I have one intractable problem with it...
After several days of savage fighting, the Zulus withdraw, and Michael Caine, the senior officer, states that he does not feel great pride, but that he feels ashamed.
That line was an incongruous, pitiful, politically correct sop tossed to the opponents of Colonialism.
No human being who has fought for his own life, and for the lives of his comrades in arms, has ever felt ashamed about surviving a terrible battle.
Good point. I ignored that line, tossed it aside. The credits at the end of the movie, showing all the Victoria Crosses that were awarded in that particular battle was memorable and impressive.
“After several days of savage fighting, the Zulus withdraw, and Michael Caine, the senior officer, states that he does not feel great pride, but that he feels ashamed.”
Well, the Michael Caine role (Lt. Bromhead) was the junior officer. The Stanley Baker role (Lt. Chard) was the senior officer.
“That line was an incongruous, pitiful, politically correct sop tossed to the opponents of Colonialism.”
Not really.
“No human being who has fought for his own life, and for the lives of his comrades in arms, has ever felt ashamed about surviving a terrible battle.”
Read some biographies. You’d be surprised.