ZULU DAWN

UK, 1980, 98 minutes. Colour.
Burt Lancaster, Peter O'Toole, Simon Ward, Denholm Elliott, John Mills, Nigel Davenport, Michael Jayston, Peter Vaughan, James Faulkner.
Directed by Douglas Hickox.

During the fourteen years between Zulu and this companion film, there have been colonial wars and incursions in South East Asia and Africa and the super powers no longer seem as heroic and mighty. With the emergence of third world countries, comes a new awareness of racial equality and rights and respect for differences in laws and customs. This is the background to this battle spectacular (it delivers what it promises in terms of vigorous and violent warfare) and a British defeat and massacre. Peter O'Toole looks a haggard and pompous Lord Chelmsford. Burt Lancaster and a veteran British cast bring the battle (rather than characters) alive. Expertly filmed and staged in African settings. Direction is by Douglas Hickox, who made such films as Entertaining Mr. Sloan, Theatre of Blood, Brannigan, Skyriders.

1. The impact of the original film? The distance between the original and this film? The screenplay of the present film as showing the battle prior to that British stand in the original? Audience interest in African affairs? British Empire history? The perennial interest of battles, strategy? Action adventure?

2. The change in perspective on war since the mid-'60s? British Empire and colonies? The role of the super powers and their lack of credibility? Mistakes,, cover-ups? Exposes? The experience of the United States and Vietnam? Russia and Afghanistan? The lessons of history?

3. The place of Britain and Empire? The change in the role of Britain in the world, attitudes towards Britain, the emergence of the third world, the role of the Zulus in Africa? Africa and the third world and its attitudes towards Britain? Nineteenth century clashes of standards of civilisation, rights? South Africa and its racial problem in the 20th. century? Rhodesia and Zimbabwe?

4. The presentation of the African landscapes, nature and the terrain of Africa, its beauty? The Zulu living on the land, their farming, community life, ways, laws? The desert? Their place as African warriors? The attitude towards the British? Official British positions of peace with the Zulus? Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford and their defying of British orders? The British in Natal, the precarious nature of the border? The contrast of the Zulu way of life as presented during the opening credits, the feast and celebration, the gladiatorial fight and the judgment of the King? The message from the British? The contrast with British military prowess, the drill on the field, the humour, the punishment of the Private running? The elegance of the garden party? The contrast of Zulu and African colours with the fabrics and dresses of the British? Elegant manners, party and food and drink? Gossip? The discussion of social issues?

5. The use of Panavision colour photography throughout the film, the importance of visual composition of scenes and sequences? The editing? The importance of the audience understanding Lord Chelmsford's strategies? The film's immersing the audience in the African setting, the Zulu world, the world of the British, the battles and massacre? The sounds - especially those of the Zulu chant? The traditional musical score by Elmer Bernstein?

6. The framework of the film as a defeat: the opening and Lord Chelmsford's disillusionment, his need for making decision? The prelude to the defeat, the massacre? The judgment on Lord Chelmsford? The irony that this was the prelude to the final fight as portrayed in the original film Zulu? Where did audience sympathies lie, questions of rights, racial questions?

7. The Zulu situation - Zulu ways and law, administration? The tyranny of the King or not? The right to judge about his management of the Zulu tribes? The King's remarks about Zulu ways and laws and his not dictating to Queen Victoria? The British and their attitude towards Zulu ways? Their looking down on the? The build-up to the battle, the unwarranted British invasion, the way the Zulu warriors rallied, their morale, their ability to hide in the hills, to move swiftly? Their numbers, the chant? The build-up to their victory?

8. The attitudes of the British: Empire, government? The importance of the character of the newspaper reporter Noggs - his observations, his critique, his irony? The responsibility of the authorities to Britain, to the British public? The role of the press, the questions? Natal and its British civilisation -Bishop Colenso and his observations on the situation? Sir Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford and their conspiracy with the declaration of war, the sending of the messenger? Sir Bartle Frere and his devious attitudes and gracious manner? Lord Chelmsford and Peter O'Toole's intensity, deviousness? His reputation, aggression? The principal of war for quick victories despite massacre and slaughter? The response of the group at the garden party to the declaration of war? The officers and their seeing it as an adventure? The 19th.century attitude towards war and empire and adventure?

9. The establishing of the military atmosphere - the credits and the Zulu way of life, the British and their drill, Lord Chelmsford and his expectations, the officers and the men, discipline, Durnford and his warriors, their ability to ride, shoot? Audience sympathy for the Zulus? The establishing of the characters to be involved in the battles? The African setting for the battle, the contrast of the two attitudes?

10. The Zulu strategy - response to the invasion, stalking of the British, the massed tribes, the strategy of the three young men to be captured, tortured, escape? Espionage. spies and lookouts, the role of the King?

11. The contrast with Lord Chelmsford and his invasion, the dividing of the troops, his anger with Durnford? His manner? His assistant and his being the 'yes-man' for Lord Chelmsford? Chelmsford's personal ambitions and his collusion with Sir Bartle Frere? His decisions, clashes of personality, his misjudgements about the placement of the Zulus? The final dinner and the attack? History's judgment on him?

12. The officers and gentlemen - their manner, Vereker and his arrival, his social background, the taunts of the officers, the drink, the paying of the debt? His role as scout, his showing his ability to shoot? His work as a lookout, collaboration with Durnford? The final sequence with the colours, his watching the massacre? His representing the British military achievement?

13. The presentation of the ordinary soldiers - Williams, his punishment at the beginning, drill? The Sergeant and his friendship with Williams , helping him? His death? The Quartermaster and his attitudes towards the soldiers, the handing out of the ammunition and the closed and locked boxes? His death? The various soldiers fighting to the death and the retreat from the Zulu? The soldier and the young boy with the markers and the boy's death?

14. The role of Durnford - as an Irish military type, working with the Zulus, working with Vereker? The domestic sequences with Fanny at the party? His attitudes towards the invasion? His clash with Chelmsford? His role in the battle, his death?

15. The build-up of the invasion, the obtuseness of the British? The Zulus and their chasing of the settler, the capture of the three young men and their torture? Vereker's discovery of the Zulu masses?

16. The strategy of the battle, the length of the presentation, the visual effects of man to man fighting, troops fighting with order and strategy, the mutual massacres?

17. The film's comment on war, the role of leadership and judgments, mixed motivation? The lessons of history?