Blog Number 44

If you follow this blog you will know I have a penchant for the film Zulu. And I'm not alone , I know you're out there '716.'

I've been rereading a book by Sheldon Hall - "Zulu - with some guts behind it." The inside story of the making of the film. It came out in 2005. Lots of interesting background information as you might expect.  One bit that caught my attention explains the creation of the famous ' train in the distance' sound of the approaching Zulu impi to Rorke's Drift. It is the most evocative and thus memorable sound of the entire film in my humble opinion. In an odd kind of way it encapsulates the film, signalling the oncoming danger. Anyway the 'train' sound was apparently made by syncing the sound of the beating of the shields into the sound of a real train going over rails, with added bass depth. Clever stuff.

Then Sheldon went and spoiled it all. A pity, he was doing so well. It happened like this. There are two particular scenes where the Zulu songs play a key part in the film. The first is the first (major) scene- -the mass Zulu wedding, and the second is the 'challenge and reply' scene preceding the attack on the second morning. (The Men of Harlech bit.) 

Provided no one else is in the room I've always been happy to join in with the Zulus - you get to a certain age and  - what the hell, let's go with some added "Naaaa, Naaa n Naaa's."

Where's the harm, officer?

To cut a long story short he interviewed two Zulus, one of whom is the great grandson of the real Zulu commander at Isandhlwana,  Tshingwayo no less. The other interviewee's grandfather had also fought at Isandhlwana. So, two well qualified sources. And their  summary of the Zulu chants, songs used in the film?  They couldn't make out /understand most of the words. Even the meanings of the songs/chants were elusive or unclear. 

It seems a tad unlikely that the sound crew didn't get this, you would have most of it would have been clear enough . . . . . or perhaps there were other agendas in play at the interview? A signal as deft as the 'train in the distance.' 

It doesn't alter, change or spoil this splendid film, though it adds a different perspective to how it is viewed. I suppose I'll just have to keep supplying the additional 'Naaa, Naaa N Naas' until someone can work it out.

If you are a fan of the film and get hold of the book, it is well worth a read: published by Tomahawk Press, Sheffield.