"Tunes of Glory" on TCM tonight

[Jack Daw]

I like the director's visual subtleties, like showing the row of whisky glasses for Jock, so that you know he will be drinking quite a bit that night.

[macwilkin]

I like the director's visual subtleties, like showing the row of whisky glasses for Jock, so that you know he will be drinking quite a bit that night.

Or the reference to "Muffin the Mule"...Annette Mills, the human star of "Muffin", was John Mills' sister.

T.

[Lallans]

This is one of several post-war films I've seen that were made depicting someone suffering from what we now call PTSD. The writers were describing what they saw in real life and were well ahead of the headshrinker community. It was interesting to see this film again and realise I almost completely missed the Colonel's real problem the earlier times I saw it.

My father used to complain that the upper class practice of blowing one's brains out thing was an overused and melodramatic British stereotype, and Monty Python actually had fun with the idea, but it fit here better than I remembered.

I also found myself wondering where the film got its kilt budget from. It would be interesting to read a history of its making.

[macwilkin]

This is one of several post-war films I've seen that were made depicting someone suffering from what we now call PTSD. The writers were describing what they saw in real life and were well ahead of the headshrinker community. It was interesting to see this film again and realise I almost completely missed the Colonel's real problem the earlier times I saw it.

My father used to complain that the upper class practice of blowing one's brains out thing was an overused and melodramatic British stereotype, and Monty Python actually had fun with the idea, but it fit here better than I remembered.

I also found myself wondering where the film got its kilt budget from. It would be interesting to read a history of its making.

In the words of Jock Sinclair, "Plus-Ten for observation". It's been a couple of years since I re-read the novel, but one interesting aspect that was left out of the film was Barrow's wife and their relationship, which was pretty much non-existant.

T.

[Jack Daw]

Or the reference to "Muffin the Mule"...Annette Mills, the human star of "Muffin", was John Mills' sister.

T.

LOL! I didn't know that!....although, I have quoted that line quite a bit in fun. It's on at 5 o'clock, BTW. Thanks for pointing out the "human" part.

[Macman]

The movie is also notable in that it was Susannah York's first film appearance (as Jock's daughter). Sadly, she passed away this month.

[Lallans]

In the words of Jock Sinclair, "Plus-Ten for observation". It's been a couple of years since I re-read the novel, but one interesting aspect that was left out of the film was Barrow's wife and their relationship, which was pretty much non-existant.

T.

The confusion most of us developed was at the end of the Vietnam era when PTSD was seriously misrepresented to the public, like so many other things connected with that war.

Anyway I wonder if there every was a movie that was as good as the book? Or even the comic book?

[Biathlonman]

I have this story second-hand from a once-formidable Scotswoman who's no longer with us. She worked at Bletchley Park during WW2.

When first premiered here in what used be known as Toronto the Good, eons ago, the promoter for Tunes of Glory wanted to make the most of the occasion, and he picked Toronto's biggest movie theatre for maximum effect. He invited pipe bands, Army Cadets, and there was lots of tartan and kilts, and a very upbeat air as people innocently went into the theatre.
Unfortunately apparently hardly anyone had read the book, and nobody of course had seen the film - which though terrific, is like a Greek tragedy.

When it ended, everyone emerged like zombies, thoroughly deflated, having been taken in by the movies promoter who just wanted maximum publicity. It was something of a minor fiasco.

But for all the reasons cited by others, Tunes of Glory really cannot be missed. It's a great film and a believable portrait of a postwar Highland regiment, and how active war service affected its officers and men.

[Jack Daw]

I highly recommend Kennaway's novel...T.

I've been meaning to find it, but have been busy.

The novel also makes Jock a much more sympathetic character.

WWII is one thing, but being called a "kiltie-kiltie cauld bum"...

[macwilkin]

The confusion most of us developed was at the end of the Vietnam era when PTSD was seriously misrepresented to the public, like so many other things connected with that war.

Anyway I wonder if there every was a movie that was as good as the book? Or even the comic book?

I would rate "Tunes of Glory" as good as the book -- Kennaway did write the screenplay, so at least he could adapt from his story, instead of someone else's interpretation.

Another excellent film adaptation, INMHO, was "The Sand Pebbles". The novel by Richard McKenna obviously went into much more detail about the US Navy's China gunboats in the 1920s, but overall, the movie certainly captured the spirit of the novel.

T.