A dramatization of the Battle of Isandlwana, where the British Army met its match against the Zulu nation.
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Writers:
Stars:
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Cast verified as complete
| Burt Lancaster | ... |
Col. Durnford
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| Peter O'Toole | ... |
Lord Chelmsford
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| Simon Ward | ... |
Lt. William Vereker
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| Denholm Elliott | ... |
Col. Pulleine
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| John Mills | ... |
Sir Henry Bartle Frere
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| Nigel Davenport | ... |
Col. Hamilton-Brown
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| Michael Jayston | ... |
Col. Crealock
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| Peter Vaughan | ... |
Q.S.M. Bloomfield
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| James Faulkner | ... |
Lt. Melvill
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| Christopher Cazenove | ... |
Lt. Coghill
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| Simon Sabela | ... |
Cetshwayo
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| David Bradley | ... |
Pte. Williams
(as Dai Bradley)
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| Bob Hoskins | ... |
C.S.M. Williams
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| Anna Calder-Marshall | ... |
Fanny Colenso
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| Freddie Jones | ... |
Bishop Colenso
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| Nicholas Clay | ... |
Lt. Raw
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| Ronald Lacey | ... |
Norris Newman
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| Phil Daniels | ... |
Boy Pullen
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| Donald Pickering | ... |
Maj. Russell R.A.
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| Paul Copley | ... |
Cpl. Storey
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| Ken Gampu | ... |
Mantshonga
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| Ronald Pickup | ... |
Lt. Harford
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| Ian Yule | ... |
Cpl. Fields
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Peter J. Elliott | ... |
Sentry
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| Brian O'Shaughnessy | ... |
Maj. Smith R.A.
(as Brian O'Shaunnessy)
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Jan Bruyns | ... |
Elder Boer
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Sydney Chama | ... |
S.M. Kambula
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Len Sparrowhawk | ... |
Trooper James
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Don Leonard | ... |
Fannin
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Patrick Mynhardt | ... |
Col. Harness
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| Christopher Chittell | ... |
Lt. Milne
(as Chris Chittell)
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Gilbert Tjabane | ... |
Bayele
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Abe Temba | ... |
Uhama
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Muntu Ndebele | ... |
Siswe
(as Mantu Ben Louis Ndebele)
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Paul Mafela | ... |
Zulu Prisoner
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Kenneth Baker | ... |
Mr. de Witt
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Clare Marshall | ... |
Mrs. de Witt
(as Claire Marshall)
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| Vivienne Drummond | ... |
Lady Frere
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Colin Abraham | ... |
Lt. Coghill's Bugler (uncredited)
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| Graham Armitage | ... |
Capt. Shepstone (uncredited)
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Gabriel Bayman | ... |
Liquor Seller (uncredited)
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Ray Davies | ... |
Sgt. Murphy (uncredited)
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Norman Els | ... |
Redcoat (uncredited)
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Terrick Fitzhugh | ... |
Jackson (uncredited)
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| Ross Kettle | ... |
Redcoat (uncredited)
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Michael Richard | ... |
Redcoat (uncredited)
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| Larry Taylor | ... |
Grenadier (uncredited)
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Ashley Waldorf | ... |
Field Hospital Casualty (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Douglas Hickox | ||
Written by
| Cy Endfield | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Anthony Story | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Cy Endfield | ... | (original story and scenario) |
Produced by
| James Faulkner | ... | co-producer |
| Nate Kohn | ... | producer |
| Dieter Nobbe | ... | associate producer |
| Barrie Saint Clair | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Elmer Bernstein | ||
Cinematography by
| Ousama Rawi | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Malcolm Cooke | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Boyle | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Irene Lamb | ||
Production Design by
| John Rosewarne | ||
Art Direction by
| Peter Williams | ||
Costume Design by
| John Buckley | ||
Makeup Department
| Colin Arthur | ... | makeup chief |
| Colin Polson | ... | hairdresser chief (as Colin Polsen) |
| Anne Taylor | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Michael Flynn | ... | unit manager |
| John Stodel | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Monty Everill | ... | third assistant director |
| David Freese | ... | third assistant director |
| Roger Inman | ... | first assistant director |
| Steve Lanning | ... | first assistant director: second unit |
| Peter MacDonald | ... | director: Zulu Kraal sequences / second unit director |
| Nic Monat | ... | second assistant director: second unit |
| Michael Stiebel | ... | third assistant director |
| Cedric Sundstrom | ... | second assistant director |
| David Tomblin | ... | director: Zulu Kraal sequences / second unit director |
| Ross Kettle | ... | third assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Vernon Dixon | ... | set dresser |
| Mike Fowlie | ... | property master (as Michael Fowlie) |
| Michael L. Games | ... | props |
| Ray Wilson | ... | construction manager |
| Charles Torbett | ... | property master (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Robin Gregory | ... | sound mixer |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Robin O'Donoghue | ... | assistant dubbing mixer |
| Don Sharpe | ... | dubbing editor |
| Terry Sharratt | ... | boom operator |
| Alan Gerhardt | ... | sound recordist: second unit (uncredited) |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | re-recording mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Richard Richtsfeld | ... | special effects supervisor |
Stunts
| Doug Robinson | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Jannie Wienand | ... | stunt supervisor |
| Bob Simmons | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
| Larry Taylor | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Ashley Waldorf | ... | extra stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Peter Brooks | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Eddie Collins | ... | focus puller |
| Vincent G. Cox | ... | cameraman: second camera |
| Ray Hall | ... | grip |
| Peter MacDonald | ... | photographer: second unit |
| Keith Phillips | ... | clapper loader |
| Ian Smith | ... | focus puller: second camera |
| Ronnie Taylor | ... | camera operator |
| Karl-Heinz Vogelmann | ... | stills (as Karl Heinz Vogelmann) |
| Micky Wilson | ... | chief electrician (as Mike Wilson) / gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Jon-Jon Lambon | ... | wardrobe master (as Jon Jon Lambon) |
Location Management
| Fred Swart | ... | location manager |
| Dennis van der Merwe | ... | location manager (as Dennis Van Der Merwe) |
Music Department
| Michael Clifford | ... | music editor |
| Christopher Palmer | ... | orchestrator |
Script and Continuity Department
| Angela Allen | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| John Beharrell | ... | accountant |
| Ken Buckle | ... | horsemaster |
| Midge Carter | ... | historical advisor |
| Dennis Davidson | ... | public relations |
| Geoff Freeman | ... | unit publicist |
| Kingsley Holgate | ... | Zulu advisor |
| John Hume | ... | contracts manager |
| Jack King | ... | contact: London |
| Barry Leitch | ... | Zulu advisor: second unit (as Barrie Leitch) |
| Richard Mncube | ... | Zulu interpreter |
| John Mollo | ... | historical advisor |
| Michael Nene | ... | Zulu interpreter |
| John Sparkes | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| Carol Woodman | ... | producer's secretary |
| Ross Kettle | ... | runner (uncredited) |
| Debi Nethersole | ... | production secretary (uncredited) |
| Donald Van Dyke | ... | helicopter pilot (uncredited) |
| Freda Wessels | ... | assistant accountant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi | ... | the producers wish to thank: without whose help and cooperation this film could not have been made (as Chief Gatsha Buthelezi) |
| King Goodwill Zwelethini KaBhekuzulu | ... | the producers wish to thank: without whose help and cooperation this film could not have been made (as King Goodwill) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- ITV - Independent Television (1980) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- American Cinema Releasing (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Bellevue Film Distributors (1980) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Fram Film (1980) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Parafrance Films (1980) (France) (theatrical)
- Producciones Imperial (1980) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Film AB Corona (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
- All Video (1983) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Videosonic (1983) (Greece) (VHS)
- Roadshow Home Video (1984) (Australia) (VHS)
- Trans World Entertainment (TWE) (1986) (United States) (VHS) (pan-and-scan in clamshell)
- Video Treasures (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Bandai Media Department (1991) (Japan) (VHS)
- Mosaic Movies (1999) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Best Buy Movie GmbH (BBM) (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
- Cine Plus Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
- Victory Films (2004) (United Kingdom) (tv)
- Tango Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- Opening Distribution (2006) (France) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
- Severin Films (2013) (United States) (DVD)
- Severin Films (2013) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Sony Movie Channel (2014) (United States) (tv)
- Film 2 (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Filmes Sandro (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Regia Films Arturo González (Spain) (theatrical)
- El 9 Besepi S.L. (2021) (Spain)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Intervision Video (1982) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Pidax Film (2019) (Australia) (DVD)
- Video for Pleasure (VFP) (Netherlands) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Relations (DDA) (public relations)
- Dolby System (noise reduction high fidelity)
- National Screen (titles)
- People of the Zulu Nation (the producers wish to thank: without whose help and cooperation this film could not have been made)
- The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (music performed by)
- Twickenham Film Studios (sound re-recorded and dubbed at)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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. Written by Kenneth Chisholm (kchishol@rogers.com) |
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| Taglines | The battle that shook the empire! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Burt Lancaster, who pulls off an Irish burr, was reportedly "tone deaf" when it came to accents. Lancaster also was challenged by having to learn how to do things like ride a horse with only one arm. See more » |
| Goofs | As the column crosses the river, two native bearers carry an ammunition box, which should be quite heavy. They stumble in the current, dropping the box, which bounces to the surface and starts to float off. The box should have sunk. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Zulu Wars 1879 (2002). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Men of Harlech See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: One hundred years ago the British Colony of Natal in Southern Africa was surrounded by a vast and independent Zulu Kingdom. In 1879, a battle took place that was forever to alter the course of Colonial history: ISANDHLWANA See more » |
| 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. See more » |