The central character in this film is not so much the character played by Alec Guiness but the character played by John Mills.
Col Barrow has been a prisoner of war. While a prisoner, the only thing that kept him going was The Regiment. He has idealised the regiment, and when he is finally made Colonel-in-chief, he is finally coming home. But what does he find? Lax discipline, a whisky culture, wild dancing. He sets about doing something about it. But, despite his rank, the status quo gets the better of him, and he ends up shooting himself.
Like the outsider, Barrow, sees things in the regiment that those in the regiment do not, so the Scot in exile sees things about Scotland that those who live there do not. He sees people dancing and hooting to Scotland the Brave, something that a German or an American would never do while Deutschlandlied or The Star Spangled Banner plays. He sees Harry Lauder or Rab C Nesbitt, popular in Scotland, but abroad ruining Scottish dignity. He might return to Scotland and try to do something about it, but is spat out by Scotland as Col Barrow is spat out by the Regiment.
You see, Col Basil Barrow does not have a Scottish name. He does not have a Scottish accent. He has an aversion to the national drink. And yet he is the only true Scotsman. And that is the thread that runs through the entire film.
Beautifully written, beautifully acted. A British, nay, a Scottish classic.
Col Barrow has been a prisoner of war. While a prisoner, the only thing that kept him going was The Regiment. He has idealised the regiment, and when he is finally made Colonel-in-chief, he is finally coming home. But what does he find? Lax discipline, a whisky culture, wild dancing. He sets about doing something about it. But, despite his rank, the status quo gets the better of him, and he ends up shooting himself.
Like the outsider, Barrow, sees things in the regiment that those in the regiment do not, so the Scot in exile sees things about Scotland that those who live there do not. He sees people dancing and hooting to Scotland the Brave, something that a German or an American would never do while Deutschlandlied or The Star Spangled Banner plays. He sees Harry Lauder or Rab C Nesbitt, popular in Scotland, but abroad ruining Scottish dignity. He might return to Scotland and try to do something about it, but is spat out by Scotland as Col Barrow is spat out by the Regiment.
You see, Col Basil Barrow does not have a Scottish name. He does not have a Scottish accent. He has an aversion to the national drink. And yet he is the only true Scotsman. And that is the thread that runs through the entire film.
Beautifully written, beautifully acted. A British, nay, a Scottish classic.