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Zulu Dawn is a 1979 book and motion picture about the Battle of Isandlwana between British and Zulu military units in 1879 in South Africa. The film is available on tape or DVD, and frequently appears on television.

The book was written by Cy Endfield who co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Story. The film was directed by Douglas Hickox, with music scored by Elmer Bernstein.

Primary cast

Burt Lancaster : Colonel Durnford
Simon Ward : Lt. William Vereker
Denholm Elliott : Colonel Pulleine
Peter Vaughan : QSM Bloomfield
James Faulkner : Lt. Melvill
Christopher Cazenove : Lt. Coghill
Bob Hoskins : C.S.M. Williams
Peter O'Toole : Lord Chelmsford
John Mills : Sir Henry Bartle Frere

Plot

Template:Spoiler The film portrays the Battle of Isandlwana, one of Britain's worst military disasters. At the beginning Sir Henry Frere dispatches an impossible ultimatum to King Cetshwayo in order for a war to be stirred up with the Zulu nation. As expected Cetshwayo does not submit, and war is promptly declared. The British Army crossed into Zululand at Rorkes Drift (which was to be the site of another battle during Isandlwana). The British Army splits in two, one under Lord Chelmsford, the second under Colonel Pulleine. Pulleine's section camps at Isandlwana, and is later attacked by the Zulu force. As in the actual battle, the British are almost completely wiped out by Cetshwayo and his army of spearmen.

Reception

Despite having a large budget and being designed to compliment the hugely successful film Zulu the film was not well received and did not fare particularly well at the box office. The uniforms of the British soldiers appeared to have been made of nylon which made them not only inaccurate but also cheap looking. The rifles carried by the soldiers are also inaccurate as they are, in fact, cavalry carbines and not the longer rifles to which a bayonet could be fixed. The film also made use of wide and mid shots but few close ups. This did not have the same feel as the earlier film and the huge scenery where the film was shot swallowed up the several thousand Zulu extras

External links

Zulu Dawn at IMDb

Related titles

Another film of the Anglo-Zulu War, Zulu released in 1964, dealing with the Battle of Rorke's Drift, is more popular.

This article about a war film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

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 ==Plot==
 {{spoiler}}
-The film portrays the Battle of Isandlwana, one of Britain's worst military disasters. At the beginning Sir Henry Frere dispatches an impossible ultimatum to King Cetshwayo in order for a war to be stirred up with the Zulu nation. As expected Cetshwayo does not submit, and war is promptly declared. After a short skirmish at the river crossing near [[Rorke's Drift]], the British Army splits in two, one under Lord Chelmsford, the second under Colonel Pulleine. Pulleine's section camps at Isandlwana, and is later attacked by the Zulu force. As in the actual battle, the British are almost completely wiped out by [[Cetshwayo]] and his army of spearmen.
+The film portrays the Battle of Isandlwana, one of Britain's worst military disasters. At the beginning Sir Henry Frere dispatches an impossible ultimatum to King Cetshwayo in order for a war to be stirred up with the Zulu nation. As expected Cetshwayo does not submit, and war is promptly declared. The British Army crossed into Zululand at Rorkes Drift (which was to be the site of another battle during Isandlwana). The British Army splits in two, one under Lord Chelmsford, the second under Colonel Pulleine. Pulleine's section camps at Isandlwana, and is later attacked by the Zulu force. As in the actual battle, the British are almost completely wiped out by [[Cetshwayo]] and his army of spearmen.
 ==Reception==