Tunes of Glory | | Cast : | Alec Guinness, John Mills, Susannah York | | Director : | Ronald Neame | | Studio : | Criterion Collection | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | December 20, 1960 | | DVD Released Date : | February 17, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | NR (Not Rated) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 01, 2005 | | Summary | One of the finest dramas ever captured on screen! Do Not Miss It! | Content
 | In one of his greatest roles, Sir Alec Guinness plays Jock Sinclair, a Lieutenant Colonel in a Scottish regiment, a burly man's man who's worked his way up from the ranks. When we first encounter Jock, World War II has just ended and he's happily esconced in a castle that serves as regimental headquarters, surrounded by his cronies. He gets news that the regiment has a new Colonel, Sidney Mills (played by the recently deceased Sir John Mills). Barrows is the complete opposite of Sinclair: Eton and Oxford educated, upper class, even a bit prissy. He's a martinet who insists on things being done according to the book, and his arrival starts a rift among the officers of the regiment. I won't say anything more about this movie other than to praise the marvelous acting by everyone in the cast. This is one of the finest dramas I have ever seen depicted on screen, with some real twists that you don't expect. Guiness steals the show. He could play any role, from pope to Jedi Knight. (Watch "Kind Hearts and Coronets" where he plays eight different roles!) Here you never doubt that he's a Scotsman who worked his way up the ranks from piper's boy, through his the strength of his will and the power of his fists. If they were to remake this movie, they'd probably put Sean Connery in his role, but I'm not sure the great Sir Sean could fill Sir Alec's shoes here. I highly recommend that you see this film if you like a powerful human drama with great acting! |
| Rating | | | Date | March 27, 2005 | | Summary | Inspiring, Compelling, and Highly Watchable Military Drama | Content
| This one's been sitting in my collection for a while and I finally popped it in and watched it. I'm glad I did. Not only was I treated to an amazing drama, but also to the brilliance of Sir Alec Guinness and John Mills. Alec Guinness was one of our finest actors, and in Tunes of Glory, he is without peer. His portrayal of the whiskey-loving and irascable Jock Sinclair is one of the highlights of his estimable career. John Mills, who plays his antithesis, is equally memorable as the replacement colonel whose by-the-book leadership sets the stage for a clash of wills that is mesmerizing to watch.
Mills plays his role so well his frustration with Guinness's Sinclair is almost palpable. At times, Colonel Barrows's head almost explodes in apoplectic fits. Sinclair's heavy-drinking and jocular exploits is too much for the straight-laced Barrows, and the confrontation between these two large egos can only end in tragedy.
A great examination of military ritual and tradition, and a fine example of superb acting. Highly recommended. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 05, 2005 | | Summary | An Excellent Movie, With Guinness and Mills | Content
| This is a sad, great, superbly acted movie about the struggle for dominance in a Scottish regiment after WWII. Colonel Jock Sinclair (Alec Guinness) was named acting commander of his regimental battalion and now expects to be confirmed. He's an up-from-the-ranks officer, hard drinking, bluff but sly, whose whole life as been the regiment. He demands loyalty and manliness in his officers. But he isn't confirmed. Coming to replace him as battalion commander is Colonel Basil Barrow (John Mills). He's everything Sinclair dislikes, aristocratic, privileged, from a military family. He also is something of martinet, a man who prizes decorum in his officers, a man who was a prisoner of war and returned shaken. Something of a weak man.
The stage is set for Barrow to try to take moral command of the batallion, and for Sinclair to undermine him every step of the way. The result is that both men, with their own weaknesses, destroy themselves.
A number of elements makes this, in my opinion, a powerful motion picture. The setting is batallion headquarters in Scotland, located in a towering, massive stone hulk of a building that reeks of tradition. It's winter and it's cold, and it's a perfect setting for the struggles going on. The customs of the regiment, the playing of pipes, all underline the closed-in atmosphere of this all-male society. The cast is excellent, from the actors playing the soldiers to the NCOs to the officers. Dennis Price, a first-class actor, is cool and enigmatic as the battalion's exec who may have to pick up the pieces and who may not be so disinterested as he appears. And Guinness and Mills are extraordinary, with both playing against type. While Guinness has the flashier role, Mills brings such depth of well-intentioned weakness that the match is equal between the two. You wind up understanding both men and having sympathy for both. Most of all, I think, is the story. It is a fascinating look inside a regiment, tied to a story of real power and tragedy as these two men ruin their lives. This is great story telling and great acting. I recommend the movie.
The Criterion disc is first rate. Among other extras, it features an excellent interview with the director, Ronald Neame, in which he describes the filming of the movie. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 23, 2005 | | Summary | A very nice movie with great music | Content
| This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.
"Tunes of Glory" is one of the greatest films I have seen which star Alec Guiness. The film is about a batallion of soldiers in Scotland under the command of Jock Sinclair (Guiness) He is an eccentric man and is nearing retirement. When his replacement arrives, he disaproves of his methods. They begin to argue over the right way to command and later the argument is on the verge of becoming violent.
The film has some excellent acting and excellent music performed on the bagpipes. Much of it was composed for the film. There is also excellent scenery and great acting by Alec Guiness and John Mills.
The special features on the DVD are a video interview with director Ronald Neame and an audio interview with actor John Mills. There is also a 1970's BBC interview with Alec Guiness. There is also a theatrical trailer.
I highly recommend this film and it is bound to remain a classic for a long time. |
| Rating | | | Date | October 07, 2004 | | Summary | Whisky for thems that like it. For thems that dont, whisky! | Content
| "Tunes of Glory" is everything you might want from this type of movie. Full of rough-hewn Scots drinking life with the same enthusiasm as they drink their whisky, "Tunes of Glory" plays wistfully with the Scottish stereotypes of good natured, dancing and singing soldiers of a highland regiment. There are tunes a'plenty, and twirling kilts and bagpipes as well. A story of post-war peacetime soldiers, one cannot call it a war movie or but it is military in flavor,with pipes and drum corp assembled.
In addition to the Scottish pageantry is a surprisingly deep storyline and some of Sir Alec Guinness's and Sir John Mills's best acting, which is saying a lot about those two giants of film. Both play against type, with Guinness's surprising turn as red-haired Jock Sinclair, the course and gutter-born Major who seeks to be Battalion Commander, and Mill's emotionally unstable yet straight-laced Battalion Commander Basil Barrow, the very opposite of the spirited garrison who struggles to keep control. Both characters are likeable, yet deeply flawed, and it is a question as to which will overcome their defects and rise.
The looseness and fun-loving background of the regiment is a fine background for the tense struggle of Sinclair and Barrow. Supporting characters, such as the slippery Charlie Scott, and Sinclair's daughter Morag and her beau the handsome piper Ian Fraser, provide counter balance and some much-needed affection in this heroless film.
The Criterion Collection DVD is of course excellent, with a few insightful interviews with Sir Alec Guinness, Sir John Mills and director Ronald Neame. There is also a nice essay by Robert Murphy, which adds to the appreciation of the film. |
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