christoph404

Was that Edinburgh Castle or Stirling Castle or a large film set at Shepperton Studios?

AndrewLA

Stirling Castle -- though you're not supposed to know that. The commanding officer didn't like the portrayal of the regiment in the script and insisted the castle not be named. The interiors were Pinewood, I thought -- but not certain about that.

WIGGY

JUST A POINT OF INTEREST,THE PIPE BAND SEEN PLAYING ON THE SQUARE WAS FROM THE THEN Ist BATTALION LONDON SCOTTISH REGIMENT,THEY ALSO APPEARED IN THE FILM IDLE ON PARADE WITH ANTHONY NEWLY,BUT HERE IS THE JOKER IN THE PACK THE THEN DRUM MAJORS NAME WAS TED OWEN AND HE WAS FROM WALES,I KNOW THIS AS FACT AS HE TAUGHT ME TO PLAY THE SIDE DRUM WHEN I WAS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD ,I ALSO SERVED WITH HIM IN THE LONDON SCOTTISH REGIMENT.

JamesM

It is uncomfortable to read when you use caps lock.

christoph404

That would make sense that a London based band was used in the film. I have since discovered through further research that practically the whole film was shot on a very large set at Shepperton, including all the exterior castle courtyard scenes etc.Filming was not allowed inside the Castle at all. There is a brief establishing shot of the exterior of Stirling Castle with the opening credits and a brief exterior at the end when Col Sinclair is driven out in the jeep and thats all. None of the cast or crew ventured to Scotland, second unit covered those brief exteriors, all the rest is studio constructed. Its very well done, I come from the Town of Stirling and Im very familiar with the castle, for years I thought it was actually filmed there. If I had a pound for every time Edinburgh Castle is incorrectly credited in print as being the location for the film I could have retired yonks ago. I guess I feel a bit protective toward my home town of Stirling, it is often used for location filming when filmakers are looking for an "old Edinburgh background" Most recently it provided the backdrop for a 2005 film version of "Greyfriars Bobby" with Greg Wise, James Cosmo, Sean Pertwee, Gina McKee and Christopher Lee as the Lord Provost of Edinburgh! Its a not bad film, all filmed within the grounds of Stirling Castle and surrounding streets of Stirling and the "top of the town" graveyard next to the castle doubling for Greyfriars Churchyard. There is a 15 second insert of the real Greyfriars church yard and again even some local newspaper reports of the fillm cited it as being filmed "on location in Edinburgh" !!! grrrrr well yes perhaps 15 seconds worth! The rest is the very interesting and historical Town of Stirling!!..

dsb

It is true to say that the design of the built sets for Tunes of Glory was based on architectural features of Stirling Castle and also that none of the sets built accurately reproduced any part of the castle. For example there is no level parade ground as shown in the film.
Even the opening shot of Susan Hampshire walking up to the castle is not actually of Stirling Castle. While the building in the background appears to be Stirling Castle and is obviously based on it, close examination shows that it incorporates a circular castellated tower to the left (as you look at it) and a long low building to the right - neither of which exist at the actual castle. Also the main facade is much higher than the real building.
Presumably this was a matte painting.

christoph404

It was Susannah York rather than Susan Hampshire remember You are right about the exterior being disguised with a matte painting which slightly alters the appearance of the outside of Stirling Castle. The view of the Susannah York character walking away from the camera and towards the castle in the opening scenes was filmed on location there, I would imagine a double doing the honours wearing the same costume. The Commander of Stirling Castle granted permission for some exterior shots on the proviso that the Castle should not be instantly recognisable, hence the matte painting. It's still instantly recognisable to me! I think the set designer might have visited Edinburgh Castle as well using aspects of its architecture as well as Stirling's. There is a fairly large courtyard within Stirling castle, its on a slight slope but almost as big as the parade ground featured in the film, I guess that feature was used as a reference for the set. Some aspects of the set are very similar to the layout of the real castle, for example as you come through the portcullis there is indeed a little gate building to the right where Angus lennie is lambasted for making tea. As you look out from the portcullis there is a statue of Robert The Bruce which is represented in the film though he is facing the wrong way!

dsb

Thanks christoph404 for the correction re Susannah York.
I think, between us, we now have everything sorted out!

TimR

Thanks for the information and the insights, Chris404 and DSB - I just saw this for the first time and I'm interested in how and where it was made. The outstanding Criterion DVD has plenty of detail, and this adds to it. It's helpful to get the Scots perspective.

donna

This is all interesting stuff I never knew about, my son was married in Stirling Castle beautiful small chapel in there, going off subject now but did you know that the tower in the mission in Vertigo isnt there at all , it was constructed for the film, the Mission is still standing thought towerless today.