Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)

Director:

Robert Stevenson

Writers:

Lawrence Edward Watkin (written by)
H.T. Kavanagh ("Darby O'Gill" stories)

Release Date:

26 June 1959 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

More than a wee bit of magical shenanigans!

Plot:

In the enchanted Emerald Isle, Darby O'Gill spins tall tales of leprechauns and banshees. Unfortunately...

Plot Keywords:

Leprechaun | Banshee | Father Daughter Relationship | Irish Mythology | Wish

Cast

Albert Sharpe	...	Darby O'Gill
Janet Munro	...	Katie O'Gill
Sean Connery	...	Michael McBride
Jimmy O'Dea	...	King Brian
Kieron Moore	...	Pony Sugrue
Estelle Winwood	...	Sheelah Sugrue
Walter Fitzgerald	...	Lord Fitzpatrick
Denis O'Dea	...	Father Murphy
J.G. Devlin	...	Tom Kerrigan
Jack MacGowran	...	Phadrig Oge
Farrell Pelly	...	Paddy Scanlon
Nora O'Mahoney	...	Molly Malloy (as Nora O'Mahony)

Also Known As:

The Little People (USA)
The Wishes of Darby O'Gill (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Irish Gaelic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Iceland:L | USA:Approved (certificate #19015) (original rating) | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1969) | Argentina:Atp | UK:U | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Albertson Ranch, Triunfo, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

The lighting used to make sure the actors were kept in proper perspective without seeming false used up so much electricity it apparently blew out a substation in Burbank when the lights were turned on without warning.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Michael and Katie escape from the the bully in the field, Michael's neck-scarf has fallen down his shirt and is no longer visible. After Katie mentions that she didn't care if Michael got hurt, his scarf suddenly is tied prominently around his neck and plumped under his chin.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Katie O'Gill: Come in, Mrs. Sugrue!
Sheelah Sugrue: Katie, darlin'! Can you lend me the loan of a small pinch o' tea; I'll pay ye back Thursday.
Katie O'Gill: Ye can have it an' welcome.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Legend of the Bog (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Wishing Song

Here's to Darby O'Gill

I do not know how much I would like this movie if I saw it today for the first time. But, since I grew up on this movie, I have no choice but to absolutely love it. We had this videocassette in our closet for years, it didn't have a cover on it, but it didn't need one. Wow, how I grew up on those colorful special effects. Those leprechauns riding small white horses around an old Irish man playing the fiddle. The horse turning silvery when enchanted by the leprechauns. The Banshee. Oh, that Banshee. You've never seen a scarier Banshee on film and you never will. A fantastic movie. A young Sean Connery is in it, and that old woman with that scary voice is fantastic. And Darby O'Gill...ahh.. one of the best family films and fantasy movies out there. ANd don't forget the scary, black creativity of the Death Cab.

Here's to Darby O'Gill. Clink

My grade: 9/10