A Very Zulu Christmas

I would like to request a favor of the British members of this forum. Please help me prove that I am not insane.

I am an American, but I spent a substantial part of my formative years in London, going so far as to become a dual citizen. I have not lived there for many years now, but I have maintained a few quirks that I picked up while across the Pond. One is annoying my wife with my pronunciation of the word "rather." Another is my fondness for Twiglets (I import them by the kilo, I kid you not). However, at Christmas time, there is another tradition that I have that always raises a few eyebrows.

I absolutely must watch Zulu.

I tell Americans that it is a British tradition. I explain to them that it is not a proper holiday season unless both Zulu and The Great Escape are seen on television. While I cannot get BBC 1 or 2 to enjoy these annual classics, I have continued the event with a yearly viewing of the most prominent one, Zulu, at some point between Christmas Eve Day and Boxing Day. I actually have to schedule holiday time around it.

I wish to prove to my wife that this is not pure insanity. So, if you are British, a resident of Britain, or otherwise know the truth of my statements, please affirm in this thread that the BBC shows both Zulu and The Great Escape every single year at Christmas time!

I have both on DVD but yeah, I would guess they're shown every Christmas. I'm not so sure about Zulu though, I can't remember ever watching it at Christmas.

Isn't the sound of music also shown around christmas or new year? At least in Belgium. I'd rather watch Zulu then the sound of music that's for sure.

You're forgetting Van Ryans Express.

As for Zulu, a classic movie.

"Your all going to die!"

"First rank.....FIRE!"

"Second rank.....FIRE!"

"Third rank....FIRE!"

Funny thing is, after 47 years of living in the UK I've never come across anyone called Chard or Bromhead. Met plenty of Taffys though.

There ya go mate...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1csr0dxalpI

Originally Posted by Peasant Phill

Isn't the sound of music also shown around christmas or new year?

It's A Wonderful Life as well.
and that weird Flying Snowman film is guaranteed to make an appearance.

All very true, but none of them have Zulus in them, do they? What can possibly be more festive than a horde of rampaging Zulus?

I don't think The Great Escape is shown at Christmas as much in the last couple of years. It's always on during Easter though. As to Zulu, it's usually on near Christmas time. I'm not sure what's Christmas-y about it. Slaughtering poorly armed Africans in their hundreds doesn't seem to go with the general Christmas spirit. The nearest you get to the season's joy is the red tunics of the Welsh soldiers. But they're hardly Santa Claus. The only presents they are delivering are bullets to some poor chaps who seem only too willing to take the gifts to their heart - literally. It's a great tradition watching it though. Always nice to see our boys win for a change and not an American troop in sight. Hurrah for small mercies.

Originally Posted by professorspatula

I don't think The Great Escape is shown at Christmas as much in the last couple of years. It's always on during Easter though. As to Zulu, it's usually on near Christmas time. I'm not sure what's Christmas-y about it. Slaughtering poorly armed Africans in their hundreds doesn't seem to go with the general Christmas spirit. The nearest you get to the season's joy is the red tunics of the Welsh soldiers. But they're hardly Santa Claus. The only presents they are delivering are bullets to some poor chaps who seem only too willing to take the gifts to their heart - literally. It's a great tradition watching it though. Always nice to see our boys win for a change and not an American troop in sight. Hurrah for small mercies.

I just got internet deja-vu, if there is such a thing. Did you post that somewhere else?

Nope, unless my evil twin did it somewhere else. I just typed it in between internet gaming sessions. I should never have signed up to those gaming sites!

Originally Posted by professorspatula

I'm not sure what's Christmas-y about it. Slaughtering poorly armed Africans in their hundreds doesn't seem to go with the general Christmas spirit.

I was not commenting on its appropriateness as a Christmas movie, only on the fact that it seems to be shown on BBC 1 or 2 every single year during the holidays. That's what makes it a 'tradition' for me, not any inherently festive aspect of the work itself.

Zulu is an awesome movie, but...

It makes me sick to see those warriors thrown away like that. Yeah, I get the sociology of it, it's where their civilization was in the cycle and it's just a rough, movie recreation, but that doesn't make it hurt less.

Is it a tradition? No idea, never done more than fly through London, but I'd understand it if it is.

Ramses (and all other doubters) - it is indeed a tradition that The Great Escape and Zulu are shown at Christmas. I don't know why, but they are bound to be on a main BBC channel on either xmas day or boxing day.

But hey, who cares, they're good films despite me having watched them every christmas.

Shame that i'm in Australia now. Do they show The Great Escape and Zulu at Christmas over here?

Regarding neuroses of watching certain things during the holidays:

My mom cannot make it through Christmas without watching "We're No Angels", the one with Bogart, Ray, and Ustinov.

I renounced christianity years and years ago, but every year around Easter, I get this weird urge to watch Ben Hur.

Sorry, BBC does not seem to be showing Zulu this Christmas:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pre...s_schedule.pdf

However, it is on satellite TV almost every month. This month, it is on Sky Movie Classics, 16th December at 11.40am and again at 9pm.

It is an amazing film - particularly given the limited budget of £2m. It succeeds both as glorious entertainment and as a pretty faithful reconstruction of an astounding battle. I was particularly impressed that Chief Buthelezi played Shaka, given his prominence in South African politics. It's sort of the equivalent of George Bush acting the role of George Washington. Well, sort of.

Zulu Dawn is not a bad film either. The battle of Isandlwhana was equally astounding as that of Rorke's Drift, although with the boot firmly on the other foot, of course.

Originally Posted by Ramses II CP

It makes me sick to see those warriors thrown away like that. Yeah, I get the sociology of it, it's where their civilization was in the cycle and it's just a rough, movie recreation, but that doesn't make it hurt less.

Aye it's insane, isn't it? The thing that always strikes me is that they threw their lives away voluntarily, for the most part. Still it is a pretty decent movie. I was unaware of it being commonly shown at Christmas, though. The Great Escape, certainly, but rarely have I seen Zulu on the day.

You can get your Zulu fix here.

A Tiger, in Africa!? That's my favourite Monty Python film, heretic that I am.

I think a Bond movie is more of a UK christmas tradition, usually a rubbish Roger Moore one (yeah, I know, as if there are any non-rubbish Roger Moore ones.)

Still, if we are talking British cultural exports to the US, I would much rather it was Zulu and the Great Escape than anything with Mr Eyebrow in it. Could we interest you in the Dam Busters too?

Were the Zulus not high on magic mushrooms or some other drug?

Not to my knowledge (Re: Zulu drug use) but given what we know about human behavior at war such would hardly seem necessary.

Originally Posted by mrdun

Were the Zulus not high on magic mushrooms or some other drug?

I never knew they were, but google backs you up:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_zulu/clues.html

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Originally Posted by PBS

Of course, the Zulu might never have vanquished the British at Isandlwana without the help of traditional Zulu medicines. Some scholars have suggested that Zulu pharmacopoeia provided more of a psychological boost than any real physiological effect. But recent scientific studies show that the medicines contained some very potent drugs. For example, warriors were given a cannabis (marijuana)-based snuff to take during battle. Analysis of the snuff has revealed that it contained extremely high levels of THC, a powerful hallucinogen, and yet no detectable levels of the chemicals that cause the sedative effects of marijuana.

Also in the Zulu war medicine chest: the bulb of a flower in the Amaryllis family, called Boophane disticha, or the Bushman Poison Bulb. Studies have shown that the bulb -- which was also used by southern Africans to help mummify bodies -- contains buphanidrine, an alkaloid, like codeine and morphine (although it is not related to them) with hallucinogenic and pain-killing properties. According to botanist Ben-Erik van Wyk of Rand Afrikaans University in Johannesburg, South Africa, the dosage of buphanidrine necessary to reduce pain is very close to the toxic dose, "but in a very experienced traditional healer's hands it should be safe. They usually assess the strength of a bulb by testing it on themselves."

In addition, warriors sometimes ingested a hallucinogenic mushroom containing a toxin called muscimol. The chemical, present in fly agaric -- a mushroom that can attract and kill flies -- is said to induce a state of expanded perception in those who ingest it. Warriors who consumed those mushrooms, researchers speculate, might have been utterly without fear, believing themselves impervious to British bullets.

You cant call yourself an American unless you have The Christmas Story playing 24 hours on the TV while you open presents.

Though Zulu isn't on TV this chrismas, they're sold out of the special edition box sets in WHSmith last I checked.

Originally Posted by TinCow

I would like to request a favor of the British members of this forum. Please help me prove that I am not insane.

You are not insane -- well, not properly insane, anyway.

Zulu is one of those films that are regularly trotted out during the holiday season (or on Bank Holidays) to the point where it has almost become traditional. I'd include The Italian Job (the Michael Caine version, obviously), The Great Escape, the better Carry On movies (the costume ones, basically) and (or at least at one point) Singing in the Rain. Oh, and we always got a Wallace and Gromit special too. The end of W&G was one of those times when electricity consumption spiked as seemingly everyone in the UK went to make a cup of tea.

Like a lot of Christmas traditions, the traditional Christmas film one seems to have fallen into disuse. However, it's good to see that it had such a profound effect on you.

On the good side, we now get a cracking special episode of Doctor Who every year. My place on the sofa is already booked!

Zulu remains a firm favourite of most of the TW designers, btw.

Yup. Zulu does get shown every year over the holiday period. Although as others have said it isnt on the Beeb anymore.

Sends chills down my spine every time that first wave of Zulu's charge.
"ZULUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!"

168 blokes against 5,000 Zulus. (Sorry if i got those figures wrong.) The largest number of Victoria Cross medals ever handed out for one engagement.

Colour Sergeant Bourne is my hero.

Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Colour Sergeant Bourne is my hero.

He must be, you spelt it right.

"Steady lads".

168 blokes against 5,000 Zulus. (Sorry if i got those figures wrong.) The largest number of Victoria Cross medals ever handed out for one engagement.

Twas 139, which makes your point even stronger.

Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat

You can get your Zulu fix here.

Those people make me wish I was British. However they are the only reason mind you ; hmm, yes.

InsaneApache- wasnt there another more modern movie about the boer war? or rorkes drift? I forgot the name. It came out a couple years ago, I think part of the name was "feather"...

I think that was White Feather, where that bloke refused to go to Africa to fight there, so someone sent him a white feather.

Originally Posted by Mikeus Caesar

Shame that i'm in Australia now. Do they show The Great Escape and Zulu at Christmas over here?

Nope, if something like Zulu was on it'd be Beersheba. If the TV is on at Xmas, its only for the cricket.