Customer Reviews

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

5 star:		(146)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I saw this in theatres when first released. I was a kid, and awestruck. Then the VHS came along. It was good. And now, the best DVD you could imagine! The film could stand on its own, and at a good price. The extras are generous...2 short documentaries, and a scripted "making of" involving Disney himself. Loads of fun! The wonderful Albert Sharpe came out of retirement to make this, and he is sharp as a tack; a thoroughly complete performance. He should've had Oscar recognition. For that matter, this film was not nominated for any Oscars at all. The sweet ballad "Irish Lass", though a hit at the time, was ignored, as well as the wonderful Special Effects...and, sadly, Sharpe's performance. The most interesting element of the film is seeing Sean Connery with hair (?); he gives a fine performance and isn't that bad a singer; good insight about how he got this role, in the extras, but I won't blab away the stuff. Janet Munro made her Disney debut, here, and he used her in many others (I liked her in "Swiss Family Robinson"). I don't know what happened to her. She later gave a remarkable performance in "The Day the Earth Caught Fire"; I really like her a lot. She is a natural beauty. This is PURE Disney...sweet, serious, and especially, great for kids. Let the fantasy take them to another place, as it did for me, when I first watched it. It's Albert Sharpe, though, that gives the crowning performance of his wonderful career. Watch it. Love it. Always believe...

"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" is Disney live action fantasy at its finest. The film ably captures all the beauty and wonder of Irish folkbelief and transfers it to the screen with considerable charm, it is indeed a film the whole family can enjoy (although young kids may find the banshee a bit frightening).

Kudos to the cast, who really bring this film to life. Albert Sharpe is great as the lay about but loveable Darby O'Gill and the beautiful Janet Munro lights up every scene she's in playing Darby's daughter and Sean Connery's love interest. BTW this is the film that producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman found their James Bond in while casting about for a little film they were making called "Dr. No."

As to the issue of widescreen here is the official word from Disney (as included on a flyer in the DVD):

"Darby O'Gill and the Little People is presented as it was originally shot, in a 1.33;1 aspect ratio. When released to theaters in 1959, the studio recommended projecting the image at 1.75:1, to satisy the public's growing appetite for widescreen movies. To give the illusion of this wider image, theaters often needed to crop films at that time, and some of the picture was not seen. The following presentation has not been cropped, and none of the original image has been lost"

Hopefully that settles the issue of Disney "ruining" this film with this DVD release. So, buy the movie, pop some popcorn and settle in for a grand evening's entertainment!

Disney made a slew of films in the early to middle 60's in England, and they are such great whole family films. They are releasing The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, with the brilliant Patrick McGoohan at the same time this one comes out. I hope it's trend from Disney, because there are a lot of costume historicals that I would love to own from their British Period.

This film has long be a fav of mine. Back before Connery because forevermore in our mind James Bond, he did this nifty little Irish Drama. He is coming to take over for an Irish lord as factor, displacing an old man and his daughter. Moonlight and Magick has Connery beginning to fall for the daughter and charmed by the old man. But Da is not going down without a fight. He catches the King of the Wee People and plans of getting his three wishes.

It's done with Irish faerytale charm, Connery is proper dashing as the new hunk, (even show his South Pacific singing voice), the Irish myths are loving retold, making this a delight anytime, but a must for St. Paddy's day!

If you ever want to find out how Disney tried to bridge the gap between their classic animated fantasies and the live action spectaculars of today, DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE is a typical example of the way things shaped up in 1959. Very few of Disney's movies were specifically about the Irish people, and it is noteworthy that, even in the day of MULAN and POCAHONTAS, no animated feature has been released by Disney that concentrates on an Irish story! So this is where you would go if you wanted to look at Irish legend told through Disney's famous factory of observation and fun.

Of course for those who like looking at "stars before they were stars" the movie reveals a Sean Connery whom some will not recognize because he's just so darn young! Connery had filmed a few movies earlier in the UK, and I suppose Disney executives thought that if his name was "Sean," he might be Irish as John Ford (who sometimes said his name was "Sean") and cast him as an Irish woodsman with a huge crush on Janet Munro. Well, both Munro and Connery and Scottish but it didn't seem to make a difference to the youth of America at which this picture was aimed. The DVD transfer is stunning and filled with the creamy, crisp photography typical of Disney product at the time.

It's no QUIET MAN but it has its moments; and it's scary for kids, so turn out all the lights and let the little ones in, one by one.

Great Disney flick. Its a hoot seeing Sean Connery in his twenties. Nice family movie. I love the old Irish legends, especially the Banshee and the Coach d'Bower. Albert Sharpe does a great job as Darby. The cinematography is beautiful. My grand kids love this movie. They are 9 and 3. Its something they can watch together.

You wouldn't know it by the Amazon description, but this disc has some great bonus features, most importantly the COMPLETE episode of Walt Disney Presents "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns"! This excellent program is worth the price of the disc alone. You also get a very nice featurette on special effects--I have never seen the technique of forced perspective explained as well as it is here. Finally, Disney seems to be paying attention to the grumbling of its fans, as they bothered to include an insert explaining that Darby O'gill was in fact filmed in "full-frame" aspect ratio, and that we are getting the complete image with this release (not some butchered pan-and-scan, as has been speculated).

I've been a film fanatic all my life and to some degree I credit good ould Darby O'Gill for that. I was a guest at the world premiere on the 24th of June 1959 in the Theatre Royal Dublin. Walt Disney was there along with Albert Sharpe and Janet Munro and a whole string of cast members ( Sean Connery may have been but not sure ) I still have the souvenir programme, which by todays standards is a hoot to read. There was a huge guest list. The theatre was packed even though it held over 3500. Prior to Walt Disney making a short speech and the cast parading across the stage. The lights went down and the huge Compton organ rose hydraulically from the orchestra pit, with Tommy Dando the star organist playing some rousing tunes. Then the screen was lowered. I loved every minute of this film. Its on a par with The Quiet Man including the harsh fact that it doesn't reflect the Ireland of then or now - but frankly I don't give a damn. I've enjoyed a wide range of cinema all my life and yet every few years Darby O'Gill gets an airing and I feel better for it and considering I was only fifteen in 1959 that makes me feel even better!

This wins hands down as our favorite Disney movie of all time. Great acting, beautiful scenery and an imaginative Irish tale make for the best kind of entertainment for all ages.

Darby is the caretaker of an estate in a small town in Ireland. He's "getting on in years" but has his daughter Katie to keep him in line when he starts going on about the "little people."

When Lord Fitzpatrick sends Michael McBride (Sean Connery!) to take Darby's place, his future is uncertain.

As an extra bonus - the special effects are quite amazing (no computers to help out here). I saw a program on television awhile back on forced perspective which highlighted Darby O'Gill as one of the most notable examples.

So excited to see that this is finally being released on DVD - in August 2004! Don't miss out.

Oh why cant they make movies like this anymore? This is a wonderful movie and really does deserve to be called a movie that "the whole family can enjoy". This one has it all, comedy, drama, chills, suspence, singing, the whole shebang and not one wisecracking kid to be found. Not only does it feature a young suave Sean Connery but also the beautiful Janet Munro in one of the few films that she made. This movie is filled with myths and legends of Ireland and the special effects stand up to anything being made today and this one was filmed over 40 years ago! You will love this one!

Sean Connery at his youngest (and finest), and Janet Munro as a sweet head strong Irish "angel". Then you have the little people, Irish singing, Irish home folk, the "Banshee" and a lot of dear ole Ireland. Disney was at its finest when they made this family movie. If you are Irish - you have to fall in love with this classic movie. If you aren't Irish - welcome aboard.

Also, check out "Waking Ned Devine" and "Fiddler on the Roof". All three compete for my all time favorites; but Janet, Albert (Darby) and Sean steal my heart. Darby is a must see on every Saint Paddie's Day.

Steve Keohane, USN (Ret)
Woburn, Mass.