The first major starring role of Michael Caine, ZULU told the story of the succesful defence of the mission station at Rorke's Drift during the 1879 invasion of the Zulu territories by the British Army. After the defeat of the invading British forces at Isandlwana, some 4500 Zulu warriors who had not been engaged in the attack on the British column advanced on the 139 Welsh troops (including 36 wounded and sick) guarding the crossing point and field hospital at Rorke's Drift. With no hope of reinforcements, the troops, led by Royal Engineer Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and Lieut Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine) faced a 12 hour battle for their lives.
The film was financed by Welsh-born Stanley Baker, who, unable to get funding from elsewhere, sunk most of his money into the project. The result is one of the greatest war-films ever, and my personal favourite film of all time.
Lieutenant Bromhead: 60!, we got at least
60 wouldn't you say?
Ardndorff: That leaves only 3,940.