A Lucky Pair: The Perfect St. Patrick’s Day Double Feature!

By Michael Lyons

Neither movie was released in March, but through the years they have become as closely associated with St. Patrick’s Day as Parades, corned beef and cabbage, green beer, bagpipe music, shamrocks and even shamrock shakes!

“The Quiet Man” and “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” have become viewing staples for many on or around March 17th.  Sure, there are many other films set in Ireland and/or that use the Irish culture as its background, but “The Quiet Man” and “Darby O’Gill” truly capture the beauty, the wonder and yes, even the magic, of Ireland.

The two couldn’t be more different in their story or tone, but together, they make the perfect St. Patrick’s Day Double Feature!

And, our double feature begins with...

“Darby O’ Gill and the Little People” (released June 26, 1959)

One of Walt Disney’s most under appreciated live-action films, the film tells the tale of the title character (Albert Sharpe) an aging, ner do well, who acts as a caretaker of a local estate in a small village in Ireland and regales the townsfolk in the local pub of tales of leprechauns or Little People.

When Darby finds himself captured by King Brian and the other Leprechauns, he uses his wiles to not only escape back into town, but he captures King Brian, and also tries to use the leprechaun’s magic to play matchmaker for his daughter Katie (Janet Munro) and the town newcomer Michael (Sean Connery in his first US film).

Michael has been sent to town to replace Darby at his job and other complications, and a wee bit of magic, soon arise.

Directed by Robert Stevenson (who would go on to helm “Mary Poppins” and become a stalwart Disney director), “Darby O’Gill” is brimming with charm, starting with the film’s actors.

As Darby himself, Sharpe is amazing: a constant glint in his eye, perfect comic timing and the ability to deliver real emotion during the film’s gripping climax.  Munro is full of charm as Katie and Connery’s charisma was evident even in his early days.  Additionally, Jimmy O’Dea as King Brian proves the perfect antagonist for Darby.

Another star of the film are the visual effects.  Not only is the scale and world of the Little People brought to life believably, Sharpe’s ability to exists within it is nothing short of amazing.  If there’s a chance to check out the DVD’s bonus features on how this was accomplished, it’s worth checking out, as a glimpse into the trials of bringing visual effects to life decades before computers were a reality.

There is also a finale involving a banshee that is extremely effective and surprisingly scary.  All of this practical movie magic brings Irish folklore perfectly to life.

Many of the Studio’s films have eclipsed it through the years, but “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” is, without a doubt, the best Disney classic you’ve never seen.

After a brief intermission, we will begin the second film in our St. Patrick’s Day double feature...

“The Quiet Man’ (released September 14, 1952)

Never has the Irish countryside and its people come to life more fully on film than in “The Quiet Man.”  

In it, John Wayne plays Sean Thornton, an Irish born American, who returns to Inisfree, the small town of his birth in Ireland.  While there, he falls for the fiery read head Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara) and causes quite a commotion in the community, upsetting Mary Kate’s brother Will (Victor McLaglen), a bullying farmer and landowner, which results in a finale fight between the two of them that goes on for almost ten minutes!

The cinematic joys of “The Quiet Man” begin during the film’s comforting opening credits that play over shots of Ireland and last until the final shot of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara walking into their “wee humbles cottage.”

In between, is a leisurely paced story that never once is dull, but instead is loaded with colorful characters that we come to know as close friends and neighbors by the film’s end.

This is thanks in all parts to the supporting cast of “The Quiet Man,” which includes the the scene stealing and amazingly impish Barry Fitzergald as Michaleen “Og” Flynn, the village matchmaker and bookmaker; stalwart actor Ward Bond as the village priest and Mildred Natwick as the spinster widow Tilane.

Directed by Hollywood legend John Ford (who would win an Oscar for his efforts), “The Quiet Man” is a labor of love that’s evident with the care that’s evident up on the screen.

This is filmmaking at its finest and watching “The Quiet Man,” it’s easy to see why the movie influenced an entire generation of filmmakers, most notably Steven Spielberg, who featured a scene from the film as part of a pivotal moment in “E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial.”

Like that film, “The Quiet Man” is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.  This tale of family, tradition and life’s real treasures is not just a perfect “St. Patrick’s Day” film, it’s a film for all seasons.

And so, the curtain closes on our double feature.  Now, off to the pub for a pint!

Wishing you all the Luck in the world and a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Sources: Wikipedia

IMDb