by Michael Lyons
When it comes to those corners of Disney history that have become somewhat forgotten through the years - movies, TV shows, theme park attractions, and even characters - Darby O'Gill and the Little People has become one of them.
Thankfully, with its story set in Ireland and rooted in the country's culture and legends, the film has resurfaced each March in the sixty-five years since its debut to help celebrate Saint Patrick's Day. Although, with Disney's catalog (including Darby) transitioning to Disney+, those March 17th showings have disappeared, and, with it, knowledge of how excellent this film is seems to have also.
Darby O'Gill and the Little People is a movie that deserves to be celebrated more than once a year, as noted writer and film historian Leonard Maltin wrote in his book The Disney Films: "Darby O'Gill and the Little People is not only one of Disney's finest films but is certainly one of the best fantasies ever put on film."
Set in the small, fictional Irish village of Rathcullen, the film centers on the title character, Darby (played by Albert Sharpe), an aging ner'do well, who is well known around the village for sitting in the pub, and sharing his "tall tales" about his meetings with the little people, the leprechauns.
Darby is being "retired" as the caretaker of an estate and replaced with a younger man, Michael McBride (Sean Connery in his American film debut). Darby is somewhat embarrassed and hasn't yet told his daughter Katie (Janet Munro).
Darby turns to King Brian of the leprechauns (Jimmy O'Dea) and the other little people for help, but Darby tricks the leprechaun king and traps him, forcing Brian to grant him three wishes. This further complicates Darby's situation, causing trouble for him and culminating in a life-or-death situation in which the wailing (and scary) banshee appears.
Directed by Robert Stevenson, who would go on to helm some of Disney's best-loved live-action films, such as Mary Poppins (1964) and The Love Bug (1968) and written by Lawrence Edward Watkin (based on stories by H.T. Kavanagh), Darby O'Gill and the Little People is carefully crafted storytelling and filmmaking.
As Darby himself, Albert Sharpe, who spent most of his career on the stage and only made about a dozen films, is a wonder. The twinkle in his eye, coupled with his sometimes innocent/sometimes mischievous delivery, would lead anyone to believe in leprechauns.
The actor crafts a character that's just a joy to watch on screen, and he has fantastic chemistry with actor Jimmy O'Dea, who plays King Brian of the leprechauns like King Lear, with seriousness and heart, making the magical world seem all that more real.
It's no wonder that Connery went on to a career as 007 and beyond, as he is a true charmer on screen, and Munro is extremely likable as Darby's put-upon daughter.
Some incredible visual effects also significantly influence Darby O'Gill and the Little People., which uses a concept of "forced perspective" an optical illusion where actors stand in different locations while filming gives the appearance of differences in size.
The technique allows Darby and the Little People to seemingly occupy the same space. A sequence where Darby visits the realm of the Leprechauns is still astonishing six decades later in our age when computer-generated imagery makes anything possible.
Just as unique and terrifying is a sequence toward the film's conclusion where the wailing banshee visits Darby through a "negative" film and color technique.
When Darby O'Gill and the Little People debuted, the promotion for the film, including an episode of Disney's weekly TV show, hinted at the fact that the leprechauns in the movie were real. This even carries over to a quote from Walt in the opening credits:
"My thanks to King Brian of Knocknasheega and his leprechauns, whose gracious co-operation made this picture possible."
This technique gives the film a heightened sense of wonder.
This author first saw Darby O'Gill and the Little People at the Mayfair Movie Theater in Commack, NY, during the summer of 1977 as a double-feature with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, which was part of the "Disney Summer Hit Parade" film festival.
Darby O'Gill and the Little People was magic then and is even more magical today, sixty-five years later. Thanks, indeed, King Brian.
For more of my articles, podcasts and to learn more about my book Drawn to Greatness: Disney's Animation Renaissance, visit Words From Lyons !
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