Brigadoon (1954)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Alan Jay Lerner (screenplay)
Alan Jay Lerner (musical)

Release Date:

8 September 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The Big Broadway Musical Hit!

Plot:

Two Americans on a hunting trip in Scotland become lost. They encounter a small village, not on the map, called Brigadoon, in which people harbor a mysterious secret, and behave as if they were still living two hundred years in the past. |

Plot Keywords:

Village | American | Hunting | Scotland | Dance

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Gene Kelly	...	Tommy Albright
Van Johnson	...	Jeff Douglas
Cyd Charisse	...	Fiona Campbell
Elaine Stewart	...	Jane Ashton
Barry Jones	...	Mr. Lundie
Hugh Laing	...	Harry Beaton
Albert Sharpe	...	Andrew Campbell
Virginia Bosler	...	Jean Campbell
Jimmy Thompson	...	Charlie Chisholm Dalrymple
Tudor Owen	...	Archie Beaton
Owen McGiveney	...	Angus
Dee Turnell	...	Ann
Dodie Heath	...	Meg Brockie (as Dody Heath)
Eddie Quillan	...	Sandy

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo | Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:G (re-rating) (1971) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #16971) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The background set was so realistic that some birds from outside flew into it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tommy first meets Fiona, he asks if there is an Inn nearby so that they can have some breakfast, She answers "no". Soon after, just before the "Go home with Bonny Jean" song, the crazy character in the blue top says to Charley that "We won't be seeing you in the tavern any more". Is there an inn or not?

Quotes:

Mr. Lundie: Anything is possible when you love someone. Even... *miracles*?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Chariots of Fire (1981)

Soundtrack:

The Chase

Well I liked it...

Despite all of the critical bashing of Brigadoon, I thought it was very nicely presented. Before I go any further, be forwarned that I have never seen Brigadoon on stage - only on screen - so I can't make comparisons. IMHO, MGM couldn't have casted a better Tommy; Gene Kelly is perfect and (although I agree that he may not be the best singer ever) I didn't doubt his ability to play the part a bit. Van Johnson steals the show as well. As well, Cyd Charisse was wonderful as Fiona, she made the character seem so believeable and was perfect for the part.

Granted, Brigadoon would have been much better had it been filmed on location in Scotland, but due to budget cuts MGM was forced to film it in beautiful, sunny Culver City. The painted backgrounds are obvious (the same injustice was done to "7 Brides" which, like Brigadoon, was to be done on location but was ultimately filmed at the studio) but the backdrops are not meant to be the centerpiece of the show; why are we placing so much fault on these? I agree that the dance sequences got to be a bit long, but with Gene Kelly, who cares?

We can, however, be thankful that MGM didn't cast Howard Keel or Kathryn Grayson in Brigadoon. As much as I love Keel's work in his other MGM endeavours (such as Show Boat and 7 Brides), he would have been totally wrong in Brigadoon and Grayson's operatic singing would have done Fiona a terrible injustice.

Overall I thought Brigadoon to be a wonderful screen interpretation of one of Broadway's crown jewels. It will definately be getting a second viewing here!. Rate 8/10