Brigadoon was the original Scottish time-travel story. Well, sort of. It was about a Scottish town that only existed one day, every one hundred years. In the story they called it a miracle, obtained by their parish minister. He assured that the town and its people would never be in the same century long enough to be influenced or changed by the outside world. But no one could ever leave the boundaries, or the magic would be broken.
Brigadoon was originally a Broadway musical which opened in 1947. The film version was released in 1954 and starred Gene Kelly as Tommy Albright, Van Johnson as Jeff Douglas, and
Cyd Charisse as Fiona Campbell.
Brigadoon was originally a Broadway musical which opened in 1947. The film version was released in 1954 and starred Gene Kelly as Tommy Albright, Van Johnson as Jeff Douglas, and
Cyd Charisse as Fiona Campbell.
I sort of wish I lived in Brigadoon. The way the world is today, I could have hopes that the next century might be better. I know that’s optimistic. It could be that the human race will end up destroying itself. But there is always hope for a brighter future.
In the film version director Vincente Minnelli showed a direct contrast to the simple life in Brigadoon to modern, busy New York City with crowds of people drinking and being loud. Even Van Johnson’s character, Jeff, who never liked Brigadoon, tries to seclude himself on his bar stool by pretending there are patrons to his left and right.
The story opens when two friends go game hunting in Scotland and run into a village which is not on any map. They just happened to catch Brigadoon on its one day in that century. Tommy Albright (Gene Kelly) falls immediately for Brigadoon resident, Fiona Campbell (Cyd Charisse), even after he discovers that she was born in 1734.
There is loads of singing and dancing throughout. Gene Kelly choreographed the entire film.
The story opens when two friends go game hunting in Scotland and run into a village which is not on any map. They just happened to catch Brigadoon on its one day in that century. Tommy Albright (Gene Kelly) falls immediately for Brigadoon resident, Fiona Campbell (Cyd Charisse), even after he discovers that she was born in 1734.
There is loads of singing and dancing throughout. Gene Kelly choreographed the entire film.
Gene Kelly and Van Johnson
At the end of the day Tommy and Jeff watched Brigadoon and Fiona fade into the mist. They return to New York, but Tommy can’t get her out of his thoughts. They return to Scotland to find the empty spot where the enchanted village once stood. Suddenly it magically reappears out of the mist.
The real theme of the story is love. Mr. Lundie who told Tommy and Jeff the secrets of Brigadoon, states that only true love can make a difference in the spell. When Tommy sees him on the other end of the village bridge Mister Lundie tells him “Tommy, lad, you! My, my, you must really love her. You woke me up. I told ye, if you love someone deeply enough, anything is possible ... even miracles."
Cyd Charisse as Fiona Campbell, Gene Kelly as Tommy Albright, Barry Jones as Mr. Lundie, Van Johnson as Jeff Douglas
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