Michael Caine's first major film role as the somewhat elitist Lt. Bromhead who must work alongside Lt. John Chard played by Stanley Baker while they attempt to defend themselves with 140 soldiers against 4000 Zulu warriors. Based on the battle for Rorke's Drift on the 22nd and 23rd of January 1879. The movie was shot in Africa with some 700 actual Zulu warriors and the soundtrack was so intense that it was reused by Ridley Scott in the movie "Gladiator" with the Germanic tribes crying out the Zulu warrior chants. Go and watch the first ten minutes of "Gladiator" and you will hear the Zulu warriors.