So as mentioned already on the blog last night was the big
night – the 50th Anniversary screening of the British epic Zulu. I
have to say I was as excited as and excited man could be…
Tuesday morning I checked I had the tickets before I set off
for the train…check.
Just before lunch I decided to check the tickets were still
there…check, however I also started to read through the blurb that accompanied
them and noticed to my horror that Suits and Ties were the appropriate
dresscode. Damn my lightweight linen trousers just weren’t going to cut the
mustard. Fortunately I had promised myself a new suit given I have just found a
new job so I headed off into the shops near the office. As I approached my
destination I realised that the sole on my shoes was rather flapping about – a
new pair of shoes as well – this was going to cost a small fortune.
Suffice to say and a few quid later I walked out of the
store resplendent in a new blue suit and a smart pair of brogues. No more lead
for this month ;-(.
The afternoon seemed to drag endlessly on, I shouldn’t
complain too much as I am currently working out my notice and have a whole
eight weeks off before I start my new role in late August.
Finally the clock struck 4.30 and I dashed off to meet my
old man at Waterloo. The station was a nightmare, a double whammy of a train
hitting a bus on a level crossing and somebody being taken ill at Vauxhall. Id
agreed to meet him at 5.15pm but at 5.30pm no sign of him. Now my father has
never got to grips with technology and despite buying him several prepaid
mobiles over the last few years he steadfastly refuses to use them so I had no
option but to sit and wait it out. All this time the leather in my new smart
shoes is cutting into my ankles !
Panic over as I see him disembark from the train. A short
hop to Leicester Square puts us outside the Odeon. The doors don’t open til 6pm
so there time for quick pint in a local hostelry.
We make our way to the cinema. The crowd has somewhat grown.
Its an eclectic mix of old aged men, middle aged men, several forces personnel
and for some strange reason quite a few young women. I quickly realise that
many of these young ladies are accompanying the older men – I guess it’s the
second wife syndrome where you trade in the old model for a new model.
Fortunately Mrs Shed has worn rather well over the years so I am not looking to
replace her.
My father is wearing his old regimental tie (the Royal
Fusiliers) which looks uncannily like one the guards regiment ties – apparently
the bars on his are wider. So whilst waiting he was a accosted by several other
old gentlemen looking for somebody to talk to.
The gates opened and we were ushered through onto the red
carpet. There was an urgency to get folks through so little time was available
to study the re-enactors on display and the Welsh Goat that had been brought
along.
Into the cinema…by luck or by design all the seats were clad
in leopard print ! We find out seats in the upper circle on which sits a rather
fetching pink goody bag inside of which are some rather tasty apple crisps
(dinner), a programme and a digitally remastered 50th edition DVD of
the film. This has apparently a talk over by some leading historian who has
studied the film.
We settle down and before we know it the programme begins.
Mark Kermode, the film critic, came out and praised the film
and told the story of when his old man took him to see the film in the 1970’s –
this all sounds very familiar to me and his poignant message that tonight was
going to be only the second time he had seen the movie on the big screen
strikes a chord. I can see that my old man is just so chuffed to be there.
Following Mark we have a presentation from Dan Snow, self
titled the History Guy. Dan does a nice short synopsis on the Zulu Wars but
judging by the audience only the young ladies are going to learn anything here.
A three piece singing set from Blake follows – pretty dire,
sounds all wrong – enough said
Obviously the night was a charity event so we got the
fundraising videos – all very good, not too slick which was nice, and carried
the right emotion. Well done
Then out marched the Welsh Military Choir – I had expected
at least 30 or 40 guys but I suppose down to army cuts we got 8 men and a goat.
They looked great resplendent in their uniforms but quite frankly their singing
was atrocious. Their rendition of Men of Harlech should have been a highlight
of the night but something was clearly lacking (more men I suspect).
The pints I had earlier were now starting to work their evil
magic so I started to make my way down the stairs to the exit. I was abruptly
stopped in my tracks by a burly security guard telling me that I had to sit
down until Prince Harry had taken his seat. I sat down.
The next uncomfortable few minutes were spent listening to
some bloke who had studied the Movies history and had some unseen footage from
the film. It was interesting but I need a wee.
I had been hoping that Michael Caine might make an
appearance. But he didn’t. He did however send a video with a short message
wishing everybody well.
I wanted the toilet !!
Finally Prince Harry arrived and no sooner had he sat down,
me and probably half the audience made a beeline for the loos. I returned to my
seat just as Blake and the Welsh Choir started to sing the National Anthem. All
good stirring stuff but no where near the buzz you get at Twickenham.
Finally, Finally the Movie started….
This was real joy to watch on the big screen - it was
emotional watching the movie with so many other fans – the picture was
fantastic and the colours so vibrant. Sadly nothing had been done to augment
the sound. When the film was originally made it was done in mono and I suppose
in todays big blockbusters we are used to hearing surround sound. Last nights
performance only had the sound emanating from the front of the stage and it was
a little muted – if I can switch this onto four speakers at home I was
surprised they didn’t do that in the cinema. This didn’t diminish the
experience it merely could have been further enhanced.
As I settled down to watch this movie for what is probably
the 50th time in my life I realised that the build up to the action
is every bit as good as the final battle scenes. Indeed the big screen affect
of seeing all the Zulus dancing in the Kraal was hypnotic, I wanted more. It
also dawned on me that there were some fantastic characterisations in this
movie – and the humour in the screenplay really came through with an audience
surrounding me.
I suppose when you re watch a movie with the plot already
known you can begin to take in the nuances and the pictures the director is
trying to paint with the screenplay. This was particularly noticeable with the
use of silence on screen. The next time you watch the movie its really worth
watching out for these moments. At the other end of the scale John Barry’s
score has stood the test of time. Perhaps my favourite part of the film is
towards the end when the Zulus are charging and you can hear the Men of Harlech
emanating from the mealie bag ramparts.
Before I knew it the film was finishing off with Richard
Burtons masterful narration.
A great end to a great film, a film that has delivered so
many wonderful memories and continues to excite 50 years on.
A big thank you to my wife for giving me these tickets and a
big thank you to my old man who introduced this movie to me so many years ago.
