Tunes of Glory

[macwilkin]

All the more reason to present the film's regiment as a fictional entity, so the viewers would concentrate on the film as 'Morality Tale' and not as an indictment of a real unit.

Amen. Here endeth the lesson.

Kennaway certainly drew upon his own experiences, I'm sure, but I think KKCB's statement is the truth.

T.

[MacWage]

I had this on my netflix list, but saw it on my father's shelf last week in Atlanta. I "lifted" it (to be returned when my copy arrives from Amazon).
Yes, I forked out the money to BUY IT after one viewing!!!
(It doesn't come cheap, even from Amazon.)

I can say, I WAS IMPRESSED!!!!
Well shot and a VERY interesting film. I know a wee bit about the Highland regiments, but not much compared to many on this forum.

In regards to an earlier statement:
The Criterion release is color, I'm not sure what it was originally. It looks FANTASTIC!!!!
Even for someone who does not understand the recent history and traditions of these units.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side note:
The director said the author (who wrote the script and served as technical advisor) served with the Argyles unit. Here it says Gordons.
Which is correct? (I assume and trust the one's here, as they are well versed on the film, book and the regiments).
-Minor point, just my curiousity.

(I appologize for any and all spelling errors in this post. I am tired and had a rough, long day.)

Thanks for bringing it to my attention!!!

[macwilkin]

John,

According to James Kennaway's biography on SLAINTE: Information & Libraries Scotland:

he did his National Service in the Cameron Highlanders and later with the Gordon Highlanders on the Rhine, whom he remembered for their "petty squabbling for authority in the mess". This period was to form the basis for his first, and most memorable novel, "Tunes of Glory."

Cheers,

Todd

[Seaforth Piper]

...and for me the most significant quote from the movie is;

"More than a soldier needs arms to fight with, or legs to run with, he needs teeth to hold on with"

[MacWage]

A friend gave me a tartan tie in Scott (Brown).

It IS the "Tunes of Glory" tartan!

So, it now HAS been IDed.

Scott (Brown):
Name of Tartan: Scott Htg
Alternative name: Scott brown
ITI number: 1546 Date: pre 1906
Category: Clan/Family
Designer / Source: Unknown

[Larry124]

Here is a scan of my Celtic Croft Economy Homespun kilt in that tartan.

[kilted_brewer]

About the identification of the regiment portrayed in the movie:

I recently rented the movie from Netflix, and the DVD contained several extras, including a long conversation with the director, I think, Ronald Neame.

There's quite a wealth of information on the making of the movie in that short, but specific to which regiment it is, I remember the director saying several telling things. Most importantly, that they had wanted to film at the Argylls' castle barracks, (and then his making a parenthetical comment to the effect that that was the regiment they wanted to portray, or something to that effect), and had set a meeting after having a favorable response to several officers' reading the screenplay the movie-makers had sent over for review.

They showed up at the meeting the next day and entered the CO's office to find the mood had changed, and they could see instantly why: on the CO's desk, there was a copy of a paperback reprint of Kennaway's novel, and on the cover the publisher had put a still shot of Alec Guinness (Jock Sinclair) in uniform with Kay Walsh (Mary Titterington) on his lap. The story went on that the CO was not pleased, but the film-makers eventually were able to get him to agree to let them film at the barracks on the condition that they alter the roofline of the castle in post production using a matte so that the easily identifiable roofline would not be recognized.

I returned the movie a couple of weeks ago (after grabbing a couple of still shots for helping to identify what I now think is the 1951 pattern greatcoat*...anyone know where I can get one?), but if you're on Netflix, put it in your queue if only for the DVD extras -- there's a conversation (audio-only) with John Mills and Alec Guinness (didn't watch it, so don't know if it's video or similarly audio-only), as well as the informative director interview mentioned above.

*

Here's a shot of Alec Guinness as Jock Sinclair in Tunes of Glory in his greatcoat (photo lightened to show off the greatcoat: the shot in the film is really dark)

[Mr. MacDougall]

Someone may want to edit the first post in this thread, and take that image out....

[McMurdo]

I found some screen captures here

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDRev...s_of_glory.htm