Zulu Dawn (1979). Empire’s Disaster

Director: Douglas Hickox.

Cast: Burt Lancaster, Peter O’Toole, Simon Ward, Bob Hoskins

Films on the British Empire usually have a familiar trope – the “Empire brought civilisation “and “progress”.  Rarely are the subjects of the Empire treated with respect. Mostly the “local natives” are treated onscreen with ridicule and scorn. Wicked local villains usually mislead the “locals”. “Classics” such as Gunga Din(1939), about a loyal Indian water carrier, and Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) are quite cringe-worthy when viewed today and how the British ruled India in a “just” manner, quelling rebellions by troublesome natives.

Zulu Dawn is different in showing the British defeat at Isandlwana realistically. The defeat shocked the administrators sitting thousands of miles away in London. How could “savages’ armed only with spears defeat the mighty professional British Army? This battle was the first in several incidents that finally ensured British reign over South Africa.  However, the British gave as good as they got in the pivotal battle of Rourke’s Drift, immortalised in the film Zulu (1964) (coming up next week). So technically, Zulu Dawn, though released later in 1979, is a prequel to Zulu (1964) which made Michael Caine an international star.

The plot is straightforward. The British, led by Lord Chelmsford (Peter O’Toole), are expanding their Empire with the usual mix of threats, treaties and puppets. They demand that the Zulu empire and its warriors be disbanded.

The Zulu King Chetewayo doesn’t want to be part of it and points out to the emissary the unjustness of the British demands. So, a British force is sent into Zulu territory to challenge them to a battle.

Lord Chelmsford is derisive of the locals as he thinks no sane man will confront the might of the British Empire.

Local Boers who caution the British are ignored by the gung-ho British.

The Zulus use a mix of deception and a solid military strategy of drawing the superior force into a favourable terrain and destroying it in a decisive battle. A British scout chases some Zulus over the hill and stops short as he runs into the main Zulu force.

Soon the British are running back to the main force and anticipating the Zulu attack.When the Zulus attack, they show no mercy and almost the entire British force is massacred.

The story is superbly captured in this film which was filmed in (then apartheid) South Africa. The sweeping landscape and the action in the South African rolling countryside are superbly photographed.

It does set one thinking – spears against modern rifles and cannons!  Raw “native” courage against professional armies. It’s a rare film that shows a British disaster in-depth, as most war films only show victories.

All the performers do a good job, but O’Toole as gung-ho Chelmsford is superb.

Zulu Dawn is available free on YouTube https://youtu.be/r1tMgptVe7I

Real History/ Historical background – 5 out of 5

Script – 3 out of 5

Story – 4 out of 5

Direction – 4 out of 5

Overall Rating – 4 out of 5