Tunes of Glory is a 1960 British film directed by Ronald Neame, based on the novel and screenplay by James Kennaway. The film is a "dark psychological drama" centring on events in a Scottish Highland regimental barracks in the period following World War II.
It stars Alec Guinness and John Mills, and features Dennis Price, Kay Walsh, John Fraser, Susannah York, Duncan MacRae and Gordon Jackson.
Writer Kennaway served with the Gordon Highlanders, and the title refers to the bagpiping that accompanies every important action of the regiment. The original pipe music was composed by Malcolm Arnold, who also wrote the music for The Bridge on the River Kwai.
The film was generally well received by critics, the acting in particular garnering praise. Kennaway's screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award.
Plot:
The film opens in the officers' mess of a Scottish battalion in the early post-war era. Major Jock Sinclair (Alec Guinness) announces that this will be his last day as Commanding Officer before Colonel Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives to take over.
Sinclair had been in command since their colonel was killed in action during the Second World War, leading the battalion for the rest of the war, but Barrow is considered by Brigade HQ to be a more appropriate peacetime commanding officer.
Cast Notes:
According to an article in the New York Times, Alec Guinness wanted to play the role of Barrow and John Mills wanted to play Sinclair -- both initially turned down the film for those reasons. It took a meeting between Guinness, Mills and director Ronald Neame to straighten out why each was best suited for the role they had been offered.
However, in his autobiography, John Mills claimed that he brought the script to Guinness, and between them they decided who should play which role. Guinness believed this performance to be among his best.
Tunes of Glory was Susannah York's film debut. Her opening screen credit reads "and Introducing".
Production:
Tunes of Glory was shot at Shepperton Studios in London. Establishing location shots were done at Stirling Castle in Stirling, Scotland, which was the actual location where James Kennaway served with the Gordon Highlanders.
The production was initially offered broad cooperation to film within the castle from the commanding officer there, as long as it didn't disrupt the regiment's routine. However, after seeing a lurid paperback cover for Kennaway's book, that cooperation evaporated and the production was only allowed to shoot distant exterior shots of the castle.
Director Ronald Neame worked with Guinness on The Horse's Mouth (1958), and a number of other participants were also involved in both films, including actress Kay Walsh, cinematographer Arthur Ibbetson and editor Anne V. Coates.
Awards and Honours:
James Kennaway, who adapted the screenplay from his novel, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but lost to Elmer Gantry. It also received numerous BAFTA nominations, including Best Film, Best British Film, Best British Screenplay and Best Actor nominations for both Guinness and Mills.
The film was the official British entry at the 1960 Venice Film Festival, and John Mills won the Best Actor award there. That same year the film was named "Best Foreign Film" by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
~ Wiki
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2:09:44
Dunkirk (1958)by JCaesarus6,818 views
superb movie and acting of JOHN MILLS AND ALEC GUINNESS AND ALL WHO TOOK PART IN THIS WONDERFUL MOVIE.
dasgoody 4 days ago
Thank you terfle1106 for your kind comments. I have NEVER been in the military though I have always been fascinated and indeed have spent years studying shellshock in the CEF in WWI etc.... The wonderful psychological depth portrayed in the primary characters within the confined and socially repressive regime of rigid military command heightens as well as being believable the dramatic conflicts as natural and thus convincing.
hospitalship1 5 days ago
@hospitalship1 : As an old soldier and to boot, from a military officer cast family, i heartfully agrea with your analysis... could'nt be more right on ! Well expressed
terfle1106 5 days ago
a truly Shakespearean tragedy of enormous proportions, the best that both literature and film can offer....one of the 3 best movies of all time......also a true epic about the effects of alcoholism on otherwise good men
wdobni 5 days ago
Outstanding film, one of the best ever with a military theme; and one of Sir Alec Guinness' finest performances (also one of John Mills' best). Thanks for posting this treasure.
Furillac 1 week ago
Both Gordon Jackson and Angus Lennie would star together three years later in John Sturges' "The Great Escape"
vawlkee51 1 week ago
Thank you very much. I enjoyed it. Initially, the plot made me think of The Caine Mutiny, and Sinclair also mentions "mutiny" in the first scene of the movie.
Elefantter 1 week ago
The was my late father's 2nd favorite film; the first being "Kind Hearts And Coronets."
His 3rd choice was "Our Man In Havana."
All starring Alec Guinness.
SatchmoSings 2 weeks ago
@SatchmoSings It was origanally released By Rank, but this is a Janus release taken from the Vistavision print, hence widescrren.
gabbysbuddy 2 weeks ago
Another classic.Alec Guinness never gave less than a very fine performance. This was a great script, and he did justice to his role in the film.
yourtreat2 2 weeks ago