Zulu (1964)

Yes, Zulu is based on the real Battle of Rorke's Drift, fought on January 22-23, 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War in what is now South Africa. A small British garrison of roughly 150 soldiers successfully defended the mission station against thousands of Zulu warriors. The battle resulted in the award of eleven Victoria Crosses, the most for a single action in British military history.

Zulu was Michael Caine's breakthrough film role, in which he played Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead. Although he had appeared in smaller film and television roles before, this was the performance that launched his international career. Caine's casting was somewhat unexpected, as he was initially considered for a different part.

The film was directed by Cy Endfield, an American filmmaker who had moved to Britain after being blacklisted during the McCarthy era. Endfield co-wrote the screenplay with historian John Prebble. The film was produced by Stanley Baker, who also starred as Lieutenant Chard.

The film takes significant dramatic liberties, including compressing timelines, altering character relationships, and omitting the fact that many of the defenders were actually wounded or sick. It also omits the broader context that the British were the invading force in Zululand. The characterization of the Zulu warriors as noble but fierce adversaries was progressive for 1960s cinema, though modern scholars note the film still frames events from an entirely British perspective.