Fife’s “Brigadoon twin town” Strathmiglo is rolling out the red carpet to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the film’s premiere.
The village’s former picture house showed the 1954 movie in what was thought to be its first-ever UK screening.
Local legend says Strathmiglo was chosen because it resembled the fictional Brigadoon from a certain angle.
Directed by Vincent Minelli, the Gene Kelly musical tells of a magical village that only appears once every hundred years.
And its Fife showing, on June 27 1955, caused great excitement.
Film fans and the press packed out the small picture house off the high street.
Scottish TV celebrities Archie McCulloch and Kathie Kay also attended.
However, rumours Princess Margaret put in an appearance proved to be unfounded.
But just like Brigadoon, many other details are shrouded in mist.
Strathmiglo Brigadoon premiere was ‘hugely exciting’
The picture house may be long gone, but there are still people in Strathmiglo who attended the screening.
They heard at the time, and still believe, they were the first in Britain to see the film, although definitive evidence is hard to come by.
And on Saturday, they can watch it again thanks to a special event in the village hall.
Graham Bowie of the Strathmiglo Village Hall committee said: “I’ve lived in Strathmiglo all my life.
“When asked where I’m from, I’m proud to say Strathmiglo is famous for two things – Johnny Cash and the Brigadoon UK movie premiere.”
American country music star Cash was born in Arkansas but discovered in the 1970s his family originally hailed from the Fife village.
Graham added: “Local rumour has it Strathmiglo was picked for the first Brigadoon showing because someone associated with the film thought it looked how a mythical village could look.
“There are a couple of people in the village who actually went to the premiere.”
One contributor to The Courier in 2012 called it “a hugely exciting event”.
Getting youngsters involved
A block of flats now occupies the former cinema site.
And all that remains is the name of the lane, Picturehouse Close.
Graham hopes this weekend’s sold-out anniversary showing will live long in the memories of younger villagers, just as the premiere has with more senior residents.
School children have been busy producing their vision of a mythical village that only appears once a century.
And their pictures will adorn the hall’s walls on Saturday.
“That’s another generation who will remember Brigadoon,” Graham said.
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