Zulu (1964)

Fascinating war film documenting the Battle of Rorke’s Drift between British soldiers and the native Zulu warriors in 1879. Michael Caine and Stanley Baker are superb as the rival lieutenants co-ordinating the defence.

It’s a quirky tale with unusual humour and extremely well-drawn characters. Shot using the Super Technirama 70, it certainly has an unusually vivid quality. The most affecting scene shows a Zulu war chant competing with a Welsh choir in a battle not only of armies but also of cultures.

For a film in which so many people die, it’s surprisingly ungory. But despite the “clean” killings, it doesn’t in any way cheapen the loss of life. And while it doesn’t moralise, it does raise issues of the ethics of war.