Tunes of Glory

**macwilkin** · 27th January 08, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I know I should read the book, but half of the reason that I loved the movie so much was the visual aspect. I mean, I could always imagine the hundreds of kilts, or play a CD of bagpipes during the party or training scenes, but it wouldn't be the same. The movie has both a strong plot and gorgeous visuals.

Sorry, I'm not accepting that one, Greg. What do you think people did before TV and movies? They imagined things. Read the book, and then if you still like the movie better, fine.

Originally Posted by Streetcar

All right, I gotta be the cold water on this.

I may be the only person on these boards who didn't care for the movie.

Ah, well...no accounting for taste, I suppose. :mrgreen:

Yes, the visuals, setting, costumes and accents were great. The story itself was good.

But I just couldn't get past how upset these soldiers were getting over dance steps....!

Mr. MacDougall's explanation of the fight over the dancing is spot on. Kennaway goes into much more detail regarding the feelings against Barrow for his "Saxon" ways -- again, read the book, Greg! :mrgreen:

Dancing is a large part of the Highland regiments. As Barrow says, officers were expected to know social graces -- an "officer and a gentlemen" and all that.

**Jack Daw** · 27th January 08, 12:49 PM

I know the book was written in 1956, but does the storyline indicate how long after WWII the story takes place? Clearly, Barrow is experiencing post-war trauma.

**macwilkin** · 27th January 08, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Daw

I know the book was written in 1956, but does the storyline indicate how long after WWII the story takes place. Clearly, Barrow is experiencing post-war trauma.

It takes place in the 1950's, the same as when it was written.

One more observation that I pondered about whilst I was walking the dug this afternoon regarding the dancing:

If you remember in the movie after Col. Barrow makes the announcement that there will be dance practice every morning before the cocktail party, and then proceeds to tell the officers how to dance certain dances -- no swinging on one arm, no raising one's arms in the eightsome reel, etc. -- Several of the officers complain that they've been dancing for years (i.e. as children) and the way they dance is their business, and a matter of "individual style". Barrow has insulted them by criticizing their dancing, while Barrow believes he is instructing them how to be "proper" and gentlemen.

So you see, it's not just about soldiers arguing over dancing.

T.

**Jack Daw** · 27th January 08, 04:49 PM

Well, from the movie, the impression I got was that there were military drills to go through in the morning, but that there was nothing to do in the afternoon, but take naps, lounge in the mess, or go hunting/shooting.

**macwilkin** · 27th January 08, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Jack Daw

Well, from the movie, the impression I got was that there were military drills to go through in the morning, but that there was nothing to do in the afternoon, but take naps, lounge in the mess, or go hunting/shooting.

"Officer's privileges and ameteur dramatics...", to paraphrase Jock's comment to the Barrow-boy about POW camps.

T.

**auld argonian** · 27th January 08, 05:39 PM

Okay...I looked on Amazon and it seems that getting one's hands on a copy of the book is going to be difficult...

...and I have a paperback copy of Monarch Of The Glen from Penguin UK that cost more to ship over here than the cost of the book itself...

...so, if there's anyone out there who has a copy of Tunes and hasn't read Monarch, I propose a hostage exchange. I'll be happy to USPS priority the copy of Monarch to someone who will USPS priority a copy of Tunes to me and we'll both try to get the books read within a couple of weeks and then send them back to their respective owners.

I really was thinking of offering to start passing the copy of Monarch around the group via the mail with the idea that whoever got it would read it, write their name on the title page and then send it on to another Xmarkser. It was devilish hard to get and it'd be fun to keep it moving around the forum members and see how far one paperback can get.

Any interest?

Best

AA

**Larry124** · 27th January 08, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

"Officer's privileges and ameteur dramatics...", to paraphrase Jock's comment to the Barrow-boy about POW camps.
T.

Wasn’t Barrow in a Japanese run POW camp?
Either way, for Sinclair to make light of an experience like that seemed shameful to me.
Maybe incredible also – could an officer of his rank have really been unaware of POW experiences?
Were officers who had become POW’s held to be somehow at fault for their misfortune?

**Panache** · 27th January 08, 05:48 PM

We received Tunes of Glory from Netflix yesterday. After all this discussion I look forward to watching it.

Cheers

Jamie

**macwilkin** · 27th January 08, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Okay...I looked on Amazon and it seems that getting one's hands on a copy of the book is going to be difficult...

...and I have a paperback copy of Monarch Of The Glen from Penguin UK that cost more to ship over here than the cost of the book itself...

...so, if there's anyone out there who has a copy of Tunes and hasn't read Monarch, I propose a hostage exchange. I'll be happy to USPS priority the copy of Monarch to someone who will USPS priority a copy of Tunes to me and we'll both try to get the books read within a couple of weeks and then send them back to their respective owners.

I really was thinking of offering to start passing the copy of Monarch around the group via the mail with the idea that whoever got it would read it, write their name on the title page and then send it on to another Xmarkser. It was devilish hard to get and it'd be fun to keep it moving around the forum members and see how far one paperback can get.

Any interest?

Best

AA

Ahem...consult your local public library...interlibrary loan is a wonderful service that most public libraries offer...and since you're in Chicago, your public library might just have the book.

T.

**macwilkin** · 27th January 08, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Larry124

Wasn’t Barrow in a Japanese run POW camp?
Either way, for Sinclair to make light of an experience like that was shameful to me.
Maybe incredible also – could an officer of his rank have really been unaware of POW experiences?
Were officers who had become POW’s held to be somehow at fault for their misfortune?

Yes, Barrow was "out east somewhere".

Sinclair was referring to POWS in the European Theatre, who were treated better than their counterparts in the East, although it was still pretty bad.

Jock's problem with Barrow wasn't so much that he was a POW, but because he was not loyal to the battalion. He joined the battalion as a subaltern, and then left to serve with SOE if I remember correctly -- officers who left their regiments to serve in the Commandos, SOE, etc. were frequently ostracised by fellow officers. Barrow's "sin" was double in the fact that he had a family connection with the battalion. Loyalty to the regiment was first and foremost.

Barrow also came into the regiment with a "university degree", while Jock came in "band-boy, boot-boy and Barlinnie Goal" -- a ranker who was promoted, a rarity in the pre-war British Army.

While the movie only hints at Jock's service as a piper, the book goes into much greater detail -- "in talking to the corporal, it's the pipe major I should have been". Jock even played pibrochs on the wireless.

Regards,

Todd