Tunes of Glory is a 1960 British drama film directed by Ronald Neame, based on the 1956 novel and screenplay by James Kennaway. The film is a "dark psychological drama" focusing on events in a wintry Scottish Highland regimental barracks in the period immediately following the Second World War. It stars Alec Guinness and John Mills, featuring Dennis Price, Kay Walsh, John Fraser, Duncan MacRae, Gordon Jackson and Susannah York. Writer Kennaway served with the Gordon Highlanders, and the title refers to the bagpiping that accompanies every important action of the battalion. The original pipe music was composed by Malcolm Arnold, who also wrote the music for The Bridge on the River Kwai. The film was generally well received by critics, the acting in particular garnering praise. Kennaway's screenplay was nominated for an Oscar. Plot Set in January 1948, the film opens in an officers' mess of an unnamed Highland Battalion, Jock Sinclair announces that this is his last day as acting commanding officer. The hard-drinking Sinclair, who is still only a major despite having been in command (as a brevet lieutenant colonel) since the battalion's last full colonel was killed in action during the North Africa Campaign, is to be replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Basil Barrow. Although Sinclair led the battalion through the remainder of the war, winning a DSO as he took it "from Dover to Berlin" (He also holds an MM a medal only awarded to Other Ranks), Brigade HQ considers Barrow—whose ancestor founded the battalion—a more appropriate peacetime commanding officer. Colonel Barrow arrives a day early and finds the officers dancing rowdily. He declines sharing a whisky with Sinclair, taking a soft drink instead. They exchange histories. Sinclair enlisted as bandsman in Glasgow and rose through the ranks, Barrow came from Oxford University. He served with the battalion in 1933. Assigned to "special duties", he has lectured at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Sinclair humorously notes that he was in Barlinnie Prison's cooler for being drunk and disorderly one night in 1933. When Sinclair presses Barrow about his war years, he replies that he, too, was "in jail". Sinclair recalls that Barrow was a prisoner of the Japanese and belittles the experience—"officers' privileges and amateur dramatics". Barrow simply replies that Barlinnie would have been preferable. At 3 am, Sinclair and Scott are drinking, alone. Sinclair reveals his frustrations and plans: "I've acted Colonel, I should be