Posted by Jennifer Asencio | Published
Every year, the whole world becomes Irish for a day. We wear green, drink green drinks, and wear our day clothes. We celebrate traditional Irish things like beef and cabbage, banshees, and prechauns. Disney has it all in one classic movie: Darby O'Gill and the Little People.
The story is based on the Irish legends of the trickster Darby and his battle of wits with King Brian of the Leprechauns. In the film, Darby (Albert Sharpe) is about to retire from his job as a caretaker, a fact he cannot reveal to his daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), because she has to figure out where they will live if Darby replaces him in the cottage. Meanwhile, he regales his neighbors in the tavern with tales of his adventures against King Brian and does good things for the town, such as managing the church bell to pay for its peal that is dedicated to him in perpetuity.
King Brian (Jimmy O'Dea) is real, but only Darby has seen him so far, and his encounter with the leprechaun trades the upper hand between them as they trick each other with riddles, gems, and other mind games. As their rivalry blossoms into friendship, the town's events will come to a boil as local gangster Pony Sugrue plots to steal Darby's job and Katie's heart. And when Michael McBride comes to town, everything they know will change as quickly as a leprechaun's wish.
Michael McBride is played by the legendary Sean Connery in the first role before his first competition as James Bond (1962's. Dr. No). The 1958 film is a musical, like most Disney blockbusters of the era, and yes, Sean Connery sings. Fortunately, it is short. Besides, he manages to contain his broad aura as the new baseman so that he doesn't steal the show from its stars, Darby and Brian. His Scottish brogue also suits the Irish setting well.
The town of Darby is full of characters: the mischievous bull Pony and her scheming mother, the town priest, the innkeeper and his wife, and a host of old Irish villagers. It paints a vivid picture of what was a difficult time for the Irish people but also shows the importance of Irish storytelling as a cornerstone of a culture that helped people through the most difficult times. Irish traditionalists emphasize how important fire is céilíor an all-night party of spinning tales and singing, has been going to the Emerald Isle since its earliest days. I seanchaítheor storytellers, are still revered in Ireland to this day as they continue the tradition of passing on stories orally and in song.
More than once, Darby encounters the most famous Irish supernatural creatures, some of them beautiful and others terrifying. It's easy to forget that it's a Disney movie when things get intense, because the movie can be quite scary and touch on themes one might not expect from an offering from the Magic Kingdom. Not a kids movie, but a family movie, with enough for everyone to enjoy and a few fun songs that I swear my family never sang when I was a kid myself.
It also holds up surprisingly well for a film that is nearly 70 years old. The fight choreography and special effects are products of their time, but they're still pretty good considering they're completely functional. Sean Connery and Keiron Moore, as Pony, both show their moves several times with physical skill and clear skill. Everything looks great for its time and fits the film's world of living magic, so its age doesn't diminish its enjoyment.
To get your healthy dose of St. Patrick's Day Irish, check Darby O'Gill and the Little People on Disney+. But be careful what you wish for: King Brian can be tricky!
