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A classic war film set during the [[Anglo-Zulu War]]. Based on true events, the film is the story of a [[Last Stand]] that the defenders managed to win. The Battle of Rorke's Drift was the result of the Battle of Isandlwana, at which the British expeditionary force of 2000 sent to crush the Zulus had been massacred [[General Failure|due to the incompetence of their leaders.]] 139 British soldiers in a farmstead, assigned there to protect colonials and wounded (about one third of the 139) held out against 4-5,000 Zulus for 12 hours. The battle is held to this day as one of the very best defenses in all history (Take that, [[Epic Fail|Little Big Horn]]!). Eleven of the soldiers got the VC, the highest number of this medal ever awarded for a single action. Also notable for being the film debut of an insignificant actor named [[Michael Caine]]. Followed fifteen years later by a prequel, ''Zulu Dawn'' about the disastrous Battle of Isandlwana that took place earlier the same day. It starring Burt Lancaster and Peter O'Toole.
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* [[Seventies Hair]]: Well... the '''18'''70s anyway. The long sideburns on the men wouldn't look out of place a century later.▼
* [[Becoming the Mask]]: during the ''Men of Harlech'' scene you see dozens of weary demoralized soldiers who enlisted because no one else was poor enough for the job, [[Take a Level In Badass|converting themselves]] into the [[Proud Warrior Race Guy]] s that they were singing of.
** If you look closely at the Zulus you can see how many are obviously youngsters out for the first time. They are becoming a mask too.
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* [[The Medic]]: Reynolds.
* [[More Dakka]]: The chief tactic of the British.
** Note that "rashasha" is a real-life
* [[Nippled and Dimed]]: The first TV screenings this film cheerfully screened it in its
* [[Not So Different]]: The Men of Harlech scene emphasizing the [[Proud Warrior Race|mutual
* [[Proud Warrior Race]]: Both the British and the Zulus.
* [[Plunder]]: Zulus are shown rifling British dead at Isandhwana.
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*** They were still more then scary enough. Historically, the British, the Boers, and the Zulus were in South Africa like the three toughest kids in a high school arguing about who is toughest. And scaring all the little kids.
* [[Sergeant Rock]]: Colour-Sergeant Bourne. Corporal Allen, although not a sergeant, also qualifies.
▲* [[Seventies Hair]]: Well... the '''18'''70s anyway. The long sideburns on the men wouldn't look out of place a century later.
* [[The Spartan Way]]: The Zulus.
* [[War Is Hell]]: "Do you think I could stand this butcher's yard more than once?"
** The film does, however, adhere to the 60s trope of bloodless wounds - including bayonettings. The actual Zulu practice of
* [[We Have Reserves]]: The Zulus.
* [[What a Senseless Waste of Human Life]]: A couple times, and wrong on both counts.
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