Brigadoon

Originally published on social media May 26th, 2022

This is the perfect film for a rainy spring day like today! The weather is warm, but misty and cloudy, and it makes you feel as if you were actually in Brigadoon.

Ironically, the show “Schmigadoon” kept me going during the last few weeks of school and was on in the background as I wrote at least 3 of my essays. While I’ve seen all the musicals that schmigadoon both mocks and honors, I realized that it’s been too long since I’ve seen Brigadoon. In some ways, old musicals can blend into one another, and what differentiates this from all others is how unique the story truly is.

Grandma loved this musical for so many reasons. For one thing, she loved Gene Kelly and thought he was so handsome and talented! Also, this musical happens to have the most catchy soundtrack… “I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean” is a bop. Here’s an interesting fact: did you know this musical is where the song “almost like being in love” originates? Granted, it premiered on Broadway before film, but I would have never realized the two were connected until watching it this time around. Nat King Cole performs this song the best.

Grandma loved the idea of traveling, and traveled whenever she could, and I think the Scottish culture fractured in this film really appealed to her. Brigadoon embraces the folk tale side of Scotland, and who wouldn’t love to travel to a cheery dream like Brigadoon?

I love all those aspects of Brigadoon just like Grandma, as well as the costumes, color design, and choreography. After being in a class that discussed the history of dance, I have a deep appreciation for the way this film made history and embraced multiple styles of dance. We watched a couple of scenes from this film for homework, and I love the fact that people are still talking about it. Gene Kelly was an incredibly talented choreographer, which granted made him a monster at times. After doing a project about Gene Kelly specifically, I love watching for all his different signature moves.