Tunes of Glory - a masterpiece........

stefmcd · 07-01-2007, 13:07

.........in drama. Never heard of this film till I got hold of it a few days ago.

Guinness and Mills give towering performances. One as the bullish, 'one of the lads' hard drinking battalion leaders; the other as a repressed stiff upper lip leader for whom honour and decorum are everything.

Both could be suggested as playing against their traditional character type. The script is laced with the barely concealed bitterness that all the soldiers seem to feel for each other.

Gordon Jackson's adjutant is the only soldier who has perspective. The rest are consumed by their own demons. Dennis Price brilliantly plays the 'Iago' role. His sparing dialogue always contains critical insights into the weaknesses of his colleagues.

It is a tour-de-force of British film-making. Quite why this film has not been more loudly lauded is a mystery. Perhaps it is simply too revealing and negative about human behaviour although that did not stop films with a similarly cynical tone, such as The Hill, from being given classic status many years ago.

See it! 10/10.

John Hodson · 07-01-2007, 13:52

I can't remember where I read or heard it (it may have been the Criterion), but Mills was offered Guinness's part and vice-versa. I think it could work either way.

Ronald Neame; more than just the hack director some see him as.

Great film; nice to see a thread dedicated to it.

JoelCairo · 07-01-2007, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by stefmcd

Never heard of this film till I got hold of it a few days ago. . . Quite why this film has not been more loudly lauded is a mystery.

It has been recognised by quite a few. For example Anthony Burgess - he of Clockwork Orange fame - described Tunes of Glory as one of the greatest films ever. However, possibly for the reasons you suggest, the people who dominate discussion of movies in the media have always been oblivious to its merits.

Incidentally, what is the picture quality like?

stefmcd · 07-01-2007, 16:43

Very nice quality - in the last 10 mins there is an annoying thin vertical band in the right hand side of the screen. Criterion obviously could not economically repair this fault. Takes nothing away from the film.

Person A · 07-01-2007, 18:11

First saw this as part the Alec Guinness Season on Channel Four in the early nineties and I've very fond memories of it.

I have yet to buy the Criterion but the words of praise here have made me put it high up on my wishlist.

John Hodson · 07-01-2007, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Person A

I have yet to buy the Criterion but the words of praise here have made me put it high up on my wishlist.

It is indeed a superb release.

Douglas R · 25-04-2008, 16:34

Tunes of Glory is free today with the Daily Mail and the good news is that it is the Criterion master. The DVD opens with the words "The Criterion Collection" followed by "Jamus Films".