Zulu Movie 50th - interesting article in Daily Mail (1 Viewer)

Brett,

Apparently the name William as a Zulu baby name quickly fell out of favour, because we liked to 'Fire at Will' :wink2:

Rob
 
I remember being so excited when the movie Zulu came out
on Blu-ray. That high definition format captured Michael Caine's
rotten teeth. And he was only about thirty at the time.

I guess that is why he didn't go on to play many romantic leads.

Z5.jpg
 
I did think twice about including the intro para which included the words swaggering yanks. The article goes on to talk about American actors in subsequent movies such as Zulu Dawn (Burt Lancaster as Durnford) and Great Escape (Garner and McQueen). The article refers to these points in the context of the time when those movies were made.

Thanks for the input from Scott and BLReed for raising points I had missed from reading the article.
 
A wonderful article about a truly great movie. I remember first seeing part of the movie as a child one evening when members of a local canoeing club were over for dinner. They chose to watch 'Deliverance' so I only managed to catch the final attack. Finally I taped a version from TV on a VHS tape. When my father was still racing pushbikes he used to have an early lunch every Saturday complete with milkshake while watching the Brits sing 'Men Of Harlech'. Never failed to be moving even though in those days you had to fast forward the ads. A few years ago I went on a driving holiday through Natal and visited the site of the battle.

What I particularly liked about the article was that it looked at the event itself, the context of when it was made and how that context would be different today. History is at risk in schools and I always feel that really well written articles like this might spark some interest.

Thanks for sharing Brett - and selling me 85 Britains figures depicting the battle!
 
The Military Workshop said:
I did think twice about including the intro para which included the words swaggering yanks. The article goes on to talk about American actors in subsequent movies such as Zulu Dawn (Burt Lancaster as Durnford) and Great Escape (Garner and McQueen). The article refers to these points in the context of the time when those movies were made.

Thanks for the input from Scott and BLReed for raising points I had missed from reading the article.
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It's ok, it was from The Daily Mail.
 
Yes, a great article in its unabashed praise of that magnificent movie! If there were only more like it. Glory is one of the few that comes to mind.
 
Yes, a very good article from the Daily Mail. ( and yes I am a Daily Mail Reader........... )

But for a really in depth ( and then some!) read on the story of the film, this is THE book:

A riveting eye opening read! ( I'm sure you all have a copy - but here it is for anyone who isn't aware.......... )
 

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Old Bill said:
Yes, a very good article from the Daily Mail. ( and yes I am a Daily Mail Reader........... )

But for a really in depth ( and then some!) read on the story of the film, this is THE book:

A riveting eye opening read! ( I'm sure you all have a copy - but here it is for anyone who isn't aware.......... )
Click to expand...
Never heard of this book. A quick check on Abebooks and Amazon shows it to be scarce and outrageously expensive. Amazon actually has 2 copies listed at over $1600 (no mistake) and 8 others ranging in price from $200 to $600. Abe shows 3 listings, all between $200-$300. Looks like this title won't be added to my library any time while I'm breathing. -- Al
 
lancer said:
Never heard of this book. A quick check on Abebooks and Amazon shows it to be scarce and outrageously expensive. Amazon actually has 2 copies listed at over $1600 (no mistake) and 8 others ranging in price from $200 to $600. Abe shows 3 listings, all between $200-$300. Looks like this title won't be added to my library any time while I'm breathing. -- Al
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Al,
I am not surprised. When I first heard about this book I made enquiries with publisher about getting 29 hardback copies by airmail to Oz. Total cost meant my landed cost was already equal to UK RRP so I did not go ahead. Big mistake as soon after sold out and price started to rise rapidly on Ebay.

Publisher relatively small but can't understand why did not print more. Probably not many copies initially which is contributing to high price and rarity factor.

Brett
 
The Military Workshop said:
Al,
I am not surprised. When I first heard about this book I made enquiries with publisher about getting 29 hardback copies by airmail to Oz. Total cost meant my landed cost was already equal to UK RRP so I did not go ahead. Big mistake as soon after sold out and price started to rise rapidly on Ebay.

Publisher relatively small but can't understand why did not print more. Probably not many copies initially which is contributing to high price and rarity factor.

Brett
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Brett, thanks for that info. That happens all the time with small press productions. Not being sure of the market and funds being limited, small publisher's usually produce limited numbers and often the result is secondary market scarcity and high prices. As in the TS business, small publishers can't afford to produce large numbers and then be stuck with an inventory of unsold books. It is a balancing act. Sometimes further printings are run, usually not. Sorry I missed out on this one. -- Al
 
lancer said:
Never heard of this book. A quick check on Abebooks and Amazon shows it to be scarce and outrageously expensive. Amazon actually has 2 copies listed at over $1600 (no mistake) and 8 others ranging in price from $200 to $600. Abe shows 3 listings, all between $200-$300. Looks like this title won't be added to my library any time while I'm breathing. -- Al
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Hi Al,

Whew......... I had no idea this book was so rare. I bought it from Amazon UK around 3 years ago.
I can't remember the actual price I paid but I think it was around £19.99 ( ish ). Which I thought was well worth the outlay considering the content.
I assumed that pretty much all of the Zulu War Collectors would have purchased it.

I saw the film with one of my schoolmates when it came out in 1964 - Still a big fan now 50 years on:
 

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Old Bill said:
Hi Al,

Whew......... I had no idea this book was so rare. I bought it from Amazon UK around 3 years ago.
I can't remember the actual price I paid but I think it was around £19.99 ( ish ). Which I thought was well worth the outlay considering the content.
I assumed that pretty much all of the Zulu War Collectors would have purchased it.

I saw the film with one of my schoolmates when it came out in 1964 - Still a big fan now 50 years on:
Click to expand...
Always loved the film, as well. Never saw it in theaters, only TV. I doubt that the book was in wide enough release (small press, small numbers) for it to be in the libraries of very many AZW fans. Throw in that it is a British publication and I doubt many ever even made it to the US. All I know is that I wish I had known about it as it is certainly a 'must have' for the movie fan in me. Glad you were able to get a copy as it sounds like it is the Holy Grail for the many fans of "Zulu". -- Al
 
Al,
Good news. I wrote to publisher yesterday about possible reprint.
They replied already planning to publish revised edition later in the year.{sm4}
Brett
Ps when it comes out we should post in the book section so people dont miss out this time.
Publisher is Tomahawk Press in UK.



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lancer said:
Always loved the film, as well. Never saw it in theaters, only TV. I doubt that the book was in wide enough release (small press, small numbers) for it to be in the libraries of very many AZW fans. Throw in that it is a British publication and I doubt many ever even made it to the US. All I know is that I wish I had known about it as it is certainly a 'must have' for the movie fan in me. Glad you were able to get a copy as it sounds like it is the Holy Grail for the many fans of "Zulu". -- Al
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The Military Workshop said:
Al,
Good news. I wrote to publisher yesterday about possible reprint.
They replied already planning to publish revised edition later in the year.{sm4}
Brett
Ps when it comes out we should post in the book section so people dont miss out this time.
Publisher is Tomahawk Press in UK.



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Brett, that is outstanding news. We will have to stay alert for it. As a revised reprint, it may not hurt the secondary market price of the 1st edition (for pure collector's) and even may become hotly pursued in it's own right as a revised edition. In any case, I don't want to miss out on it. :wink2: -- Al
 
Guys I had no idea I owned such a rare book ^&grin. I bought my copy back in 2008 and due to its unavailability in the US sent another copy to dear old Joe (The Lt) who at the time went absolutely nuts over it. Agree with OB it certainly is the bees knees for any fan of the movie-

Below is a sample of the contents of it's chapters.

"We can co-operate, as they say"-Developing the screenplay from John Prebble's story.
"I suppose you have seniority" Cy Endfield-Producer
"Because we're here lad"-Creating the characters
"Welshmen will not yield"-Stanley Baker
"I came here to build a bridge"-Making the deal

"Fall them in, call the roll"-Casting the actors
"Thousands of 'em"-Working with Zulus
"It's your country, isn't it"-Filming under Apartheid.
"Like a train in the distance"-Editing and sound
"Sing!" Music and narration

"Well we haven't done too badly" Release, reviews and box-office
"No comedians, please"-Myths, gaffes and spoofs"
"They're saluting you!" The legacy of Zulu

As you will note the author has cleverly used quotes from the movies for each chapter and his exacting research is exceptional. I have many movie books on my shelves but very few have reached the zenith of this one.

Bob.
 
Old Bill and Bob,
Obviously you guys will have to buy the revised edition so we know what has been added !
I would like to see something like an update on the actors if not in first version. A documentary on the making of movie would be good to see.
Brett
 
The Military Workshop said:
Old Bill and Bob,
Obviously you guys will have to buy the revised edition so we know what has been added !
I would like to see something like an update on the actors if not in first version. A documentary on the making of movie would be good to see.
Brett
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Hi Brett

The 2007 (I think) release of the DVD box set of ZULU included a separate disc which has two chapters "THE MAKING OF ZULU - Roll Of Honour and THE MAKING OF ZULU:- ...And Snappeth The Spear In Sunder"

Cheers

Martyn:)
 
The Military Workshop said:
Al,
Good news. I wrote to publisher yesterday about possible reprint.
They replied already planning to publish revised edition later in the year.{sm4}
Brett
Ps when it comes out we should post in the book section so people dont miss out this time.
Publisher is Tomahawk Press in UK.



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Brett

Are we (i.e you) thinking of a group order for Brisbane? I'll take one!

Jack
 
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