Tunes of Glory (1960)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(1,011 ratings)

Two excellent actors shine in powerful roles in this drama by Ronald Neame that pits one Scottish army colonel against another. Alec Guinness is Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair, a man who temporarily takes over command of a regiment until his replacement, Col. Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives. Sinclair… More Two excellent actors shine in powerful roles in this drama by Ronald Neame that pits one Scottish army colonel against another. Alec Guinness is Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair, a man who temporarily takes over command of a regiment until his replacement, Col. Basil Barrow (John Mills) arrives. Sinclair comes from the lower echelons of the social order but was at least able to work himself up the echelons in the military hierarchy. He is fairly well-liked though still a little rough around the edges for some. When Barrow takes over, the two men clash almost at once. Barrow is from the upper crust, went to all the "right" schools, and believes in discipline and then a little more discipline, as well as efficient and proper bureaucratic processes. The differences between the two men threaten to rupture the unity of the regiment, especially after Sinclair assaults a soldier he finds in the company of his daughter. Barrow opts to report his behavior, leading to a climactic series of events. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Ronald Neame
Written By: James Kennaway
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 20, 1960 Wide
On DVD: Feb 17, 2004

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It reverts to sentimentality and never manages to get to anything significant.
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
Every time you think you have a firm understanding of a character's personality, something totally logical occurs that completely changes that assessment.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
one of Alec Guinness' most indelible roles
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Mills e Guinness protagonizam um belo duelo de interpretações, mas o filme se prejudica um pouco em seu terceiro ato, já que a resolução parece melodramática e artificial.

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Featured Audience Ratings

moon r

Alec Guinness eats scenery left and right and John Mills seeths on the sideline as two Scottish officers clash in a bloody war of the wills. At stake is an idea: what kind of Army, and by implication, what kind of civilisation do we have? One run by thugs acting like gentlemen, or… More
Alec Guinness eats scenery left and right and John Mills seeths on the sideline as two Scottish officers clash in a bloody war of the wills. At stake is an idea: what kind of Army, and by implication, what kind of civilisation do we have? One run by thugs acting like gentlemen, or one where gentlemen act like thugs? (Decide for yourself where you fit in the scheme of things while you watch) By no means just a two man show a regiment of supporting cast hold the flanks of this excellent, if old school, production. A must see if you've an interest in things military washed clean of propagandist rhetoric.

Cast

            Alec Guinness as Lt. Col. Jock Sinclair

            John Mills as Lt. Col. Basil Barrow

            Dennis Price as Maj. Charlie Scott

            John Fraser as Cpl. Piper Fraser

            Susannah York as Morag Sinclair

            Kay Walsh as Mary Titterington

            Gordon Jackson as Capt. Jimmy Cairns

            Allan Cuthbertson as Capt. Eric Simpson

            Duncan Macrae as Pipe Maj. MacLean

            Jameson Clark
            
            James Copeland
            
            Keith Faulkner as Piper Adam

            Gerald Harper as Maj. Hugo MacMillan

            John Harvey
            
            Percy Herbert
            
            Andrew Keir
            
            Richard Leech as Capt. Alec Rattray

            Angus Lennie
            
            William Marlowe as Lieutenant Rory

            Peter McEnery as Lt. David MacKinnon

            Gwen Nelson
            
            Lockwood West as Provost

            Paul Whitsun-Jones as Maj. Dusty Miller

            Eric Woodburn
            
            Mark Burns
            
            John Mackenzie as Pony Major

            John Barcroft
            
            William Young as Capt. Peter

            Andrew Downie as Cpl. Waiter

            Barry Steele
            
            Donald Douglas as Mess Waiter

            David Webb as Lt. Alistair
See full cast