Shangani Patrol (film)

Shangani Patrol is a war film based upon the nonfiction book A Time to Die by Robert Cary 1968, and the historical accounts of the Shangani Patrol, with Brian OShaughnessy as Major Allan Wilson and Will Hutchins as the lead Scout Frederick Russell Burnham. Also includes the song Shangani Patrol by Nick Taylor 1966 recording.

Locale, Mashonaland, Southern Rhodesia, 1893. The British South Africa Company BSAC later to become the British South African Police BSAP is based in the encampment of Fort Salisbury now the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare. The film starts with a sepia toned trial of two AWOL volunteers and later deserters who were eventually court martialed by the army for stealing gold which was given to them by Matabele warriors on behalf of King Lobengula as a peace offering to end the war. In this trial which is solely represented by archive drawings and voiceovers the voice of TV anchor manjournalist Adrian Steed is heard as the judge later to be seen as Major Forbes and that of Stuart Brown playing Dr Leander Starr Jameson.The film then cuts to a glorious sunset shot of Southern Rhodesia where the camp is situated. After a sentimental encounter between the leader Allan Wilson and his wife May, in which Wilson professes the fervent wish to procreate with his wife in order to produce pioneer Rhodesians, it cuts to the titles of the film, all based on scenes from the film. The horrific and ultimately unavoidable slaughter of the Patrol is included. Fort Salisbury has a serious problem it is surrounded by hordes of menacing Matabele warriors, one of whom demands the release of the Shona people under the protection of the BSAC and promises that his warriors will kill them in the bush and not in the Shangani River so as not to dirty the water. ........

Source: Wikipedia