), James Faulkner (actor), Ronald Lacey (actor), Freddie Jones (actor), Burt Lancaster (actor), John Mills (actor), Brian O'Shaughnessy (actor), Nigel Davenport (actor), Bob Hoskins (actor), Denholm Elliott (actor), Ken Gampu (actor), Peter Vaughan (actor), Larry Taylor (actor),

Plot: In 1879 South Africa, the administrators of the British Cape Colony have designs to eliminate the Zulus as a hindrance to their colonial economy. To that end, the British present King Cetshwayo with an impossible ultimatum to provoke a war they are sure they can win easily with their rifles and artillery against native spears. However, that war proves more difficult than the arrogant British commander, Lord Chelmsford, expects as his overburdened army fruitlessly searches for the elusive enemy. However, in the shadow of a hill called Isandlwana, the overconfident British army learns to its sorrow just how badly they have underestimated the tactical skill and might of the Zulu nation.

Keywords: 1870s, 19th-century, africa, army-life, attack, bare-chested-male, battle, bayonet, blood, blood-spatter
Genres: Adventure, Drama, History, War,
Taglines: The battle that shook the empire! The sun dawned bloodied...two great armies met face to face...and the earth trembled to the sound of the Zulu death chant! Like nothing before, God help us if ever again! The blood and thunder epic... a true story (dvd) A rip-roaring blood and thunder epic

Quotes:

Zulu messenger: I bring greetings from your friends the British and from the great Lord Chelmsford.::Ceteseyo: And what do your masters say?::Zulu messenger: They are angry and send these demands. They say that you rule in old ways that are wrong; that you kill your people without trial. The Great White Queen herself cannot kill her lowliest subject, though she rules forty lands, each greater than all of Zululand.

[on the death of his young assistant from friendly fire]::Corporal Storey: Oh no! Come all this bloody way to get shot by a bullet from Birmingham? Shoot straight you bastards!

[Vereker asks what happens if he can't drink the Stanger's cup without stopping]::Lt. Raw: Then a bottle of good claret to each member of the mess is charged to your account.::Lt. Melvill: If it's too much, we can have the bill forwarded to your father, in the House of Lords. Oh, no offense meant, Vereker.::Lt. William Vereker: No offense taken, Melvill. To men who aren't afraid to speak their minds.

Lt. Melvill: You didn't really have to choose between your country and the Zulu, did you?::Lt. William Vereker: Um, and a damn close thing it was too.

[Durnford is questioning Lt. Vereker on scouting reports around the camp]::Lt. Col. Pulleine: His Lordship is of the cetain opinion that it's far too difficult an approach to be chosen by the Zulu command.::Col. Durnford: Yes, well... difficulty never deterred a Zulu commander.

[a newspaperman is commenting on Chelmsford's decision to divide his forces]::Norris-Newman: Crealock, old fella. I'm doing notes for my dispatch and I need to clear up a few military points... I don't want to bother His Lordship. Had it drummed into my thick skull that a good commander never willingly splits his force, especially in an enemy's country, before knowing their dispositions.::Col. Crealock: Ah yes, if we were facing a European enemy armed with guns I think your point would hold, Noggs. Further may I remind you, I do not make the strategies you wish to comment on. I am only His Lordship's secretary.::Norris-Newman: I wouldn't take overly comfort from that, Crealock old fella, because if he sinks, then you sink with him.

[the Zulus are about to overrun the British position]::Col. Durnford: Sergeant, you're to ride back to Natal. When you see the Bishop tell him, that is, tell his daughter, that I was obliged to remain here with my infantry. Now go. God go with you.::Sgt. Maj. Kambula: I leave God Jesus with you.

[British lancers have just ridden down and killed a Zulu warrior]::Lt. Melvill: Well done, Sir! Did you see that Noggs? Deceived him with the up and took him with the down.::Norris-Newman: Well well, this one's a grandfather at least. If he'd been a Zulu in his prime I'd have given odds against your lancer, Mr. Melvill.::General Lord Chelmsford: Well, gentlemen, first blood to us and a rousing good report in the newspapers to satisfy the politicians, eh?

General Lord Chelmsford: After lunch, Brown, I want you to return to Isandhlwana and instruct Col. Pulleine to join us here immediately.::Col. Hamilton-Brown: If you'll excuse me, My Lord.::General Lord Chelmsford: No appetite, Colonel?::Col. Hamilton-Brown: My men haven't eaten since yesterday and there won't be any supplies until I get them back to Isandhlwana.::General Lord Chelmsford: Then they can start off now and you can join them when you've eaten.::Col. Hamilton-Brown: Kind of you, My Lord, but I don't think it would be proper for me to sit at your table, they with their bellies stuck to their backbones. [Exits]::Lt. Harford: [rising to follow Hamilton-Brown] Excuse me, Sir.::General Lord Chelmsford: [to Lt. Harford] Learn nothing from that Irishman, Harford, except how not to behave.

Boy Pullen: You afeared of the Zulus then, Quartermaster?::QSM Bloomfield: One Zulu is only one man... and I'm afeared of no one man... but the Zulu, they come in the thousands... like a black wave of death... in the thousands... and them assegais... stabbing!