40 years of Zulu
Zulu - the spectacular epic with an enduring appeal for Welsh cinemagoers had two special screenings in Wales this April, organised by The National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales to celebrate the film's 40th Anniversary as a "cult classic."Panels of experts at Bangor and Aberystwyth debated the merits of the movie, which showed the heroism of a handful of South Wales Borderers in the bloody and legendary battle with the Zulus at Rorke's Drift in 1879.
The film, a labour of love for its star and co-producer, the Rhondda's Sir Stanley Baker, was the obvious choice to help launch the new academic publication, Cyfrwng - Media Wales Journal/Cyfnodolyn Cyfryngau Cymru. The journal was launched with a special conference on 16-17 April features an article on the film, and the screenings, - at the University of Wales Bangor on Saturday April 17 and Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Sunday, 18 April - were planned to promote the journal and mark the 40th anniversary of the film.
Apart from its battle scenes and unforgettable theme, Zulu was significant in retrospect for the discovery by co-producers Baker and Cy Endfield of the film's co-star Michael Caine, playing his first leading screen role. Two years later Caine achieved celebrity with Alfie. "Michael used to talk to Stanley every day. He was so nervous - he thought he was going to be sacked," Lady Ellen Baker, Stanley's widow said. The distributors, Paramount and co-producer (and part-financier) Joseph E. Levine were both unhappy. "We had telegrams from East and West Coast calling for his dismissal. Terence Stamp tested well for the role, but Cy and Stanley were convinced Michael could do it and wanted to introduce him as a discovery.'"
The Welsh actor, from Ferndale, was inspired to make Zulu by a John Prebble story about the Borderers courage in holding army stores and a field hospital at Rorke's Drift despite being hopelessly outnumbered by the Zulus. Just over 100 Borderers fought a seemingly hopelessly unequal battle against 4,000 plus Zulu warriors. Eleven VC's were awarded to the heroes of the siege. Interestingly now renowned Chief Buthelezi (later chief minister of KwaZulu) played his own great grandfather, Zulu leader Cetewayo.
Baker, who produced other films including Robbery (1967), made his first screen impact as the villain Bennett in The Cruel Sea (1953) and was successful playing policemen or criminals in a string of British crime-thrillers in the '50s and '60s. Later he gained critical acclaim for his performances in a quartet of challenging films from American born, British-based Joseph Losey, including Accident (1967).
It was his partnership with another American, Cy Endfield, his co-producer on Zulu which ensured his enduring fame in Wales. Endfield directed Baker in several British films - including Hell Drivers (1957) - but their Zulu feature, scripted by John Prebble, seemed fated when rain and even snow -in Africa - wiped out the first 10 days. The weather changed, the film was made, and reached no.4 at the British box office and was overall third most successful UK film of its year. It had made $12.5 million by 1976, the year of Baker's death from cancer at 48.
The actor became a director of HTV on its formation in 1968 and gained his knighthood for work in film and in politics - an honour that eluded Richard Burton despite his six Oscar nominations. Baker, a miner's son, often appeared on platforms with Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister, and advised him on party political broadcasts.
Baker made his swansong TV appearance, alongside Siân Phillips, as the miner-patriarch in the BBC's 1976 version of How Green was My Valley, displaying his own brand of courage as he was dying of cancer at the time. A plaque marking his screen achievements was placed in the Rhondda in 1996 during British celebrations to mark the Centenary of Cinema.
Dave Berry
NSSAW Research Officer