on TCM at 8:00PM EST is Tunes of Glory

I'm starting to think Ted must have made a trip to Scotland recently and wants to see all the related movies in his film warehouse. Anyway, great news, thanks.

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll have to tune that one in.

Wall to wall kilts (Gordon) from start to finish (but my PVR dumped the last 10 minutes - PFFFFT :( )

I have read many posts on the forum regarding this film and so could not pass up this opportunity. The kilts and pipe music were very enjoyable but considering when the film was made, the subject was rather dark. By the end of the movie my wife's opinion of the "Jock" character was sometning I can't print here!

Kennaway wrote both leads as complicated characters, so I continue to watch it going from one point of view to the other. I have the film on dvd and have watched it maybe a half dozen times and haven't grown tired of it, yet.

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Originally Posted by Jack Daw

Kennaway wrote both leads as complicated characters, so I continue to watch it going from one point of view to the other. I have the film on dvd and have watched it maybe a half dozen times and haven't grown tired of it, yet.

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I agree. My VHS copy was almost worn out before I bought the DVD. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoyed the movie.

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Originally Posted by Jack Daw

Kennaway wrote both leads as complicated characters, so I continue to watch it going from one point of view to the other. I have the film on dvd and have watched it maybe a half dozen times and haven't grown tired of it, yet.

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:clap: I highly recommend Kennaway's novel for those wishing to explore the story further; Kennaway based the story on his own experience in the Gordons, and the novel has even more details that Kennaway could not include in the screenplay. The novel also makes Jock a much more sympathetic character.

T.

Found out about it just as Jock bashed the corporal. Missed to much of it.
First I'd ever seen of it, enjoyed what I saw.

I'd never seen this movie until last night. Thanks for posting the info on it! I enjoyed it very much, and it was a great movie for seeing kilts in action. I was paying close attention to the characters to see if they were wearing the kilts properly, moving naturally as if they were accustomed to kilt-wearing, etc., and I was very pleased. Some of those guys would be good examples for how to casually and nonchalantly sweep pleats when sitting, how to sit properly in a kilt, and even how to run and dance in a kilt. Good stuff!

My favorite line from the movie was early in the film when Jock said, "Whisky for those who like it, and for those who don't... whisky." :lol:

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

T.

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.

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Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

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.

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In the words of Jock Sinclair, "Plus-Ten for observation". :cool: 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.

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Originally Posted by cajunscot

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

T.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by cajunscot

In the words of Jock Sinclair, "Plus-Ten for observation". :cool: 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.

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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 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.

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Originally Posted by cajunscot

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

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

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Originally Posted by cajunscot

The novel also makes Jock a much more sympathetic character.

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

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Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

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?

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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.

This film was one of several that as a young combat arms officer cadet we were required to watch as part of our training and professional development. Bridge Over The River Kwai was another.

Wish I had been able to catch it on TCM the other day.

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Originally Posted by FreddyBeachPete

This film was one of several that as a young combat arms officer cadet we were required to watch as part of our training and professional development. Bridge Over The River Kwai was another.

Wish I had been able to catch it on TCM the other day.

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Was the Bridge movie in relation to 'How to know when it's time to frag the CO?' Because I have it under good authority that's what would have happened had the situation arisen in real life, but on the other hand non-British people I've spoken to about it believe, apparently in common with their larger communities, that the movie really happened exactly as portrayed.

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Originally Posted by Canuck of NI

Was the Bridge movie in relation to 'How to know when it's time to frag the CO?' Because I have it under good authority that's what would have happened had the situation arisen in real life, but on the other hand non-British people I've spoken to about it believe, apparently in common with their larger communities, that the movie really happened exactly as portrayed.

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"BOTRK" was a travesty to the memory of Col. Philip Toosey, the real "Colonel of the Bridge over the Rive Kwai":

http://www.juliesummers.co.uk/colonel.php
http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...s/ww2/kwai.htm

After I read Col. Toosey's story, I can't watch that movie anymore.

T.

Well, I finally acquired and watched this movie to see what all the fuss was about. Hardly in my top 10 list, but visually very nice to look at.

I thought it was cool that one of the characters, Capt. Jimmy Cairns, shares my surname. He was a good guy, too, unlike Sinclair.