MovieChat Forums > Zulu (1964) Discussion > Maybe a dumb question but...

Maybe a dumb question but...

posted 12 years ago by herbsuperb
8 replies | jump to latest

When the roll is being called at the end, and Chard and Bromhead are talking in the burned hospital building, there is an exchange as follows:

Chard: Who was left in here?
Bromhead: I don't know
Chard: They had names, they had faces, they were our men what do you mean you don't know?
Bromhead: ???

Does Bromhead say "Charred" as in "I could not recognize their remains because of the fire", or does he say "Chard" as if trying to say it is too horrible to speak about.

I always assumed the latter, but never knew for sure. Any thoughts?

[–] ronfirv 12 years ago

I assumed the latter ; that was not the time exactly to discuss specifics, and I believe the Lieutenant's response was one of some exasperation with Chard, and after the horrors they have just both LIVED through, not the time to raise the sad subject. He it called right.

[–] that_kiwi_fella 12 years ago

i'm not sure, get a version with sub titles and turn them on...would provide the answer.

[–] tables_99 10 years ago

I always thought he said "charred" because of the fire and he could not recognize his men.

[–] syntinen 10 years ago

Certainly not. Firstly because 'charred' only means 'lightly blackened around the edges' and isn't a word you would ever use to mean 'so badly burnt as to be unrecognisable'. Second, because 'Chard!!!', meaning ,'For God's sake, man!' Is what makes perfect sense here.

[–] pepperdog61 10 years ago

Well, actually the term "charred" is used quite frequently to describe badly burned corpses -- just Google "charred body" (but be warned some very graphic thumbnails may accompany the search).

Nonetheless, the one "Zulu" script I've found online has it as "Chard!" and that's how I've always taken it, that Bromhead was exasperated with being pressed on the horrific circumstances of the men's deaths and barked Chard's name back at him. Perhaps the scriptwriter was indulging in a bit of pun fun.

Probably insignificantly but at least interestingly, Webster's online dictionary places the first appearance in the English language of "char" -- in the meaning of "to blacken on the surface" -- in 1879, the year of Rorke's Drift.

[–] imdb-6674 10 years ago

Hahah, this is my favourite part of the film. I always assume it was just Chard, the guy's name, but it sure COULD have been "charred." I love the ambiguity.

[–] kellymariekitty 7 years ago

He's saying Chard as in Stanley bakers name.
In another words he means "shut up" to chard e,g. Like give me a break.
He's tired, frightened & chard is always professional through this. Even though tired, he keeps everybody going & doesn't let them rest, keeps the, working because he knows they will die otherwise!

So basically bromhead is snapping at chard to give him a break

[–] ronfirv 7 years ago

They were all frightened but conquered the fear eventually, through the discipline and training of the highly professional British Army.
Didn't you notice Chard's hands shaking as he tried to put bullets into his revolver?