Brigadoon's plot is a little strange, but that doesn't matter. Good songs, quick lines, and great stars hold it together. Although it was later in his career, Gene Kelly is great in this. I believe that his best number in Brigadoon is Heather on the Hill, with the lovely Cyd Charisse. Her portrayal as a small-town girl is a bit hard to buy due to her worldly and sophisticated air, but her performance is not unwatchable by any long stretch. Her character Fiona is nicely set up with the wistful song Waitin' For M'Dearie. She's dubbed, but the voice fits. Van Johnson is very funny, with his lines and their perfectly-timed deliveries. I like the teaming of Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel, but I can't imagine them here. Another thing about the casting; they seem to be having fun. A great example of this is in the number I'll Go Home With Bonnie Jean. Johnson and Kelly hit an exceptionally high note for a good amount of time, and, impressed with each other, shake hands. Little things like this add to the charm. Yes, the sets are obviously just that, and the film would've been that much better if it had been filmed on location as Gene Kelly wanted it, but Brigadoon is still good and something to see.
