Sources of Information and Inspiration
for Colonial-era Gaming

The Major General welcomes additions to these lists. Mail your suggestion to headquarters. Include your name, and a very short description of the book or film.

Recently added or updated listings appear in Red Type.

Rhodes (British,1998) 3-part, 6-hour dramatization of the life and finaglings of Cecil Rhodes, south African industrialist, politician and architect of the British Empire in Africa. Decent small-unit action footage between Rhodes' private army and the Matabele. Very short sequence between the Boers and the Jameson Raiders. Boer War siege of Kimberly is shown mostly by interior shots with shells hitting nearby.

Shaka Zulu (1986) Electrifying South African mini-series about Shaka, the outcast who revolutionized southern African tribal warfare, developed the Zulu military state and founded the Zulu empire. The show doesn't pull many punches about Zulu methods of empire building, and if seeing slow-impalement on a mass scale would disturb overmuch, you should consider yourself warned.

Zulu Wars (1997) Bob Cordery comments: "Three-episode series made for DISCOVERY CHANNEL. The story of the Zulu Nation, told in drama-documentary style, but also including interviews with historians and descendants, plus many re-enacted battle scenes. The battles with the British look a bit stilted, and there are some inaccuracies, but on the whole, a good history of the period. Video is available."

Heart of Darkness (1994)- Ted Turner tries to do Joseph Conrad's brooding, psycho-political allegory without offending too many people. The film has a marvellous little river steamer, decent sets and costumes, atmosphere, and considerable cheap-trick portentousness. It's a watchable video about a guy going up the Congo to a lunatic's ivory station, but it isn't Heart of Darkness. If you're a jungle buff, enjoy it - then read the book as well; it's not that long, and the public library certainly has it.

Heat of the Sun (British)- Much-put-upon police superintendent operates in 1930s Kenya. Only a few minutes of martial action each episode, but lovely vehicles, buildings, askari/police uniforms. The opening titles with the natives walking ahead of the steam engine are worth the price of admission alone. 5 episodes of PBS' 'Mystery' series in the US.

Queen of the East (British 1994) Dramatization of the life (well, part of it) of Lady Hester Stanhope, egocentric British adventuress, eccentric and mystic who went native - becoming a spiritual leader and local ruler in the Levant in the early 1800s, and defying Egypt's Mehmet Ali. A bit lurid and slapdash, but fun. (Part of the BBC's Heroes & Villains series. Alternate title: Lady Hester Stanhope).

The Flame Trees of Thika (British, 1980)- Ken Hafer comments: "An excellent rendition of Elspeth Huxley's memoirs of Kenya. Engaging characters and the story of day-to-day life among the British duped into growing coffee. No battle scenes, but great feel of the end of the colonial era."

ANZACs (Austrialian) Stewart Johnson comments: "This mini-series makes a very good stab at portraying life for the average Aussie ranker in WWI. Highlights include the storming of the Gallipoli beaches and some very good Western front scenes. It was shown on the BBC in the early '80s."

All the King's Men (British, 1999)- The royal Sandringham estate workers go off to battle and are lost. A study of truth and illusion in war, and yet another reminder that warfare is really quite an unpleasant activity, especially in World War I, and most especially at Gallipoli.

The Far Pavilions (1983) A British officer reared as a native, his career in Afghanistan, and his forbidden romance with an Indian princess highlight this colorful and elaborate miniseries. The action sequence at Kabul's British Residency is terrific, the uniforms are marvelous, and there's lots of historical detail (for any modeler sufficiently driven to undertake the challenge of central India).

The Jewel in the Crown Comments:

Riel (late '70s, Canadian) Tim Balzer comments: "Louis Riel's 1885 Northwest Rebellion. The battle scenes are okay - authentic uniforms, but the number of Canadian Militia casualties is greatly exaggerated. Far superior to DeMille's 'Northwest Mounted Police' for historical accuracy."

Nostromo Joseph Conrad story of colonial economic and political development in South America. Never miss a Conrad story.

An Outpost of Progress (1982) A handful of suspicious armed tribesmen show up at a Congo trading post run by a rattled idealist and his opportunistic subordinate. Portentous and depressing, but short. Okay, you can miss this Conrad story.

Riley, Ace of Spies Very entertaining dramatization of the life of Sidney Riley, the historical British agent who inspired the character of James Bond. Settings include Baku, Port Arthur, Europe, Russia, and the US from 1904 to the '20s.

Rough Riders (1997) When the road-agent pulls a Merwin, Hulbert revolver, you know it's a John Milius film. In spite of a few drawn-out cliches and some over-eager acting, this two-part tribute to TR's dismounted cavalry and martial virtue in general almost manages to rehabilitate the Spanish American War. Milius' fetish for accurate military detail and his sense of irony are delightful, as usual, and the combat scenes are exciting and moving, if a bit lengthy.

The Young Indiana Jones Chonicles David Timmer comments: "This show had a number of good episodes in Belgian Africa, in Spain, in Russia, with Pancho Villa in Mexico, and on WWI's Western and Italian Fronts."

The Cisco Kid Micah Hallock comments: "Made for TV Movie (TNT) - In a one-horse town in old California (Los Angeles) Mexican pisteleros Jimmy Smits and Cheech Marin smack down with the French. Nice spoof of Sergio Leone films. Good laughs. The French lose (as always)."

Two and a Half Feathers (British, 1970) Bob Cordery comments: In this episode of the much-loved Dad's Army comedy series, Lance Cpl. 'They don't like it up 'em!' Jones is accused of past cowardice in the Omdurman campaign, shown in flashbacks that feature the usual cast in very different roles, as well as footage from Korda's 1939 classic The Four Feathers.

Ripping Yarns (British, 1976-1979) Monty Python's Michael Palin parodies British popular literature of the past, sometimes touching on colonial and Victorian subjects, particularly in the "Roger of the Raj" episode.

Captain Gallant Clean cut American captain in the Foreign Legion and his son, or was it his nephew, and...oh, forget it.

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