Others here have very ably and fondly described the movie's storyline, characters, and acting; however, there has not been attention paid to the music in this film, especially to Kathryn Grayson's talents
Miss Grayson's talents are well displayed, both as a singer and as an actress, and her amazing voice is put to good use here without seeming overly contrived, even to modern ears; the songs were appropriate to the scene, such as when Miss Grayson's character was entertaining two little girls by singing to them playfully, or when an impromptu ensemble joined on the home's front porch one evening, singing and laughing, which was not at all unusual in the days before air conditioning, televisions, and computers.
Individually and in ensembles, many of the cast contributed their vocal and instrumental talents, with two moments standing out as particularly touching: the congregation singing at the funeral (with Miss Grayson having a prominent role), and the town's men singing a heartfelt "Auld Lang Syne" at the film's closing scene.
No, this is not a musical, but like many films of that era and of this genre, there is music in it. It is not music that is merely incidental or music that underscores on-screen action, but music integral to the story and which is itself part of the dialogue -- part of the story.
"The Vanishing Virginian" is a gentle reminder of how the masters of a bygone era told their stories. Sometimes it seems we are missing a lot in more modern movies.
