Michael Caine's 1964 war classic Zulu is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film, which catapulted Caine to international fame, depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift.
Caine's Early Career and the Making of Zulu
At just 29, Caine earned £4,000 (around £70,000 today) for his first major film role in Zulu, becoming a millionaire movie star within five years. However, his time on the South African set was challenging; he became ill from nerves while watching the dailies and never looked at them again.
Critical Acclaim and Historical Accuracy
Despite his worries, Zulu is now considered one of the greatest British films ever made, partly due to the production's accuracy in hiring actual Zulus, including descendants of those who fought in the battle. The film stars Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, an inexperienced and arrogant officer.
In a 2017 Time Out poll of 150 actors, directors, producers, writers, and critics, Zulu was ranked 93rd among the best British films ever made.
