Shaka Zulu with William C. Faure: DVD Cover
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Shaka Zulu Director: William C. Faure

DVD - 4 Disc Set Learn more

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  • DVD Release Date: 10/29/2002
  • Original Release: 1986
  • Rating: Not Rated
  • Sales Rank: 15,909

Viewer Rating: (13 ratings)

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  • Overview
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Scenes
  • Customer Reviews
  • Cast & Crew
  • Full Product Details

Features

Making-of featurette; Cast and crew interviews; Pre-production concept art gallery; Production photos; Essay on British colonialism in Africa

Full Product Details

Scene Index

Side #1 -- Volume 1
1. Epilogue [6:59]
2. Clashing Empires [11:24]
3. Paid in Ivory [8:54]
4. Expedition Tactics [7:18]
5. Band of Soldiers [9:04]
6. Rough Seas [8:44]
1. The Written Word [7:38]
2. Wizards at Work [8:55]
3. Wtich Doctor [6:28]
4. Meeting Shaka [3:51]
5. Gift Ceremony [10:19]
6. Resurrection [4:12]
1. Court of King shaka [7:52]
2. Nandi [7:19]
3. Bride to Be [11:34]
4. Unfinished Business [3:00]
5. Order From the King [12:28]
6. Mighty Force [9:14]
Side #2 -- Volume 2
1. Fifty Five [7:31]
2. Prophecy's Child [10:46]
3. Truth Be Told [9:15]
4. King's Call [3:50]
5. Revenge [11:40]
6. Nowhere Else to Go [8:25]
1. Win Him Back [9:06]
2. Two Fugitives [7:05]
3. The Hunt [11:41]
4. Interlocking Destinies [8:03]
5. Military Life [6:37]
6. Creative Tactics [8:58]
1. Spirit of Shaka [9:09]
2. We Call It War [7:25]
3. One Family One Mind [6:42]
4. Reign of Terror [10:35]
5. Claiming Destiny [7:41]
6. Salute Your King [10:10]
Side #3 -- Volume 3
1. Work of Destiny [7:09]
2. Survival [5:11]
3. King's Demise [6:30]
4. A Dose of Power [7:31]
5. King of Kings [13:37]
6. In Appreciation [11:26]
1. Foresight [10:10]
2. Complete Control [4:53]
3. Unexplained [7:09]
4. Avenge His Death [5:34]
5. Attack [17:57]
6. Power of Knowledge [7:40]
Side #4 -- Volume 4
1. Seal the Pact [8:49]
2. Good Will [8:16]
3. Set Sail [6:29]
4. Vengeance & Hate [7:57]
5. Crown's Policies [11:21]
6. Great Female Elephant [10:30]
1. Mother of Shaka [8:29]
2. Image in the Looking Glass [5:41]
3. Lasting Peace [14:48]
4. They're Back [3:38]
5. Bait a Monkey [8:44]
6. For the Good of the Nation [12:06]

Scene Index

Editorial Reviews

Originally aired as a British mini-series, Shaka Zulu follows the rise of Shaka (Henry Cele) to the king of the Zulus during the early 19th century when the British were beginning to gain control of Africa. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

Shaka Zuluby Anonymous

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January 08, 2007: I’ve first seen this series when it first came out on TV and it had me at awe and having watched the whole series through again I realized that this is still a great story, very well told and well acted. Filmed entirely on location in South Africa, Shaka Zulu offers an often-compelling look at a tumultuous period in African history, centering around the character of Shaka himself, who emerges as a complex figure teetering on the balance between leader and tyrant. What I like most about Shaka Zulu is that it never bows to stereotype and never simplifies the story down to "good guys versus bad guys. The British government is clearly in favor of colonizing Africa through fair means or foul some of the British feel that this is wrong, though they are outvoted by those who feel that British self-interest (and power) takes precedence over the less powerful native nations of Africa. But it's also abundantly clear that Shaka is far from a heroic leader of his people against European colonialism. His rise to power is shown to be a bloody, brutal story of merciless warfare and the quenching of his own personal thirst for revenge and in the end, we can see that a "great leader" can destroy a nation as easily as he can create it. Who can forget Henry Cele? He does a very creditable job as in the title role, radiating the raw power of the war leader while also clearly portraying Shaka's keen and agile mind. The scenes in which Farewell and the others match wits with Shaka are some of the most entertaining, particularly when Dr. Fynn (Robert Powell) tries to direct Shaka toward the study of Christianity Shaka's reasoned (and alarming, for Dr. Fynn) application of the story of Christ to his own situation is priceless. Edward Fox does his best to portray Lt. Farewell as a fully-developed character, but in this case, the series can be faulted for not being detailed enough, despite the length of the production. The concluding episodes appear to build on aspects of Farewell's character that are insufficiently supported by what we've seen of him in the story. It's worth noting that the listing of Christopher Lee as a co-star is hyperbole: he does appear in the film, but only very briefly at the beginning. One thing that holds Shaka Zulu back from being a really outstanding epic story is the unevenness of the narrative while some of the episodes are well-paced and interesting all the way through, others have less to offer. There are good production values and great scenery and hundreds of "real" extras, a refreshing change from the vacuous CGI laden "epics" which flood the cinema. I think the fact this was a mini-series has led to this production being seriously undervalued. While it's far from perfect, it is certainly ambitious, and does capture the epic sweep of Shaka's life and times.

Shaka Zuluby Anonymous

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May 02, 2006: I watched this movie when it first aired here in '87, knowing little about Shaka. I was in the kitchen making tea when the opening credits began to roll & my sister, already in front of the tv, said, "Hurry! You want to see this!" She meant the opening where Shaka was practicing with his spear. I was already entranced by the music! I carried the cups of tea in, and before I got to the set, I heard it. That VOICE. It has mesmerized me for nearly 20 years. I LITERALLY shook so hard I dropped the tea cups & walked like a zombie into the room. Not only did I LEARN something AND find my all-time favorite song during this mini-series, I enjoyed watching the beautiful Henry Cele with his graceful movements, and listening to the most incredible speaking voice I've ever heard. Watch it to find out the Zulu history. Watch it to 'taste' South Africa. Watch it to fall deeply into a great story! Watch it to see a magnificently beautiful man make a historical figure come to life!


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