Darby O'Gill and the Little People

1959
G
1h 33m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

9.6K

YOUR RATING

Sean Connery, Kieron Moore, Janet Munro, Jimmy O'Dea, and Albert Sharpe in Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)

A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker.

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Adventure Family Fantasy Romance

A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker.A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker.A wily old codger matches wits with the King of the Leprechauns and helps play matchmaker for his daughter and the strapping lad who has replaced him as caretaker.

Director
- Robert Stevenson
Writers
- Lawrence Edward Watkin
- H.T. Kavanagh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

9.6K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Robert Stevenson
Writers
- Lawrence Edward Watkin
- H.T. Kavanagh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win

Molly Malloy
(as Nora O'Mahony)

Brandon Beach

Pub Patron
(uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg

Pub Patron
(uncredited)

Patrick Sullivan Burke

Leprechaun
(uncredited)

Jack Deery

Townsman
(uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum

Townsman
(uncredited)

Joanne Genthon

Witch
(uncredited)

Director
- Robert Stevenson
Writers
- Lawrence Edward Watkin
- H.T. Kavanagh
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The leprechaun effects look very high tech and complicated, but most of them were achieved very simply by placing the "normal sized" actors closer to the camera than the "tiny" ones and lining them up on the same horizontal plane through the lens so the distance between them could not be detected. This technique is known as "forced perspective."

Goofs
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
[inside the Death Coach]
Darby O'Gill: In the years to come, maybe you'll keep an eye on Katie and Michael.
King Brian: I'll do that. T'is a pity you won't be there to see them married.
Darby O'Gill: Ah, it's better for the old to die than the young. In the end, we all have to go.
King Brian: That ye do.
[pause, King Brian gets a sly look on his face]
King Brian: I wish I could go with you all the way.
Darby O'Gill: [sighs] I wish ye could, too.
King Brian: [laughing] An' you a knowledgeable man! Ha ha ha ha! Darby, you've wished your *fourth* wish!
[Darby starts]
King Brian: Good-bye, Darby me friend!
[Brian magically pushes him out of the coach; the coach drives off with Brian inside, still laughing]

Crazy credits
In the opening credits: My thanks to King Brian of Knocknasheega and his Leprechauns, whose gracious co-operation made this picture possible. - Walt Disney

Alternate versions
A minor difference between the two laserdisc versions: in the second (Re-Mastered) version, King Brian orders the Strativarius fetched in Irish whereas it was in English in the first version.

Connections
Edited into The Hand Behind the Mouse: The Ub Iwerks Story (1999)

Soundtracks
The Wishing Song
Written by Lawrence Edward Watkin and Oliver Wallace
Performed by Albert Sharpe and Jimmy O'Dea (uncredited)

User reviews87

Review

Featured review

8/10

It's just lovely.

Darby O'Gill is well known for his fantastical stories, he is also known as the man who is constantly seeking the pot of gold he believes exists. When one day Darby tells all in the Inn that he has found the pot of gold, nobody of course pays him much heed, they are further aghast when Darby tells of a Leprechaun King called Brian, and how he tricked Darby out of his three wishes.

Fantastical romp that is cloaked by Irish mystical folklore, what's not to like really? It's a delightful tale told with intuitive pacing and containing wonderful special effects. Once Darby (Albert Sharp) enters the magical world of the leprechaun's, we are witness to gorgeous colour and jaunty shenanigans as director Robert Stevenson and his team unleash the tricks of the trade. Based on the Darby O'Gill stories written by H.T. Kavanagh, this production was something that Walt Disney had wanted to make for many many years, even visiting Ireland in 1948 to research for the project. Disney's wait was worth it for it oozes Disneys renowned production values and delivers entertainment for children and adults alike.

Joining the splendid Sharpe in the cast is the excellent Jimmy O'Dea as King Brian, Janet Munro as Katie, and a youthful Sean Connery as Michael McBride, all of which are in on the fun and all lighting up the tale with consummate ease. I defy anyone to not be tapping their feet for most of this picture! So go grab all the family and park yourselves in front of the TV and let the magic wash over you: for it will, to be sure to be sure. 8/10