Two friends (Robert Goulet and Peter Falk) are on vacation in the Highlands of Scotland. Oddly, they walk into a village on no map--a village that comes alive every hundred years and then disappears due to 'the miracle'. During their day in this 18th century town, the pair have a nice time--particularly Goulet whose character falls in love.
There is a very good chance that once you read this review, you'll notice that I tacked an addendum onto the end. That's because I have not yet seen the 1954 Hollywood version of "Brigadoon" (with Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly) and I really would love to compare the two. I am pretty sure that this made for TV 1966 version is much different, as it really looks like they filmed a play--not made a traditional movie. Because of this, many of the sets look like stages and the sets, at times, are almost very minimalistic. Now there are some exterior shots here and there--but mostly the 1966 version looks just like a play.
So did I like it? Well, I didn't love it--but I sure respected it. Robert Goulet and Sally Ann Howes had marvelous voices. In particular, I loved Goulet and it was a joy to hear him sing--even if the songs, in my opinion, are not among Lerner & Loewe's better work. Only one song ("Almost Like Being in Love') was particularly memorable and the songs did occasionally sound almost operatic--but the quality of the voices was superb. There also was a lot of dancing--another reason I wasn't bowled over by it. But, the story was nice and the ending gave me enough that I could overlook the rest.
If you would like to see this, the only way I know to get it is from archive.org--a site often linked to films on IMDb. Since it's in the public domain, it is available free to download. Interestingly, a few of the original Armstrong commercials are still on the file--though most have been deleted.
UPDATE: Only a week later, I watched the 1954 version. I liked the earlier version just a bit more though it was interesting that the film was much more of a dance film than a musical--due to the casting of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in the leads, I assume. My advice is to see both versions.
There is a very good chance that once you read this review, you'll notice that I tacked an addendum onto the end. That's because I have not yet seen the 1954 Hollywood version of "Brigadoon" (with Van Johnson, Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly) and I really would love to compare the two. I am pretty sure that this made for TV 1966 version is much different, as it really looks like they filmed a play--not made a traditional movie. Because of this, many of the sets look like stages and the sets, at times, are almost very minimalistic. Now there are some exterior shots here and there--but mostly the 1966 version looks just like a play.
So did I like it? Well, I didn't love it--but I sure respected it. Robert Goulet and Sally Ann Howes had marvelous voices. In particular, I loved Goulet and it was a joy to hear him sing--even if the songs, in my opinion, are not among Lerner & Loewe's better work. Only one song ("Almost Like Being in Love') was particularly memorable and the songs did occasionally sound almost operatic--but the quality of the voices was superb. There also was a lot of dancing--another reason I wasn't bowled over by it. But, the story was nice and the ending gave me enough that I could overlook the rest.
If you would like to see this, the only way I know to get it is from archive.org--a site often linked to films on IMDb. Since it's in the public domain, it is available free to download. Interestingly, a few of the original Armstrong commercials are still on the file--though most have been deleted.
UPDATE: Only a week later, I watched the 1954 version. I liked the earlier version just a bit more though it was interesting that the film was much more of a dance film than a musical--due to the casting of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in the leads, I assume. My advice is to see both versions.