Not a lot of people knew Caine in 1964

The film was Zulu, a stirring action drama recounting one of the most revered episodes of British military history; the 19th century battle of Rorke's Drift between British soldiers and South African Zulu warriors. And the actor in question went by his stage name . . . Mr Michael Caine.

Today, the 80-year-old's career is still going strong, with more than 160 credits to his name, two Oscars, and a continued production line of roles in big-budget films including Christopher Nolan's latest work Interstellar, due in Shropshire cinemas this year.

But, ironically for a lad with a working class background, it was that 1964 adventure Zulu which brought him to Hollywood's attention – when he was brilliantly cast against type as the snobbish, upper-class, aristocratic Lieutenant Bromhead.

He nearly got fired from the film before it was over, recalling: "For research I looked at powerful people, and one was Prince Philip. Prince Philip always has his hands behind his back, so Lieutenant Bromhead always had his hands behind his back.

"About two weeks in, one of the heads said, 'Suggest firing actor playing Lieutenant Bromhead. Doesn't know what to do with hands'!"

But Caine made it into the final cut, and Zulu sparked an entire industry about what might be an otherwise largely forgotten colonial war.

The film was one of many high points in what became a vintage year for the movie industry.

A certain secret agent called Bond, James Bond, was everywhere. It's sad that 007 author Ian Fleming died in 1964, just before the release of Goldfinger, which became the defining film in the series.

The year also brought us Peter Sellers in full flow as bumbling Inspector Clouseau, and myriad roles in the darkly delicious Dr Strangelove. The Beatles tried their hands at big-screen success in A Hard Day's Night – which earned two Oscar nominations.

Then there was the birth of Mary Poppins; one of the classic westerns with Clint Eastwood in A Fistful of Dollars; Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady.

Shropshire film historian Frank Aston, from Albrighton, said: "Great films seem to come in 25 year cycles. 1939 is often regarded as a golden year for the release of a number of movies destined to become classics like Gone With The Wind, Goodbye Mr Chips, and The Wizard of Oz.

"Exactly 25 years later, the swinging 60s were approaching the height of their creativity.

"In 1964, whilst innovative young film makers like Stanley Kubrick and Richard Lester, were surprising audiences with ground breaking new-wave pictures like Dr Strangelove and A Hard Day's Night, traditional Hollywood features were also attracting cinemagoers in droves."

• Shropshire film expert Frank Aston takes a look at what made 1964 a golden era for cinema