"Shaka Zulu" (1986) TV mini-series

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

24 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

Actually, the movie begins and lasts mostly through the reign of George IV, the latter Queen Victoria incidents were classified as the "Zulu Wars". Shaka was dead by then.

Plot Keywords:

Zulu | Africa | South Africa | Impalement | TV Mini-Series

Cast

Edward Fox	...	Lt. Francis Farewell (1 episode, 1986)
Robert Powell	...	Dr. Henry Fynn (1 episode, 1986)
Trevor Howard	...	Lord Charles Somerset (1 episode, 1986)
Fiona Fullerton	...	Elizabeth Farewell (1 episode, 1986)
Christopher Lee	...	Lord Bathurst (1 episode, 1986)
Henry Cele	...	Shaka (1 episode, 1986)
Dudu Mkhize	...	Nandi (1 episode, 1986)
Roy Dotrice	...	George IV (1 episode, 1986)
Gordon Jackson	...	Prof. Bramston (1 episode, 1986)
Kenneth Griffith	...	Zacharias Abrahams (1 episode, 1986)
Conrad Magwaza	...	Senzagakona (1 episode, 1986)
Patrick Ndlovu	...	Mudli (1 episode, 1986)
Roland Mqwebu	...	Ngomane (1 episode, 1986)
Gugu Nxumalo	...	Mkabayi (1 episode, 1986)
Tu Nokwe	...	Pampata (1 episode, 1986)
Vuyisile Bojana	...	Mgobozi (1 episode, 1986)
Bingo Bentley	...	Bhuza (1 episode, 1986)
Simon Sabela	...	Dingiswayo (1 episode, 1986)
Sam Williams	...	Jama (1 episode, 1986)
Alex Heyns	...	Vegte (1 episode, 1986)
Graham Armitage	...	Wilkins (1 episode, 1986)
Geoff Albert	...	Thomson (1 episode, 1986)
Sonke Buthelezi	...	Nqoboka (1 episode, 1986)
John Carson	...	Lord Kimberley (1 episode, 1986)
Khumbulani Cele	...	Shaka (6-11) (1 episode, 1986)
Dabula Ciliza	...	Ghubela (1 episode, 1986)
Bill Curry	...	Popham (1 episode, 1986)
Terence Dlamini	...	Gazi (1 episode, 1986)
Thembinkosi Dlamini	...	Mevana (1 episode, 1986)
Glen Gabela	...	Shaka (15-19) (1 episode, 1986)
King Beaters Gabelah	...	Musi (1 episode, 1986)
Winston Gama	...	Mzilikazi (1 episode, 1986)
P.W.M. Gardner	...	Aithison (1 episode, 1986)
Keith Grenville	...	Shepstone (1 episode, 1986)
Zipathe Gumede	...	Nkalakata (1 episode, 1986)
Daphney Hlomuka	...	Queen Ntombazi (1 episode, 1986)
Eugene Hlomuka	...	Dilikana (1 episode, 1986)
James Irwin	...	Gen. Chelmsford (1 episode, 1986)
Ian Jali	...	Sigiyana (1 episode, 1986)
Kerry Jordan	...	Rev. Bellow (1 episode, 1986)
Benedict Khambula	...	Witchdoctor (1 episode, 1986)
Charles Kinsman	...	Cane (1 episode, 1986)
Sokesimbone Kubheka	...	Cetshwayo (1 episode, 1986)
Bruno Luthuli	...	Pungashe (1 episode, 1986)
Khulekani Magubane	...	Zwide (1 episode, 1986)
Victor Majavu	...	King Makedama (1 episode, 1986)
Phillip Majola	...	Ngwadi (9 yrs old) (1 episode, 1986)
Humphrey Makhoba	...	Dingane (1 episode, 1986)
Obed Makubane	...	Messenger (1 episode, 1986)
Africa Manqele	...	Ngazana (1 episode, 1986)
Sonto Mazibuko	...	Bibi (1 episode, 1986)
Grissel Mboni	...	Mfunda (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Mgaga	...	Nzobo (1 episode, 1986)
Eric Mcanyana	...	Godongwana (1 episode, 1986)
Dingeni Mhlongo	...	Nomcoba (child) (1 episode, 1986)
Precious Mkhize	...	Njani (1 episode, 1986)
Raymond Mkhize	...	Soshangane (1 episode, 1986)
Amos Mkhonza	...	King Kondlo (1 episode, 1986)
Louis Mtetwa	...	Ufasimba (1 episode, 1986)
Sally Mthembu	...	Majola (1 episode, 1986)
Lucky Mtshali	...	Nondumo (1 episode, 1986)
Sabelo Ndebele	...	Ngwadi (1 episode, 1986)
Daniel Ndlovu	...	Dlaba (1 episode, 1986)
Isabelle Ndlovu	...	Noliwa (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Nene	...	Mbopha (1 episode, 1986)
Shadrack Ngema	...	Joko (1 episode, 1986)
Elliot Ngubane	...	Mphepha (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Nkwanyana	...	Ufasimba (1 episode, 1986)
Alfred D. Nokwe	...	Kuta (1 episode, 1986)
Emily Nompumelelo	...	Mahlana (1 episode, 1986)
Adalbero Ntsele	...	Luthuli (1 episode, 1986)
Samuel Ntsini	...	The Nameless One (1 episode, 1986)
Horatius Ntuli	...	Njanis Father (1 episode, 1986)
Artwell Nyembe	...	Ufasimba Leader (1 episode, 1986)
Aletta Rabotapi	...	Maidservant (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Richard	...	Mordechai Abrahams (1 episode, 1986)
Erica Rogers	...	Queen Victoria (1 episode, 1986)
Hugh Rouse	...	Worthing (1 episode, 1986)
Cynthia Shange	...	Mkabi (1 episode, 1986)
Sibusiso Shange	...	Phakathwayo (1 episode, 1986)
David Sherwood	...	Captain Blair (1 episode, 1986)
Yule Simone	...	Gendeyana (1 episode, 1986)
Leonard Sithole	...	Mbuya (1 episode, 1986)
Washington Xisolo	...	Bhebhe (1 episode, 1986)
Ron Smerczak	...	Ogle (1 episode, 1986)
Sibongile Sokhulu	...	Nomcoba (1 episode, 1986)
Daniel Stewart	...	Tonino (1 episode, 1986)
Oliver Stole	...	Mbenghi (1 episode, 1986)
Sean Taylor	...	The Prince Of Wales (1 episode, 1986)
Reginald Tsokolibane	...	The Lion Man (1 episode, 1986)
Sean Weir	...	Hockley (1 episode, 1986)
Robert Whitehead	...	Simpson (1 episode, 1986)
Nomsa Xaba	...	Sitayi (1 episode, 1986)
Ganza Zama	...	Mtonga (1 episode, 1986)
Vincent Zulu	...	Pakatwayo (1 episode, 1986)
V.E.M. Zulu	...	King Sodubo (1 episode, 1986)
Patrick Zungu	...	Igazi (1 episode, 1986)

Series Directed by
William C. Faure		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Writing credits
William C. Faure		(1 episode, 1986)
Joshua Sinclair		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Produced by
Frank Agrama	....	associate producer (1 episode, 1986)
Ed Harper	....	producer (1 episode, 1986)
Leon Rautenbach	....	executive producer (1 episode, 1986)
Joshua Sinclair	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 1986)

Series Original Music by
David Pollecutt		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Cinematography by
Alec Mills		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Film Editing by
Steve Sandrock		(1 episode, 1986)
Anthony Shaw		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Casting by
Peter J. Elliott		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Hans Nel		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Derrick Bosch	....	makeup designer (1 episode, 1986)
Ramon Gow	....	hair stylist: Miss Fullerton (1 episode, 1986)
Desiree Maboea	....	assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
Mary Mhaladi	....	assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
Nick Mngwangi	....	assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Moyo	....	assistant makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
David Murat	....	assistant hair stylist (1 episode, 1986)
Bunty Phillips	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1986)
Timothy Renecké	....	assistant hair stylist (1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Management
Carol Hickson	....	unit manager (1 episode, 1986)
Zsuzsanna Mills	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nigel Bower	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
David Bracknell	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Dabula Ciliza	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Ray Corbett	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
James Devis	....	second unit director (1 episode, 1986)
Peter J. Elliott	....	action director (1 episode, 1986)
Graham Hickson	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Mark Jaffee	....	second assistant director: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Barry Leitch	....	first assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Gavin Mey	....	third assistant director: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Zsuzsanna Mills	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1986)
Mark D. West	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 1986)

Series Art Department
Anne-Marie Breytenbach	....	props buyer: British scenes (1 episode, 1986)
Mike Fowlie	....	property master (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Gordon	....	set constructor (1 episode, 1986)
Dankert Guillaume	....	assistant art director (1 episode, 1986)
Kingsley Holgate	....	collaborator: art direction (1 episode, 1986)
Barry Leitch	....	collaborator: art direction (1 episode, 1986)
Ben Madumo	....	props assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Paul Matacunias	....	stand-by carpenter (1 episode, 1986)
Andrew May	....	props buyer (1 episode, 1986)
John Rosewarne	....	set constructor (1 episode, 1986)
Nick Saint Clair	....	set dresser (1 episode, 1986)
Hans van der Vegte	....	assistant art director (1 episode, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Bill Asher	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Mark Baard	....	assistant sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Nicky De Beer	....	assistant sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Hermien Dommisse	....	post-synchronization director (1 episode, 1986)
Frank Farrar	....	assistant sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Brian Frost	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Alan Gerhardt	....	sound engineer (1 episode, 1986)
Roger Harrison	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Chris Martin	....	sound assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Darryl Martin	....	final mix (1 episode, 1986)
Karen Morshead	....	assistant sound editor (1 episode, 1986)
Bethuel Mpotulo	....	sound assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Alan Selesnic	....	dubbing recordist (1 episode, 1986)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr sound: London (1 episode, 1986)
Andy van Eeden	....	sound assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Dean Vermaak	....	sound: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Derek Ward	....	sound editor (1 episode, 1986)

Series Special Effects by
Paul Ballinger	....	special effects (1 episode, 1986)
Roger Gaisford	....	special effects assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Geoff Hill	....	special effects assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Roy Taylor	....	special effects: Kwa-Bulawayo fire (1 episode, 1986)
Cecil Zulu	....	special effects assistant (1 episode, 1986)

Series Visual Effects by
Chris Wallace	....	colourist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Soli Mhlongo	....	stunt assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Peter J. Elliott	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Gavin Armstrong	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Kobus Botha	....	camera operator: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Russel Bowden	....	grip: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Michael Brierley	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Anthony Busbridge	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1986)
Thadeu Dludla	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Glen Donaldson	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Dave Dunn-Yarker	....	camera operator: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Frank Elliott	....	focus puller (1 episode, 1986)
Glen Feek	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Hermann Fick	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Gavin Horne	....	chief grip (1 episode, 1986)
Petrus Khangale	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Mark Larkin	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Solly Maloi	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Jacob Mashiane	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Shadrack Mathebethi	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Vincent Mkhaliphi	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Chris Molefe	....	assistant camera (1 episode, 1986)
Benjamin Mosemago	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Steven Mosia	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Jeffrey Ngubane	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Mischak Ntshingila	....	electrician (1 episode, 1986)
Paul Otten	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Peter Palmér	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Gilbert Reid	....	clapper loader (1 episode, 1986)
Ronnie Fox Rogers	....	camera operator: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Elliot Sewape	....	best boy (1 episode, 1986)
Nyoni Shezi	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Sagumisa Sikhakhane	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Vincent Sikhakhane	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Emil Wessels	....	still photographer (1 episode, 1986)
Robin Wilter	....	chief gaffer (1 episode, 1986)
Paul Witte	....	assistant camera: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Star Ximba	....	grip assistant (1 episode, 1986)
James Devis	....	director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lionel de Robillard	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1986)
David de Vries	....	wardrobe supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Joanne Harper	....	wardrobe supervisor: Bermans & Nathans (1 episode, 1986)
Jeanette Ingham	....	head dresses (1 episode, 1986)
Stefan Lourens	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Solly Mthembu	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Erica Ndlovu	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1986)
Maria Randope	....	wardrobe assistant (1 episode, 1986)
André Viljoen	....	wardrobe assistant: Bermans & Nathans (1 episode, 1986)
Kelly Wolhuter	....	wardrobe assistant: Bermans & Nathans (1 episode, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Sam Dlamini	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1986)
Ettie M. Feldman	....	supervising editor (1 episode, 1986)
Simone Kaplan	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1986)
Bill Lenny	....	executive editor (1 episode, 1986)
Mary-Anne Marks	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1986)
Oscar Twala	....	assistant editor (1 episode, 1986)

Series Music Department
David Pollecutt	....	conductor (1 episode, 1986)

Series Transportation Department
Jannie Breedt	....	transportation manager (1 episode, 1986)

Series Other crew
Marguerete Baas	....	nurse (1 episode, 1986)
Grant Bushby	....	publicist (1 episode, 1986)
Gypsy Chomse	....	production secretary (1 episode, 1986)
Maureen Conway	....	continuity: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Marlow De Mardt	....	continuity (1 episode, 1986)
Peter J. Elliott	....	dialogue coach / script editor (1 episode, 1986)
William C. Faure	....	script editor (1 episode, 1986)
Mark Ford	....	extras management (1 episode, 1986)
Gordon Greaves	....	location manager: second unit (1 episode, 1986)
Kenneth Griffith	....	script editor (1 episode, 1986)
Robby Guess	....	mask maker: Queen Victoria's mask (1 episode, 1986)
Kingsley Holgate	....	extras management (1 episode, 1986)
Patrick Kaye	....	dog handler (1 episode, 1986)
Johan Kruger	....	assistant accountant (1 episode, 1986)
Barry Leitch	....	cultural advisor / script editor (1 episode, 1986)
Gavin Lyle	....	extras management (1 episode, 1986)
Leigh McLean	....	assistant: producers (1 episode, 1986)
Alan McLoughlin	....	legal advisor (1 episode, 1986)
Stevenson Mnyombolo	....	continuity assistant (1 episode, 1986)
C.T. Msimang	....	translator: Zulu (1 episode, 1986)
B.B. Ndelu	....	cultural advisor (1 episode, 1986)
Gill Quann	....	horse handler (1 episode, 1986)
Fergus Upfold	....	location manager / logistics (1 episode, 1986)
May Venter	....	production secretary (1 episode, 1986)

Production Companies

• Harmony Gold
• South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)
• Tele München Fernseh Produktionsgesellschaft (TMG)

Distributors

• Harmony Gold
• Polyband (2009) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Bermans & Nathans  British costumes

Also Known As:

Runtime:

300 min

Country:

USA | Italy | Australia | South Africa | West Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company:

Harmony Gold

Trivia:

The UK actors who worked on the project were nearly blacklisted by the UN.

Quotes:

Shaka:Never leave an enemy behind or it will rise again to fly at your throat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Kirsten Dunst/Eminem (#27.19)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

We Are Growing

Too rich in detail, too confusing to follow

Although the scenes of Zulu tribal life were rich in detail, there was too much emphasis on the rituals of the tribe. One might think that all the Zulu did was engage in constant ritual and unending festival. The storyline switches from the introduction of the English to the pre-birth of Shaka with little explanatory background. This was docu-drama and not a documentary, but a certain amount of geographical and historical reference to the rest of Africa might have helped. The most difficult aspect of this mini-series was the highly accented English of the performers illustrating the need for subtitles, which were absent from both the original production, and the DVD version. Perhaps if I had been able to understand the dialog better, the story would have been easier to follow.