Zulu dawn on TV today 10/12/11

Hi all

For those who have missed the listings for today Saturday 10/12/11.

The film Zulu Dawn is being shown on Channel Five U.S. at 17.40. hrs.

Make a brew, tune in, get your feet up, and enjoy.

They appear to have tidied it up quality-wise and widened the screen this time for television, instead of the previous grainy version with the edges of the scenes cut off. Pity about the adverts though, so I'll stay with viewing my dvd - no interruptions.

Hi Colin

Glad you were able to watch it. Yes, it did appear a lot clearer, but the adverts are a pain in the neck. With it being over 30 years old now, I think it is about time that both this and Zulu were remade, and this time get them more historically accurate (especially Zulu). There was a suggestion some time back on the forum about remaking them, and also a suggestion about making a series similar to 'Sharpe' with two hour episodes to cover the whole of the Zulu war, it would make interesting viewing for all AZW fans.

Martin, next time they tidy it up, I'm hoping they delete/erase that fly which lands on Lancaster's hat at the parade ground when Burt is talking to O'Toole on horseback. It irritates me greatly. A mini-series wouldn't work, as discussed previously, scale, extras, etc., just couldn't be afforded by tv networks. The likes of 'Gettysburg' and 'Son Of The Morning Star' had the good fortune of being able to 'call upon' the vast amount of re-enactors in the U.S. of these campaigns. We aren't so lucky, if we were, I'd have put myself forward as Col. Durnford, even in a docu/drama, as what a fantastic opportunity that'd have been. Unfortunately, I don't have his uniform.(or moustache ! :) )

You know, it's a pity that in all the Isandhlwana docu/dramas I've seen, there has never been anyone portraying Durnford and Pulliene, but mostly using 24th re-enactors, though Christopher Casenove (Coghill in Zulu Dawn) did portray Chelmsford in one of them. Yet, in many LBH docu/dramas, Custer as well as some of the other senior officers are portrayed often.

Martin, you may be interested in another Lancaster film that is actually on tonight (ITV4) called 'Ulzana's Raid'. In 'Zulu Dawn' he was portraying an expert on the Zulus, but in this other film, he is an expert on the Apaches. Great film.

Hi Colin

Thanks for letting me know about the film 'Ulzana's Raid', it was on not long ago, but it's well worth watching again.

Yes, I see what you mean about the mini series, pity isn't it though, as I think it would make good viewing for all AZW fans.
I wonder if I could play Col Durnford, I have a moustache (but not that size), and if he was tall then I would probably fit the bill (but would have to let my moustache grow for a while), and also find a Victorian uniform :lol!:

Speaking of doco's, I can remember watching one a number of years back, which looked at the defeat and said that it was due to a combination of bad placement of the troops, slow delivery of the ammunition, and it also said that the powder used clogged up the rifle barrels, which restricted their range, allowing the Zulus to get much closer than desired, until the defenders were overwhelmed by sheer masses. I can't remember what this doco was called, or on which channel it was shown, but it was a number of years ago, maybe other forum members remember watching it and can provide details.

Martin, it's either 'The Mystery Of The Real Zulu Dawn' or 'Zulu: The True Story'. The latter, if I remember correctly, did sort of defend Durnford, as well as suggest that Rorke's Drift was used somewhat, as a distraction from the defeat at Isandhlwana. Though I could be getting mixed up between several that have been on.

Hi Colin

I think that it might be 'the mystery of the real Zulu Dawn' as the other one 'Zulu the true story' seems to be more about RD. The one I recall used early computer type images to describe the positions of the troops etc, rather than the more up to date images we get today. It was interesting, and did say that the troops were too far in front of the camp, and that the supply of ammo was not quick enough because of the troops being too far from the supply wagons, but it did also concentrate on the cartridges and powder used at the time, saying that the powder clogged up the barrels, and the barrels got over heated, and that the cartridges sometimes jammed in the block, thus implying that the range fell and the rate of fire slowed down, meaning the Zulus got much closer, broke through the gaps between the troops and overwhelmed them.

It appears that 'Zulu Dawn' is being shown again on Five U.S. on Saturday 17th Dec at 12.00, but don't take my word for it, check the listings first, I may have mis-read it or got it wrong.

Martin, I'll forego the Zulu Dawn repeat as the adverts are annoying. It's funny, as for long enough it wasn't being shown on television, compelling me to write in the 1990s to tv channels requesting it to be shown. Now it seems to be getting put on tv regularly, though I doubt if it was anything to do with my letters!

I've just remembered being told that Burt Lancaster actually did a filmed interview during the making of 'Zulu Dawn', if correct, saying he admired Durnford's relationship with the native units, as well as talking about some of the film itself. Unfortunately, I've never seen this interview, nor how many others may have done, but it'd have been great to see it.