Musical Movie Review: ***^Brigadoon (1954)

Gene Kelly puts his spin on this Lerner and Loewe musical.  Kelly is credited with the choreography.  This is a musical I was in at one point in my life, so the story I know well.  They did some nice things here, and the left out some which I miss.  Tommy Allbright (Gene Kelly) and Jeff Douglas (Van Johnson) are hunting when they loss their way.  Out of the mist a town, Brigadoon, which is not on the map.  It is a magical town.   Here we see what happens when two cultures collide.  It proves well for Tommy, and a nightmare for Jeff.  Tommy meets Fiona (Cyd Charisse) and Charlie Dalrymple (Jimmy Thompson) and his fiance Jean (Virginia Bosler), Fiona's sister.  The miracle town is doomed when one member of the town decides to leave.  His leaving will end the miracle and they will all be doomed.   The part that was minimized in the movie is that of Meg (Dodie Heath) in fact they cut both of her songs, as well as a Fiona song.
However they add a rousing tap number, with the Scottish characters being totally amused by something new, as well as some nice dance scenes.  The big dance is after the wedding.

Movie Review: ****Onward Alone

http://www.byutv.org/watch/480-418
No longer available

This movie, available through BYUTV tells the stories of the women left behind by the Mormon Battalion.  It makes its presentation through modern dance, song and narration.

The Mormon Battalion was mustered to support the Union in the Mexican-American War while the Saints were in Iowa, after being driven from Nauvoo.  500 men marched from the Midwest to San Diego.  They pioneered the trail from Yuma to San Diego.

I had never considered the stories of the women who stayed behind.  This movie will increase your appreciation of this history.