Gene’s Brigagloom: How had to shoot the movie on
Screen legend’s widow reveals his regrets over Hollywood shoot
Its lavishly kilted, all-singing all-dancing villagers and spectacular, misty glens have been both loved and ridiculed for generations as the ultimate Hollywood vision of Scotland.
But the widow of Brigadoon star Gene Kelly has revealed his regret that the movie was shot on-set and not on location in his beloved Highlands.
Patricia Ward Kelly told of his passion for all things Scottish ahead of two special shows next month celebrating the life and career of the dancer, actor and director.
Gene first came to Scotland in 1953 when he was preparing for Brigadoon, the story of an American tourist stumbling upon a magical Highland village that only appears once every 100 years.
“Brigadoon was on Broadway and MGM wanted to turn it into a film,” explained Patricia.
“Gene had envisioned it all and wanted to film it in the Highlands.
“He saw it as a John Ford western but set in Scotland, with the clans coming over the hills.”
Gene travelled to Edinburgh from London by train to scout locations with producer Arthur Freed.
“There are great pictures of him in Edinburgh and Glasgow,” added Patricia.
“They drove around the country with a map, checking out places, but due to budgetary reasons MGM refused to shoot it on location and instead it was all done on a sound stage.
“I believe there was a sense of remorse from Gene that it wasn’t filmed in
You cringe at some of the accents but there’s a magic to it
Scotland. I’m always so surprised that the reaction to Brigadoon is so positive, because I’m sure you cringe at some of the accents.
“But there is a real sense of something magical about it.”
Patricia told how the scouting trip sparked Gene’s enduring love of Scotland.
He would attend ceilidhs when he visited, later incorporating what he learned into famous films like Singin’ In The Rain.
“He had such affection for the place – not just the beauty but the literature and dance,” Patricia explained. “Folk dancing often played a role in his choreography – you’ll see it in Singin’ In The Rain.”
Gene returned to Scotland when Invitation To The Dance opened the 1956 Edinburgh Film Festival. The Queen was