| Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord! |
| If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here. |
Zulu (1964)
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zulu is a 1964 British epic war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War. It shows how a meager force of 150 British soldiers from the 24th Regiment of Foot successfully defended a missionary station from a force of 4,000 Zulu warriors, even though 30 of them were sick and wounded. The film received praise for depicting both British and Zulu combatants in a non-degrading manner. But it has some historical inaccuracies like the soldiers at Rorke's Drift being mostly Welsh, when it in-fact it was a mixture of different British ethnicities.
The following weapons were used in the film Zulu:
Revolvers
Webley Mark VI .455 Revolver
The Webley Mk VI is used by the British officers in the film in place of the Adams Mk.III revolvers actually used in the real battle due to lack of any functional models existing for use in the film. Lt. Bromhead (Michael Caine) and Lt. Chard (Stanley Baker) are seen loading one before the battle starts. Chard (Stanley Baker) fires it at the Zulus in the mountains at long range (which wouldn't be very smart). He later stops using this Webley and uses a Martini-Henry until the Lance Corporal returns it to him, which he uses for the rest of the film. Bromhead (Michael Caine) only uses his Webley when necessary, such as when using it to shoot several Zulus attacking the hospital after running out of bullets for his Martini-Henry.
Rifles
Martini-Henry .577-450
The Martini-Henry rifles with fixed bayonets are the main armament of the British soldiers throughout the film. The Zulus sometimes use them as well, and dozens of Zulu "marksmen" in the hills fire down on the British (the Zulus aren't very good shots, and one British soldier is wounded and two others are killed). This rifle was adopted by Great Britain in 1871 and served in various configurations for over 30 years.
.jpg){kind=link}
Martini-Henry Carbine
The Martini-Henry Carbine is seen used by a Zulu warrior.
.jpg){kind=link}
Martini-Enfield
.303 calibre Martini-Henry conversion used in place of Martini-Henry's in several shots.
Lee-Enfield Mk.I CLLE .303
The Lee-Enfield Mk.I CLLE (Charger Loading Lee Enfield) is rifle used in the latter parts of the film in place of the more historically accurate Martini-Henry rifle due to either running out of .455 blanks, or lack of sufficient Martini Henry rifles.
Artillery
9 Pdr RML
Several British 9 pounder Rifled Muzzle Loaders are seen in the aftermath of the Battle of Isandlwana, which takes place before Rorke's Drift.
