1879年、英国の植民地・南アフリカ連邦ナタールで、隣接するズールー族に対して、一方的な統治の勧告。この政策はズールー王を戦いに駆り立てた。この土地とズールー族に精通しているダーンフォード大佐は、将軍の軍略ミスを指摘するが、受け入れられず、結局不本意な態勢で敵に向かったあげく、ズールー族軍の圧倒的な勢力に向かうこととなり・・・。
AIが作品の魅力を深く読み解いています
製作費: $11,750,000 (18億円)
興行収入: $1,875,000 (3億円)
推定収支: $-9,875,000 (-15億円)
※製作費・興行収入はTMDBのデータを参照しています。収支は(興行収入 - 製作費)で算出したFindKey独自の推定値であり、広告宣伝費や諸経費は含まれません (1ドル=150円換算)。
監督: Douglas Hickox
脚本: Cy Endfield / Anthony Story
音楽: Elmer Bernstein
制作: Nate Kohn / Barrie Saint Clair
撮影監督: Ousama Rawi
制作会社: Lamitas / Samarkand / Zulu Dawn NV
Though certainly epic in cinematographic terms, this is a really meandering and over-cast depiction of the Zulu defeat of the British garrison at Isandlwana at the end of the 19th century. I'm assuming it was made as a precursor of - and to capitalise upon - the far superior "Zulu" (1964) but right from the get-go it's just wordy and ponderous and, well, lacklustre. Peter O'Toole does exude a certain arrogance in his role as the Commander of the army (Lord Chelmsford) but Burt Lancaster - and his distinctly ropey accent - as "Col. Durnford", features all too sparingly to offer much more than a casual dig at the incompetencies of his boss as the Zulu and the soldiers of the Queen square up. This cast list is impressive but none of the assembled stars of stage and screen are really used to any great effect. History tells us what happens next, and the colourful action scenes are well put together with enthusiastic efforts from the Zulu themselves delivering well staged combat scenes. Sadly, though, we have to wait far too long for these to rescue this from the doldrums of colourful but procedural cinema that offers us little to nourish either our interest in the characters or in the colonial and ambitious politics of the region that prevailed at the time. Underwhelming, sorry!
