Product description

Zulu (Letterbox Edition) [1964] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import]

Price: £31.95
Average customer rating: 4.5

Binding : DVD
EAN : 0082554350725
Label : Greatest Sports Legends
Manufacturer : Greatest Sports Legends
Publisher : Greatest Sports Legends
Release date : 2001-06-06
Title : Zulu (Letterbox Edition) [1964] (REGION 1) (NTSC) [DVD] [US Import]
Actor : Array
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1964-01-01
Region code : 1
Running time : 138
Studio : Greatest Sports Legends
Theatrical releaseDate : 1964-06-17

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the last of the classic-era widescreen epics, IZulu/I was also one of the last war movies to celebrate the virtues of the famous British stiff upper lip. At Rorke's Drift in 1879 a handful of British soldiers, hopelessly outnumbered by 4,000 Zulu warriors, fought one of the most celebrated defensive actions in military history. IZulu/I tells the story on an epic scale, bringing to life the heroism, courage, loyalty and sacrifice of those desperate hours. This is truly cast-of-thousands filmmaking, with vast action wonderfully captured in widescreen Technirama. John Barry, who also scored IGoldfinger/I in the same year, provides a telling musical accompaniment. p The superb cast includes Stanley Baker and Jack Hawkins, but IZulu/I's final claim to fame is that it made an instant international superstar of a young actor whose name is Michael Caine. A belated sequel arrived in 1979 in IZulu Dawn/I, which despite even more spectacular action and a great cast died at the box-office. It is nevertheless well worth seeing. p BOn the DVD:/B IZulu/I on disc has excellent prologic stereo considering the age of the film, while the anamorphically enhanced 2.35:1 transfer is crystal-clear, boasting rich colours, strong contrast and detail and only occasional minor print flaws. The original American trailer, also presented anamorphically enhanced at 2.35:1, is a worthwhile addition. There is a very good new 45-minute "making of" (1.77:1 anamorphic, in stereo), curiously split into two parts. The heart of the programme consists of interviews with survivors from the film, focusing on Stanley Baker's widow. The only let down is lack of input from Michael Caine and composer John Barry. The commentary by film historian Sheldon Hall, author of a forthcoming book on the movie, and Second Unit Director Robert Porter is serious and packed with information. --IGary S Dalkin/I

Customer reviews

review by: Dave Horn date: 2009-06-13 rating:

One of the best action films ever made 5* for film and picture but 3* for sound and extras
This has to rate as one of the best battle epics ever so I was pleased to see it out on BD and bought yet another copy of it to go with my earlier DVD editions. As everyone probably knows, the basic story is one of the battle of Rorke's Drift on 22-23/1/1879 where 140 British soldiers and officers plus 14 natives defended the outpost against some 4000 Zulu warriors. br / br /The film belies that fact that even at the time in the early 1960s it was low-budget (cut down to under $2 million from an original budget of $2.6 million). br / br /The cinematography and locations are beautiful, as is the colour, in typical early 60s style with the British red uniforms and white pith helmets and webbing absolutely glowing. br / br /A plethora of contemporary actors all give sterling performances, including Jack Hawkins, Stanley Baker, James Booth, Nigel Green, Patrick Magee and a young Michael Caine (who the film company wanted sacked and replaced with Terry Stamp), whilst Richard Burton reads the dispatches. br / br /Made with between only 240 and 500 (depending who you believe) Zulu extras and saving money by having the internal shots filmed in the studio in London (hence no expenses to send some of the actors out to Africa) and the soundtrack with an orchestra in a masonic hall on Bayswater Road, it's amazing that the film ever got made at all, never mind that it was so good. It was also shot in the daytime using artistic license, as in fact most of the real action took place at night. br / br /Apparently the African Government wouldn't let the Zulus be paid the going rate so Baker (star and co-producer) gave them 40 head of cattle (the ones seen in the film presumably) and the buildings, which were very well made and turned into a school and hospital. br / br /I do have some criticisms. Firstly, it's a crime that the stereo soundtrack was not given a 5, 6 or 7.1 remix and secondly the package is still somewhat light on the extras front, with nothing new being added to those from the 2002 and 2007 DVD editions. Oh and of course the constant criticism that the more expensive BDs do not include the booklets or chapter lists nearly always present in DVDs. So it's 5* for film and picture, 3* for sound and extras. br /

review by: date: 2009-06-05 rating:

Zulu
What an amazing picture quality for a movie over 40 years old. Excellent quality and would highly recomend.

review by: date: 2009-05-21 rating:

Zulu Review
What can I say. Transforms the older DVD version. Colours and details are clear and vivid. This Blu-Ray version has to be the one to get

review by: Schlossaddler date: 2009-05-15 rating:

Astounding picture for a film that`s over 45 years old!
Trust me you`ll keep staring at this and wondering how the hell they achieved it but the picture is really gorgeous with stunning clarity.Blu-ray is definitely hit miss with some bad prints of older films (A Bridge Too Far)but this one gets it right.Yes it is disappointing that a 5.1DTS mix wasn`t provided and surely it wouldn`t have been too difficult to do this to thoroughly round off the package.Disappointing also that Michael Caine contributes nothing on the extras although there is a nice interview with Sir Stanley`s widow which was also on the dvd. br / br /If you`ve never seen this before then it`s quite frankly one of the best British films ever made.The action may look slightly sanitised compared to todays blood gore and it`s not always historically accurate but marvel in some wonderful characters,gorgeous scenery,classic Barry score , memorable and crisp dialogue and actors at the top of their profession.Shame Sir Stanley never saw how much his "baby" is still appreciated today. br / br /

review by: film mad date: 2009-05-03 rating:

Zulu: Not the whole picture!.
I recently purchased a Blu-ray copy of Zulu and was greatly impressed by the film transfer, but while watching it alarm bells went off in my head over the picture format, which has been cropped slightly compared to my Zulu Special Edition DVD. br / br /It's especially noticeable on the scenes with the landscapes against the skyline. You can compare the uncropped picture on the Blu-ray extra, Zulu: Remembering an Epic, br /I've read that the recent Paramount Region A Blu-ray release of Friday 13th-Part 1 UNCUT (1980) suffers from a similar problem. br /A small and minor problem maybe, but Blu-ray is a format that offers more in one hand, but in the rush too produce more titles may be making mistakes on the integrity and purity of films with the other hand.

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