first let me say Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse are two of my favorite film musical stars. But their film version of Brigadoon is by far one of the worst translations of a great stage musical that I have ever seen, It is not a bad film, in fact if you've never seen it on stage it is really quite good. But it is an incredibly incomplete film.
Of the fifteen individual songs in the stage show only seven were used in the film and most of these were cut in half. As others have said, leaving out both of Meg's wonderfully comic numbers is criminal, as is the removal of the the beautiful love song "Come to Me Bend to Me". If they were so intent on turning this into a dancers musical why did they cut out some of the best dance numbers, the Sword Dance, "Jeannie's Packin' Up" and the ballet number associated with the revelation of Harry's death.
I will admit I am very partial to the stage show, I'm currently designing my second major production of the show.
For those who have difficulty with the story you should know that it based, not on any Scottish or even English language folktale but rather on an old German folktale and the title actually refers to the bridge across the river Doon (Brig O' Doon) which figures in the Robert Burns classic "Tam O' Shanter"
So, if you've never seen the stage show enjoy. If you have seen the stage show, enjoy anyway but know now that you will be greatly disappointed with this "half" hearted attempt
Of the fifteen individual songs in the stage show only seven were used in the film and most of these were cut in half. As others have said, leaving out both of Meg's wonderfully comic numbers is criminal, as is the removal of the the beautiful love song "Come to Me Bend to Me". If they were so intent on turning this into a dancers musical why did they cut out some of the best dance numbers, the Sword Dance, "Jeannie's Packin' Up" and the ballet number associated with the revelation of Harry's death.
I will admit I am very partial to the stage show, I'm currently designing my second major production of the show.
For those who have difficulty with the story you should know that it based, not on any Scottish or even English language folktale but rather on an old German folktale and the title actually refers to the bridge across the river Doon (Brig O' Doon) which figures in the Robert Burns classic "Tam O' Shanter"
So, if you've never seen the stage show enjoy. If you have seen the stage show, enjoy anyway but know now that you will be greatly disappointed with this "half" hearted attempt