Brigadoon (1954)

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.

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

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

Stars:

Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

Americans Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, on a hunting vacation in Scotland, discover a quaint and beautiful village, Brigadoon. Strangely, the village is not on any map, and soon Tommy and Jeff find out why: Brigadoon is an enchanted place. It appears once every hundred years for one day, then disappears back into the mists of time, to wake up to its next day a century hence. When Tommy falls in love with Fiona, a girl of the village, he realizes that she can never be part of his life back in America. Can he be part of hers in Brigadoon?

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Plot Keywords:

village suspended in time | stone foot bridge | grouse hunting | fog | thatched roof stone house | 

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Taglines:

In The Joy Of Color

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Genres:

Fantasy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the cost cutting measures inflicted on this film was shooting in Anscocolor instead of the more expensive Technicolor that was normally used for the lavish MGM musicals.

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Goofs

The lass who calls Jeff a "Winnin' lad" then kisses him, complains about the lack of single men in the village. The later wedding scene shows this claim to be ridiculous. Men far outnumber women in the wedding scene, and most are strapping young lads. The only possible counter-argument is that they are mostly married, but this would require them to have left their wives at home. This, also, would be ridiculous, as no woman would willingly stay at home for a wedding in a small village.

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Quotes

Tommy Albright: Let me ask you something... suppose someone in Brigadoon got fed up and wanted to leave? What then?
Mr. Lundie: Och, he canna leave!
Jeff Douglas: You mean *I've* got to stay here now?

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Alternate Versions

A 1.75:1 wide screen version was filmed simultaneously with the 2.55:1 CinemaScope version. It is comprised of alternate takes.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teenage Caveman (1991)

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Soundtracks

The Heather on the Hill
(reprise) (uncredited)
Danced by Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse
Played by the M-G-M Studio Orchestra conducted by Johnny Green

User Reviews

Surprisingly Enjoyable!

I have adored Gene Kelly ever since I saw Singin' in the Rain when I was about 10, but I had never seen Brigadoon until renting it a couple of days ago. Yes, the story is far-fetched--but somehow it works. Yes, the scenery looks like it is from a high school play, but I became too caught up in the story (yes, there IS a story) to care. In reading the other comments, I'm SO glad that the Keel/Grayson team wasn't used. Keel is too macho and gruff and Grayson is too sugary. I think Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse gave their characters the necessary gentility and earthiness. My only complaint is that I wish the director let the viewer linger with the closing scene for a few more seconds. It ends a little too abruptly and with a few unanswered questions about Van Johnson's character. Despite that, it was very enjoyable and even ponders some deep points, especially in the line "Sometimes things you have faith in become more real to you than the things you can see and touch." Watch it with a light heart and you won't be disappointed.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 September 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brigadoon

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$2,352,625 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1