Original, promotional stills from the 1964 film Zulu by photographer Peter G. Higgins (5)

These images document original, vintage production/promotional stills from the iconic 1964 epic war film Zulu, captured by Johannesburg-based photographer Peter G. Higgins.

The collection features five classic black-and-white silver gelatin prints depicting scenes from the film's rendition of the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift:

 Top Left: A dramatic shot of a British officer (Michael Caine) aiming a rifle from behind a thatch-roofed structure.

 Top Right: A portrait of a Zulu warrior holding a traditional isihlangu (ox-hide shield) and drinking a coke.

 Middle Left: An action-packed choreography sequence depicting close-quarters combat between Zulu warriors.

 Bottom Left: British infantrymen holding defensive positions behind a barricade constructed of mealie bags and biscuit boxes, with a cache of traditional spears (imikhonto) resting in the foreground.

 Bottom Right: A candid close-up portrait of a smiling actor

Photographer's Provenance Stamp

The back of the photographs features the official ink stamp of the photographer responsible for these stills:

PETER G. HIGGINS, A.R.P.S.

Photographer

22, Trilby Street, Oaklands

Johannesburg, South Africa

Phone 45-6857

The abbreviation A.R.P.S. indicates that Higgins was an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society, pointing to a high level of professional prestige.

Production & Layout Markings

The reverse of one specific print reveals fascinating archival notes and production context, likely written for a publication layout:

 Film Attribution: It explicitly notes, "1964 Original Photograph from the film 'Zulu' by Peter Higgins... From a scene at the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift. This is Michael Caine as Lieutenant Bromhead." 

 The "Coca-Cola" Connection: A handwritten note reads "Coca-Cola July '63". This is a highly interesting detail—Zulu was filmed on location in the Royal Natal National Park in the winter of 1963, and this marking suggests the photo may have been commissioned for or used by a contemporary promotional feature, possibly tied to a corporate sponsor or a specific magazine layout like the South African Coca-Cola magazine of the era.

 Sizing & Composition: The pencil markings "Block 'F'" alongside dimension lines (48 cms by 37 cms) are classic editorial printers' marks used to indicate how the image should be cropped and sized for a printing plate.

These prints are fantastic crossover pieces of South African cinematic history, photographic heritage, and military ephemera.

Each photograph: 250mm x 201mm

Some staining; edges chipped; thumb marks.

R3,500