Salient. The Newspaper of Victoria University College. Vol. 19, No. 7. June 16, 1955

[Introduction]

The producers of "Brigadon" made the amazing statement that they went to Scotland to find somewhere that looked like Scotland, but couldn't so retained to Hollywood. And it is painfully obvious that they remained there. Scotland doesn't come into the picture at all, unless it is in the form of tartans and phoney accents. The scenery is so obviously stage scenery, which of course some will say doesn't matter in a musical. But in this one it does. The producers want us to think it is natural. "Brigadoon's" decor fails because it is neither stylised nor natural it has neither the stylised charm of "Where's Charley" nor the natural simplicity of the better parts of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

The director Vincente Minnelll, who incidentally was one of the Americans in a cinematically convincing Paris, seems to be ill at ease about the whole affair. He chooses a lightweight story that does not suit his talents, and makes it almost tedious by heavy treatment. His camera changes angles in a too sophisticated manner to capture the brilliance of at least two big production numbers. There is a chase through a forest, dramatically built up with musical commentary when the drama simply isn't there. Minnelli doesn't know his Scotland or people who live there. No amount of brilliance will cover up a lack of such a quality. It is significant that when Minnelll returns to New York we have the best part of the film.