Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)

 Excellent image quality, charming special effects.
First of all, it must be said that unlike the videotape version, which is blurry and almost unwatchable, the DVD version is crystal clear and is as sharp any contemporary television program.

The story is excellent for kids. There is the contrast between good and evil, namely, a sneaky brute who likes to pick fights, versus Sean Connery, who is honest and charming.

Fantasy scenes abound, for example we see a leprechaun being changed into a rabbit. We see mountainsides spontaneously opening up where inside can be found dancing leprechauns and treasure chests spilling over with gold coins.

DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE is set in a small Irish town. Darby O'Gill is an old widower who likes to pass the time telling stories at the pub, to the delight and disbelief of others. As long as town priest Father Murphy isn't around, Darby spins yarns about the little people who he has encountered at a hilltop known as Knocknasheega. Meanwhile, Katie, his daughter, is content to take care of things at home, and insists she doesn't have time or great desire for a love.

One day Lord Fitzpatrick arrives in town and delivers the news that Darby is to be replaced as caretaker of the Lord's estate. Rather than upset his daughter with the word of his retirement, Darby tells her that the caretaker-to-be is merely helping with some house work. That man is Sean Connery, a polite, young fellow who feels that Darby should let his daughter in on things.

Darby has another task in mind. He's to ride into the next town and bring back the new church bell for Father Murphy. At night, while he's trying to get his horse, he falls down the well atop Knocknasheega and plummets down the well and into the world of leprechauns.

Here, a wonderland sequence depicts Darby amongst countless leprechauns. Darby encounters the legendary King Brian Connors the 5,000-year-old leprechaun monarch (just under two feet tall). King Brian explains that Darby has been brought to their world as a favor, allowing him to escape the disappointing early retirement he faces in the other world. This scene is accompanied by Irish fiddle music, fiddling with lightning speed.

The leprechauns can only work their magic when it is dark out, and while a leprechaun will grant you three wishes, making a fourth wish negates the three before. General merriment ensues as Darby plays the fiddle and the leprechauns do hundreds of heel clicks and assorted clogging steps. The music, supplied by fiddles and pipes, is a wonder to behold.

In another scene, Darby tricks the King into staying with him all night, in an episode where Darby and the King exchange dozens of silly rhymes. The exchange of rhymes occurs in a barn, and a nearby horse engages in many amusing expressions, a feature of the film sure to amuse every kid. Another highlight, is that Darby teases the King by allowing a cat to chase the King about the barn, and the King hides behind the spokes of a wagon wheel to protect himself, the spokes resembling a jail cell. The King and Darby resume their laughing exchange of silly poems, but once the rooster crows at dawn, and the sun comes out, the King has lost his powers (e.g., to jump through doorways) and Darby succeeds in capturing the King and puts him into a bag. Then Darby demands his three wishes. (I don't reveal the ending.)

I saw this movie when it first came out, in a theater in Philadelphia. It was a hot day. I was only eight. Although the movie has scary parts, I was not particularly scared. I found the banshee part about as scary as the plague scene in THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, a movie released a year or so before DARBY O'GILL. May 7, 2008

 reliving childhood
I remembered being terrified of the "Banshee" when I saw this as a child. Seeing it again as an adult was really enjoyable: the light hearted nature of the characters and the repartee between Darby and the leprechaun king was very funny. It certainly has appeal to anyone with some Irish background. April 23, 2008

 Fun, Pre-classic Disney action, with caution!
This movie is adorable- to ME. My kids couldn't keep from watching it- for it is engaging to them to watch imaginary creatures- leprechauns of course! They sang the songs and were mystified by the scenes. However, it is very difficult to understand and follow the language the first time you watch it. The Irish and botchy covered Scottish is not smoothed over, so especially if you've not spent much time with folks from there, you might find yourself rewinding. Also, as captivating as it is, it also has some scary parts. I was not as sensitive to them as I should have been. My eight-year old pointed out to me that the spooky horse scene and the banshee (ghost of the dead) are really scary. And they wanted to watch the movie a second time in a row, while covering their ears and eyes for these parts, despite their fears! When I told my younger brother about it, he exlaimed how scared he was of the banshee when he watched it as a younster as well. So there you have it. But it's quite fun to watch Sean Connery in his big film debut- Walt Disney apparently helped him make it in Hollywood in the late 50's! There are some REALLY neat post-film commentaries and "how'd they do that?" demonstrations, which are entertaining for the older set. Disney film production was just coming out with special effects in this film, and it's interesting to learn how they did it. So- enjoy with a bit of salt! March 15, 2008

 Classic =) reat for St. patty's day
I remember every year around St. Patricks day watching this growing up. I am looking forward to sharing it with my kids and relatives, and also its just a godd old fashioned fun Disney movie. Whats even better is seeing the young bond match wits with the leprechauns!
February 15, 2008

 Going all Celtic-- Disney-style
"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" was Disney's attempt to sweeten and make family-friendly Irish folklore. Sean Connery stars as Michael McBride,a new arrival in a small Irish town coming to take the O'Gill's property. Of course,he falls for Darby's daughter. Don't expect Connery to bring out his 007 charms; Darby O'Gill's daughter is hardly a bikini-clad Bond girl.

"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" has a surprisingly complicated (i.e. boring) plot. McBride is the target of evil witchcraft,while Darby is off making deals with Brian,King of the Little People. There's magical mischief galore,along with banshees&pranks. In the end, true love triumphs. After all,it's Disney.

For a children's movie,"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" has a convoluted plot. Sean Connery sings,and there's an attempt to be true to Irish culture. Still, it's a dull movie that deserves to be pinched for not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day. The Little People are short on thrills. January 28, 2008

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