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DateOriginal Topic
10th December 2002Jack Hawkins and "Zulu."
By Peter Ewart
Diana

The piece is taken from "Anything for a Quiet Life" by Jack Hawkins (Elm Tree Books, Hamish Hamilton, London , 1973) and published shortly after his death with the final chapter written by his widow, Doreen, as a postscript.

I'm sure the publishers would not object to the following passages being quoted here for non-commercial reasons with due acknowledgement.

On pp 131/132, the author writes:

"There are few films that I cannot look back on without finding some reason for pleasure, or pride, or at least amusement, but there is one strong exception - "Zulu." Financially, it was a great success, and nobody can deny that it was good entertainment, but as an actor I felt let down. Indeed, in many respects, I believe I was cheated out of a good perfomance.

The film told the story of Rorke's Drift in Africa, where a hundred British soldiers fought off 3,000 Zulu warriors. I was offered the part of a Swiss [sic] Lutheran missionary, Otto Wit [sic], which was an unusual one for me to play in a war film, for Wit was a pacifist who attempted to prevent the wholesale slaughter of the warriors. [Not sure where that idea came from!] Largely because it was so unlike all the parts I was well known for, it appealed to me, and before we went to South Africa on location I discussed the role, and the way I thought it should be played, in great detail with the producer, Cy Enfield.

What I did not know then was that Cy was a great prestidigitator, a man who, in the kindest interpretation of the word, is a skilled conjuror. Had I realised this I might have been rather more careful but, as it was, I believed that my interpretation of the role was being taken seriously, and so I played it with this conviction.

During my scenes, Cy had arranged a number of covering shots which, for example, showed various other characters laughing at me; in other words, sending me up as a misguided buffoon. The performance that appeared on the screen bore no relationship whatever to the peformance I gave in front of the cameras. When I saw it on the first night, I was so annoyed that I got out from my seat and walked out of the cinema - the only time I have ever walked out on any premiere.

However, thinking of my friends, Stanley Baker and Michael Caine - and of my astonished wife, left alone in the front row of the circle - I recovered my good humour sufficiently to collect her and take her on to the traditional first night party. All my protests achieved was that Dee [his wife Doreen] thought I must have suddenly been taken ill, and everyone else - if they thought anything at all - believed I'd simply gone to the loo!"

So - what about that then? That will have you rewinding the video a few times Diana! All in all, I can't say I have a great deal of sympathy. After all, the "plot" had mucked about with the truth to such an extent that it almost didn't matter. I know it was all for entertainment's sake but Witt's role was created out of nothing almost (even his line about Cetshwayo being his parishioner was wrong, as, if anybody's, he was the Rev Robert Robertson's!) and Chaplain Smith was written out completely. These matters have all been discussed on the site before so I won't labour them now.

I suppose I do have just a little sympathy for Hawkins, when you think that a truly great British actor was disappointed with how his role was eventually portrayed, whereas an absolute ham like Caine, whose performance was no better than embarrassingly poor, saw his career launched.

Peter
DateReplies
10th December 2002Arthur Bainbridge
I strongly object to your attack on Sir Michael Caine he is a credit to his professionmbut because he;s working class he never gets the praise he deserves.Michael Caine contributed a lot to the long term success of the film Zulu.I think you should apolgise for this disgraceful outburst I am disgusted
10th December 2002Peter Ewart
Crikey, Arthur, that's a bit strong!

If I've upset you I do sincerely apologise straight away. I suppose my statement was a bit peremptory, although I would imagine that an opinion on an actor's talent is a rather subjective matter anyway, simply a matter of opinion. You clearly consider him a good actor, whereas I don't. I have no particular qualification for saying so & its only my personal opinion and again I'm sorry to have upset you.

I can honestly say it's nothing to do with anything about being "working class" - although I do think that if a cockney is to play an officer of that period, the accent at least needs to be sorted out. After all, he is an actor - Hook would have sounded ridiculous if he'd put on an upper crust accent & in my opinion Caine simply didn't get the part right at all and I always cringe when I see him in it.

Peter
11th December 2002Clive Dickens
Peter
The late Jack Hawkins was a fine actor but Not a great one neither is Michael Caine a great actor but he has made some mighty good films , I agree with Arthur, Michael Caine was a working class lad and give him great credit for the fact he has NEVER forgotten his roots .
Clive
11th December 2002Arthur Bainbridge
I accept your apolgy,and I hope you learn from your mistake.I will defend the film Zulu and its cast till my last breath.Loyalty is everything.
11th December 2002Peter Ewart
Thank you Arthur.

I, too, have sung the praises of this film for many years, especially when young, and received a few puzzled looks from others when I did so, long before it had become quite so celebrated. I've seen the film on video a couple of times more recently & noticed things I hadn't spotted as a boy. I've even successfully introduced my two young sons to it. Now even they know the words!

The scenery is stunning & the action shots superb, the Zulu dancing wonderful. I suppose what it always lacked was just the merest hint of Victorian atmosphere, no doubt because it was produced in the early 60s. No beards. No upper-class "chinless wonder" accent from the regimental officer (as opposed to the "professional" RE officer) whom the script carefully, deliberately & consistently portrayed as the amateur toff with the aristocratic & military lineage.

I don't know if this is correct but I read at the time that Michael Caine was up for a different part (different film perhaps?) & didn't get it, but his agent or the casting director asked him if he could play an upper class Englishman.

"Of course!" Good for him, that's how a struggling actor grabs his chance. But what happened to the upper class English officer written into the script? The 60s did for him. The 60s didn't do posh (altho' Trevor Howard in the Charge of the LB was fine). Bromhead didn't sound a lot different to Hookie to me. A bit, but not much. Could never understand his voice/accent in that film - a bit like Dick van Dyck struggling in Mary Poppins, but in reverse of course.

I suppose C. Aubrey Smith would have been too old (or dead?) but what a role for him! James Robertson Justice was still around but might have had trouble jumping onto the roof. Right voice though. I'd have happily settled for Leslie Phillips or even Kenneth Williams, and still would. Now that's a thought.

Peter
11th December 2002Peter Ewart
Well, not many beards anyway!
12th December 2002Andy Lee
Arthur

I would strongly agree with Peter's comments
Michael Caine is one of the most over-rated actors of all time. He never appreciated the honour of playing Bromhead in the film Zulu and very rarely mentions the film that launched his career.

Well said Peter.

Andy
12th December 2002John Young
Peter,

Strange you should mention Kenneth Williams in that vein - he did actually appear in "Ulu", one of Kenneth Horne's skits in popular films, that went out on Sunday lunchtimes.

Horne yells out as the approaching Ulus draw near, "Fire at Will!" to which Williams replies in his best nasal tones a la "Julian & Sandy" - "Poor old Will."

Surprisingly Kenneth Williams did appear in an adventure film, the name of which escapes me, fighting against Maoris in New Zealand.

With regard to Michael Caine, I got roped in by Thames T.V., when they did a show entitled 'The Trouble with Michael Caine', to flesh out the real Bromhead, and indeed one of my photographs made it into the accompanying book - I didn't even get a copy of the book out of the production.

A few years back when David Rattray held the Isandlwana Evening at Sotherby's, attended by Prince Charles, Prince Shange & Prince Zulu, David endeavoured to get Michael Caine along, after I'd chased around after his agent - we didn't hear a peep from either. No apology - nothing! This was for an educational charity, to benefit the kids who live on the battlefields of Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift. To educate them so they could, in time, become the future battlefield guides and alike of their own battlefields.

Before Arthur has a go at me, despite my north-eastern origins, I was born in the same south-east London hospital as Caine, I lived on the same streets that he did. Yes I know he's a busy man, but an hour out of his time would not have hurt!

With regard to Andy's comment above, on the recent Parkinson show on BBC 1, he said more about 'Zulu' than I had ever heard him say before. Personally, like some others who frequent this site, I preferred him as "Brother Peachy" in 'The Man Who Would Be King'.

John
12th December 2002Andy Lee
John

Please correct me if I'm incorrect but is it true that during the filming of Zulu, Stanley Baker, who in my opinion is one of the best actors of all time and Michael Caine did not get on. I really think MC was privilaged to have been given the role and never did appreciate it. I stand by my opinion he was good in Zulu much due to the role but never reached those heights again and thereafter was a much over-rated actor who in my opinion is very poor and owes his career to Stanley Baker. If it had not been for Zulu he would have been lucky to have made Coronation Street.
12th December 2002John Young
Andy,

I couldn't say, I could ask a friend of mine who was on the production, but I'd doubt if he'd give me an answer on such a subject.

David Rattray put it well - he said, these are not his exact words - "Every day of my life, I wake up and I say thank God for the Zulus. I just wonder if Michael Caine does the same."

I wonder too?

John
12th December 2002Peter Ewart
John & Andy

On 31 March 2000, I was at R/Drift on the same day that MC rec'd an honour of some sort. I forget which, but an oscar nomination or something similar perhaps (don't think it was the knighthood - bit of a shock to learn from Arthur that he's a Sir!) and David Rattray was very keen indeed to see if MC mentioned "Zulu" in his acceptance speech during the programme, which was presumably going out to RSA.

I think he was disappointed - there wasn't a dickie bird.

On the other hand, to be fair to the chap, he's been in quite a few films & can't mention them all.

Peter
14th December 2002PETER HARMAN
They all made the film what it means to us Today. But let us cast out thoughts to the people that were there. Of who none were actors. As for Arthur defending the cast of Zulu with his last breath. Well I doubt M.C would. However I did like Bob Hoskins in Zulu Dawn.
16th December 2002Andy Lee
Peter

Bob Hoskins was superb in Zulu Dawn I agree.

I would really like to get to the bottom of the issue to whether Sir Stanley Baker and MC did or did not get on during the filming of Zulu. As at the end of the day it was Sir Stanley Bakers film and the key maybe the fact that MC knows deep down he owes so much to that man, but does not wish to accept it, hence the silence whenever interviewed.

Finally it must have been very hard for MC getting the part in the film as anything there after would be a step backwards how could you ever better Zulu.

Andy

16th December 2002Andy Lee
Peter

Bob Hoskins was superb in Zulu Dawn I agree.

I would really like to get to the bottom of the issue to whether Sir Stanley Baker and MC did or did not get on during the filming of Zulu. As at the end of the day it was Sir Stanley Bakers film and the key maybe the fact that MC knows deep down he owes so much to that man, but does not wish to accept it, hence the silence whenever interviewed.

Finally it must have been very hard for MC getting the part in the film as anything there after would be a step backwards how could you ever better Zulu.

Andy

16th December 2002Andy Lee
Peter

Bob Hoskins was superb in Zulu Dawn I agree.

I would really like to get to the bottom of the issue to whether Sir Stanley Baker and MC did or did not get on during the filming of Zulu. As at the end of the day it was Sir Stanley Bakers film and the key maybe the fact that MC knows deep down he owes so much to that man, but does not wish to accept it, hence the silence whenever interviewed.

Finally it must have been very hard for MC getting the part in the film as anything there after would be a step backwards how could you ever better Zulu.

Andy

16th December 2002Alex Rossiter
i agree , Bob hoskins was amazing in zulu dawn , was the charcter he played meant to resemble capt younghusband ? .
If they would've had a younghusband in zulu dawn i think it could've only been played by Bob hoskins.
16th December 2002Arthur Bainbridge
Stantley Baker worked with Michael Caine in a hillin korea MC had a small part and SB never forgot him. MC TRIED FOR THE HITCH PART but was knocked back and got Bromhead I think they got on well together as u cant hide arguements on a set from everyone and someone would have sold the story to a tabloid at the the time,MC talked about Zulu on the Parkinson show and I have seen him talk about it many timres before,MC has 2 oscars and a possible 3rd on the way,Hoskins gas none hands down MC wins every time
18th December 2002Diana Blackwell
Arthur,
Sorry to contradict you, but Michael Caine wasn't trying for the part of Hitch. He was trying, unbelievably enough, for .Hook. But James Booth was cast instead because he "looked more Cockney." Caine describes all this in his autobiography; the relevant passage can be found in its entirety as an appendix to the ZULU review on my JB tribute site (www.jamesbooth.org)..
In the same book, Caine' also describes a couple of tense conversations he had with Baker on the set, which came about when Caine read some mail addressed to Baker--the famous telegram advising him to replace Caine because he didn't know what to do with his hands.
Caine confronted Baker, saying "I know that you have been told to replace me and I just wanted to thank you and let you know that I understand your position and it is okay. I don't mind going now," I blurted out in one long breath. He stood and stared at me for a moment and I could se that he was quite angry.
"Who is the producer of this movie?" he finally asked. "You are, Stan." "Have I said that you are fired?" "No," I mumbled. "Well, just get on with your job," he said and walked away. Then he turned and said, "And stop reading my f****ing mail or you will get fired." At last the weeks of agony and doubt were over; I knew that for better or worse, I had the part--and that was that." (p. 168)


19th December 2002Andy Lee
Thank you for this Diane - I knew there was something out there to that effect. We have poor Arthur on the ropes and even he can not argue that MC owes his career to Sir Stanley and the film Zulu which without I doubt we would ever have heard about this second rate actor.

Andy
19th December 2002Diana Blackwell
Andy,
You're very welcome. but I don't agree with your opinion that MC is a second-rate actor. Like Arlthur, I think he does a wonderful job in ZULU.
24th December 2002jay
as you know, I am the owner of contemporanous footage of the making of zulu. During the 25 minutes Sir Michael Caine only has been filmed for 20 seconds, whereas Sir Stanley Baker has 600 seconds.
Jack Hawkins stepped into a limousine whilst MC had to take the bus from Cape Town Airport to the hotel.

On my film you see clearly MC crossing the river on horseback- a wonderful job- , but in the feature it is someone else. Pretty sure it is a different `take`. On the dvd they say it was John Sullivan, but John Poyner claims it was him.