Zulu Dawn

Director: Douglas Hickox Douglas Hickox

Overview

A prequel to Zulu, Zulu Dawn depicts the events prior to a devastating battle that occurred in 1879 in which 1,500 British soldiers were killed by Zulu warriors. This film portrays the growing tensions between the Zulu tribal factions and the British colonists. With Peter O'Toole and Burt Lancaster.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/12/2013
UPC:	0063390095698
Original Release:	1979
Rating:	NR
Source:	SEVERIN
Region Code:	1
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:53:00

Special Features

The history of the Zulu wars: exclusive new featurette with "Zulu Rising" author Ian Knight; ; Recreating the war: exclusive new interview with historical advisor Midge Carter; ; A visit to the battlefield: exclusive new featurette where Ian Knightv visits the location of the infamous battle of Isandhlwana; ; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Burt Lancaster	Col. Anthony Durnford
Peter O'Toole	Lord Chelmsford
Simon Ward	William Vereker
John Mills	Sir Henry Bartle Frere
Nigel Davenport	Col. Hamilton-Brown
Michael Jayston	Col. Crealock
Ronald Lacey	Norris Newman
Denholm Elliott	Lt. Col. Pulleine
Freddie Jones	Bishop Colenso
Christopher Cazenove	Lt. Coghill
Ronald Pickup	Lt. Harford
Donald Pickering	Maj. Russell
Anna Calder-Marshall	Fanny Colenso
James Faulkner	Lt. Melvill
Peter Vaughan	Quartermaster Sergeant
Graham Armitage	Capt. Shepstone
Bob Hoskins	Sgt. Maj. Williams
Dai Bradley	Pvt. Williams
Paul Copley	Cpl. Storey
Christopher Chittell	Lt. Milne
Nicholas Clay	Lt. Raw
Patrick Mynhardt	Maj. Harness
Brian O'Shaunnessy	Maj. Smith
Simon Sabela	Cetshwayo
Midge Carter	Lt. Cavaye
Phil Daniels	Boy Soldier Pullen
Ken Gampu	Mantshonga
Ian Yule	Cpl. Fields
Brian O'Shaughnessy	Maj. Smith R.A.
Jan Bruyns	Elder Boer
Don Leonard	Fannin
Muntu Ndebele	Siswe
Paul Mafela	Zulu Prisoner
Kenneth Baker	Mr. de Witt
Claire Marshall	Mrs. de Witt
Ray Davies	Sgt. Murphy
Elmer Bernstein	Composer

Technical Credits

Cy Endfield

Anthony Story

Douglas Hickox	Director
Nate Kohn	Producer,Producer
Doug Robinson	Stunts
Barry Saint Claire	Executive Producer
Jannie Wienand	Stunts
Cy Endfield	Screenwriter
Anthony Story	Screenwriter
James Faulkner	Producer
Dieter Nobbe	Producer
Barrie Saint Clair	Producer
Richard Richtsfeld	Special Effects
Robin Gregory	Sound Effects,Sound Mixer
Gerry Humphreys	Sound Effects
Robin O'Donoghue	Sound Effects
Barrie Saint Clair	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

This 1979 prequel to the classic adventure film Zulu (1964) covers similar ground, lacking the appeal of the earlier film only in that it doesn’t devote as much footage to character development. It deals with one of England’s most crippling defeats in Africa: the 1879 Battle of Isandhlwana, in which 1,500 British soldiers were wiped out by a Zulu force that outnumbered the Redcoats 16 to 1. The script by Cy Endfield (who wrote Zulu as well) lays out with commendable accuracy the failures in diplomacy that led up to this bloody encounter; it is shown time and again that the British command was obstinate and condescending in dealing with the Zulu nation. The film’s production values are beyond reproach: Beautiful location cinematography and elaborately mounted action sequences go a long way toward minimizing the relative dearth of characterization. The acting is first-rate too, with old pros Burt Lancaster, Peter O’Toole, and John Mills heading a distinguished cast. Zulu Dawn lacks the spark that separates a truly classic movie from the merely entertaining ones, but we don’t mean to minimize its charms. Lovers of high adventure and rip-roaring action will be delighted to get this film, and its DVD release was long overdue.