Today marks 140 years since the defence of Rorke's Drift and the utter disaster of Isandlwana on 22nd and 23rd January 1879. Let's raise a glass to all the courageous men of both sides who fought and fell in those actions.

Alan

Now where is my ZULU DVD?

Watched it! Each year on the anniversary, a mate and I both give it a celebratory viewing, and even with all its faults, it's still a stirring piece

A really interesting fact come up on my Local News program last night about one of the main characters from the film Zulu . Henry Hook , in the film he is portrayed as a idle Cockney drunkard . Where as in fact he was a Gloucester Man from a place called Churcham , a teetotaller and lay preacher .
Artistic licence taken a bit to far in the case of a very brave man .
chippy

In 1963 James Booth was an up and coming "character " actor from the Joan Littlewood stable . He was in "Sparrows Can't Sing" on stage and in the B&W film in the '60's, and tended to portray all his parts as a right 'Cockney geezer'. I seem to recall that Hook's descendants took a very dim view of his portrayal of their illustrious ancestor.
It's always grated with me a bit, too.

Alan

Carl thank you very much for adding far more interesting to this thread . Nothing was mentioned in the News report about his elderly daughters even attending the premiere let alone walking out of it . The next time I watch the film I will watch it as just a movie not a piece of historical reference .
chippy

C/Sgt Bourne was another one, totally unlike his film portrayal. He was the youngest ever to reach that rank and was called the kid.

Hi
The film Zulu is a great piece of entertainment ….putting aside its historical inaccuracies
I did read that Michael Caine was auditioning for the part of Henry Hook
When the casting director said …..He looks more like a bloody officer …….if he can speak properly well have him
that's how he got role of Gonnville Bromhead

Not a lot of people know that ….

Frank