MovieChat Forums > Brigadoon (1954) Discussion > Remake Brigadoon

Remake Brigadoon

posted 18 years ago by cagskg
44 replies | jump to latest

I think a new film should be made of Brigadoon. The perfect person to play the main character of Tommy would be Hugh Jackman. He can sing, dance and act and has a charismatic personality which can be seen in the DVD of the London stage version of Oklahoma. As many would know he won the Tony award for the "Boy from OZ" stage musical in New York. He could play the part as an Australian. The perfect person to play his friend Jeff would be Todd McKenny an Australian who is a superb dancer, can sing and act well. Todd played in "The Boy from OZ" in Sydney which I saw. If they wanted the two main characters to be American as in the original movie, well Hugh can put on an authentic American accent and what about John Travolta as his friend Jeff. As Mr Lundie I would have Sean Connery or Billy Connolly. What about Ewan McGregor as Charlie Dalrymple. As for the parts of Fiona and jean, I don't know, maybe newcomers would be good. The film must be filmed on location in Scotland. There are some beautiful small villages in the north of Scotland. I read recently that Gene Kelly and the director of Brigadoon of 1954 wanted to film on location in Scotland but were told it would be too expensive.

The things the original film had going for it were:

lovely lyrical songs - extra could be added to a new film.
Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse were good in their dancing scenes.

Not so good things:

The fake settings.
The bad Scottish accents.
The acting was not too good.
Some of the highland costumes made me cringe, they looked so false.

As a matter of interest Bundanoon a village in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia becomes Brigadoon for one day in early April each year. People come from Sydney, Canberra and coastal areas to the Highland Gathering. There is street parade where about 20 pipe bands march down to the sports oval and the Highland Gathering takes place. It is a magical day, I know because I often attend. My son plays the bagpipes in one of the bands. I was born in Scotland and emigrated to Australia many years ago.

What a place to have the premier of a new "Brigadoon".

[–] broadway309 18 years ago

I agree that they should remake Brigadoon, as long as they remake it WELL. There are just too many things about the 1954 version that are unbearable. But it is a beautiful musical and if done right, could rival the likes of Moulin Rouge and Chicago.

I love Hugh Jackman, but I don't know if he'd be quite right as Tommy. An unknown Broadway actor/dancer with looks and personality might be better. Ewan McGregor would make a good Charlie, if only because he can sing well enough and he has an authentic Scottish accent.

The biggest problem the remake would face is trying to match up to the talent of Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. Although their acting and singing were rocky at points, their screen presence and dancing are superbly unbeatable. We're talking best of the best.

Interestingly enough, Catherine Zeta Jones spoke of wanting to remake Brigadoon after Chicago came out. She's a big advocate of trying to give it attention. But I don't know if she would be right in the part of Fiona. I just don't think it would be believable to audiences.

But it will be awesome if some director takes a chance and remakes this wonderful movie.

[–] Blumanatee 18 years ago

What they need to alter if they remake it (and I think they should...provided it be done well), is the story line. I don't mean change what Brigadoon is-- a town that comes back for one day every 100 years, but the reason for Brigadoon's "miracle". The witches premise is just too silly (although Jeff's comment about how we have them in modern times but pronounce the word differently would be missed). They should base it in historical fact to be more plausible. Like English troops were coming to masacre the villagers after Culloden for refusing to submit to the new Highland laws. Wearing plaid and playing bagpipes and speaking Gaelic were forbidden. Mr. Lundie could be anxious to preserve Brigadoon's citizen's innocence and culture, and save them from the death, famine, and suffering that the Brittish soldiers were bringing to the rest of Highland Scotland.

[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

The storyline is just fine for what this is -- a musical fantasy. "Brigadoon" is not about real life Scotland or Scottish history, and doesn't need to be. Too "realistic" a plot in a story of this kind would be much too heavy for the fairy tale aura of the story.

[–] TANSD76 11 years ago

I have to agree. I think it worked before and you may be able to sell it in the musical but for modern audiences, it comes across as a bit too religious. I mean, I understand the theme of "faith" but I think you could easily play up faith in a more subtle way than hitting the audience over the head with actually going up to a hill and praying that God protects you from the influence of the outside world. It might be a bit of my own personal bias as well, knowing what I do about those so-called witches. In the hands of a capable writer, there are a multitude of ways you could alter the story while keeping the original spirit of the text. Of course, there aren't too many of those writers working in Hollywood right now.

[–] walterm-1 17 years ago

My idea for remaking *Brigadoon* is a bit different. It should take place on Brigadoon's third day, i.e. in 2055 in our calendar. One of the travelers should be a woman, a highly successful professional. She might try to pry the Gene Kelly character away from Cyd Charisse. If we want to keep it on a lighter note, maybe she could find another local swain not given prominence in the original version. Maybe her companion might turn out to be the right man for Meg.

[–] dmnemaine 14 years ago

Catherine Zeta Jones would be better cast as Meg Brockie who sings "The Love Of My Life" and "My Mother's Wedding Day", which leads me to my biggest problem with the 1954 version of the film. They cut half the score. Besides the musical numbers that were cut after filming -- "From This Day On", "Come To Me, Bend To Me", "Sword Dance" and "There But For You Go I" -- both of Meg's songs and "Jeannie's Packin' Up" never even made it that far. A remake of "Brigadoon" needs to have the entire score intact.

[–] TANSD76 11 years ago

I think big stars aren't necessarily a bad choice for musicals like this. But Hugh Jackman is absolutely wrong for the part. He's a decent singer and actor but he has TERRIBLE vowels and his musical performances ride on his charm and not his talent. The problem is I can't think of a mainstream Hollywood star who has the ability to sing the part. But if they did do a remake maybe in the audition process they'd discover an actor who had done musicals in school (as many of them seem to have done) who would surprise us all.

I agree that Kelly and Charisse stumbled in the acting and singing a bit but they were earnest enough to sell their parts and make you want to root for them. I actually prefer their dancing in other films as I felt that in Brigadoon the choreography didn't make much sense. It didn't have a motivation or really drive the story forward. For me, it was just a series of lifts and turns that showed off the beautiful skirts of Charisse's costumes. I actually wouldn't mind if they cut some of the dance scenes, or at least cut the length of them in a remake since I feel like that was part of what made the film drag. I fast-forwarded through most of the wedding.

[–] justoldbill 18 years ago

I bet Catherine Zeta Jones has it in her heart to play Meg Brockie. With "The Real Love Of My Life" and "My Mother's Wedding Day", not to mention the scene of her seduction of Jeff, she'd end up being the one talked about (not unlike Gloria Graham in OKLAHOMA!). She just doesn't have the light, lyric quality the role of Fiona calls for.

[–] professorharoldlloydhill 18 years ago

Hugh=PERFECT for Tommy
Jeff=I'm not sure....it's gotta be some one that can carry the comic relief tho...
Fiona=KRISTIN CHENOWETH (loud cheering and "huba Hubas")

[–] blanche-2 8 years ago

The Broadway show did not have dancers in the leads. Tommy, Jeff, Fiona, and Meg are all singers. There is a tremendous amount of dancing from Harry Beaton and others, just not from the leads.

[–] cagskg 17 years ago

Bundanoon is Brigadoon one day in April each year.
www.highlands.com.au./brigadoon/

[–] garen_ruy 17 years ago

One of my first thoughts when I saw Brigadoon was that there should be a remake, and Ewan McGregor should be in it. Then I started casting it in my head, rewatching the film and all. Cyd Charisse's costume and hair are absolutely nauseatingly fifties. Whoever thought that giving her short hair like that was a good idea should be shot.

Yes, I'm a stickler for historical accuracy. Comes of being a history major.

[–] birdiespet 17 years ago

I agree. I also think maybe it should be remade on Broadway, too.

Gosh, I can think of many musicals that should be revived on Broadway or remade on screen and maybe this time do it more like the Broadway musicals since so much is changed anyway and it would give them a fresh spin that they wouldn't have to dig for.

Some musicals I would like to see remade on Broadway/film

Finian's Rainbow
Brigadoon
Call me Madam
Carnival
Company
A Little Night Music
Mack and Mabel
La Cage Aux Folles
Bells Are Ringing
Babes in Arms
The Boys from Syracuse.

They are always remaking the Sound of Music, Showboat, Anything Goes, Gypsy or South Pacific. I don't think hardly any of what I mentioned above has been remade and if it has been revived on Broadway, it has been a long time since the last revival.

[–] sarahew239 17 years ago

They did remake La Cage aux Folles on Broadway. It was nominated for a bunch of Tonys last year.

[–] Campdmg 16 years ago

Well....it's not being remade on film, but it's being brought back to life on Broadway! This is a beautiful show with a wonderful score.

No casting yet.

[–] srichert-1 15 years ago

another vote here for hugh jackman as tommy. kelly could dance, but singing voice was anemic. the tv presentation of brigadoon in the 60's was a tremendous showcase for the musical score, but studio bound. it was good television but this needs to head to the scottish highlands. robert goulet's tv performance of the lerner and loewe songs was remarkable. i think hugh jackman can approach that level with dancing chops to boot. would someone please pass these suggestions along so the american public can finally get a brigadoon production worthy of this american musical treasure.

splunge

[–] readinglips 17 years ago

I am SO relieved to read how many people don't like this film! (I thought it was just me...) Just rewatched it on DVD and it was -- once again -- a snooze: they cut some of the best songs and filmed it on sets. Very disappointed, so finding this discussion was reassuring (LOL).

As for the remake -- perhaps this is a film whose time has come. I don't find the plot or the magic unbelievable, and I think it would stand up quite nicely. Hugh Jackman would be a good Tommy. I thought Emmy Rossum was good in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA -- would she be too young for Fiona?

And, please: put COME TO ME, BEND TO ME back in. I remember being enchanted when I heard it in the 1966 TV version and always wondering why it was not in the film.

[–] caks1813 17 years ago

Emmy would be too young to play Fiona, but she would make a fantastic Jean. I happen love the idea of Hugh as Tommy and Ewan as Charlie (or even James Marsden). Fiona and Jeff will be hard to cast. Some of today's Broadway stars could really translate wonderfully on the screen -- Sutton Foster, Ashley Brown, Gavin Lee, Roger Bart, and Diana Kaarina come to mind.

Anything that is an original beloved stage production is hard to translate to the screen unless you have the original author expand/alter minor details and the backstory (which usually what happens more frequently in these cases) like with ALW's Phantom. It would've been crap if he hadn't personally overseen every detail from casting to sets to story to costumes.

It's going to take people that are first and foremost theatrical directors and choreographers to make musicals for the big screen today -- much like Susan Stroman did for The Producers (2005) and Rob Marshall for Chicago (2002). I'd even include the most recent movie musical of Hairspray (2007) into this category.

Thoughts?

[–] shannanigan 17 years ago

I'd rather shoot myself than see this movie remade by Hollywood today.

I'm sorry, but todays "musical" films lack that special something that makes me love the classics from the 40s and 50s. Its the bad technicolor, mid-century spin on costumes and cheesy sets that make them so enduring in my mind. But today's audience needs to have the bigger, better, faster, flashier film to entertain them.

I think its sad that Hollywood feels it needs to remake everything now (including plays!!!), please don't encourage them. Hollywood needs to get some imagination instead of ruining classic films and Broadway plays.

[–] bhogle-2 17 years ago

Hallelujah and Amen!!!!!

[–] kathyselden 17 years ago

This is the first time I've ever been on a "remake" board where it is almost unanimously agreed (let's just ignore shannanigan's post) that it SHOULD be done :D Never thought I'd see the day. And in case you haven't figured it out yet, I agree.

Fiddle-dee-dee!

[–] blnj25 17 years ago

If they remake it ...... they definitely need to keep the wonderful songs and dancing ...... they were wonderful in the original. The filming on the back stage lot was horrible for this film ..... they definitely need to do on location filming for a remake.