Tunes of Glory

A compelling study of leadership in a peacetime Scottish battalion, Ronald Neame's 1960 Tunes of Glory is a superb vehicle for the great British actors Alec Guinness and John Mills. Long before he was immortalized as Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, Guinness shone here as Jock Sinclair, the brash, red-haired colonel who is acting commander of a regiment of loyal, devoted soldiers. Quick with a drink and hearty tales of military bravado, Sinclair is a brazen foil to his studious replacement, Col. Barrow (Mills), a hot-tempered martinet whose by-the-book style couldn't be more different, or less likable. In adapting his own novel, James Kennaway keenly establishes the psychological opposition of these two stubborn men, demonstrating the equal merit of their military careers while exploring class distinctions and, ultimately, their failure to reach a mutual understanding. Guinness was originally offered Mills' role, but suggested a switch to avoid comparison to his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai; an inspired decision that resulted in a timeless film that speaks volumes about military men and the winning (or losing) of hearts and minds. Sporting a solid transfer and clear Dolby Digital mono sound, this Criterion Collection release also features a handful of notable extras: a charming, intelligent 23-minute 2003 interview with Neame, a somewhat cryptic 2002 audio interview with Mills, an absolutely delightful 15-minute 1973 TV interview with Guinness, and an essay by film historian Robert Murphy. Highly recommended. (J. Shannon) [Blu-ray/DVD Review—Dec. 3, 2019—Criterion, 107 min., not rated, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1960’s Tunes of Glory features a fine transfer with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray release. Extras include an interview with director Ronald Neame from 2003 (24 min.), a 1973 TV interview with costar Alec Guinness (16 min.), a 2002 audio interview with costar John Mills (15 min.), and a booklet with an essay by film scholar Robert Murphy. Bottom line: this classic British war drama makes a welcome debut on Blu-ray.]