DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE

US, 1959, 90 minutes, Colour.
Albert Sharpe, Kieron Moore, Estelle Winwood, Walter Fitzgerald, Sean Connery, Janet Munro, Denis O' Dea, Jack Mac Gowran.
Directed by Robert Stevenson.

Darby O'Gill and the Little People is considered one of Walt Disney's classics. It is a fantasy based on the Darby O' Gill stories by H.T. Kavanagh . The special effects are outstanding for this film - especially the use of miniatures for human characters playing with leprechauns.

There is also a musical score with songs like My Pretty Irish Girl.

Albert Sharpe portrays Darby O' Gill. He had portrayed the leprechaun in the Broadway performances of Finian's Rainbow. Janet Munro, who was to appear in many Disney films, makes her Disney debut here and the leading man is Sean Connery before he became famous. There is a good supporting cast including Kieron Moore as the villain, with Estelle Winwood and Jack Mac Gowran.

Direction is by Robert Stevenson who was to go on to make a number of Disney films including Mary Poppins.

1. The appeal of the film? The family audience? The Irish atmosphere? Magic and reality? Fantasy?

2. Atmosphere of Ireland? The special effects for the leprechauns? Editing, special effects, stunts, the musical score and the insertion of the songs?

3. The focus on Darby O'Gill: the Irishman, the storyteller, his delight in his storytelling, his work, the estate? His love for Katie? The changing of his job? Michael McBride's arrival? The horse, the summit of the hill, the fall, King Brien and the leprechauns? His playing the violin for the leprechauns' dance? Going back into the town? The King and his drinking, the passing of the night? The three wishes and their fulfilment? marriage? Katie and her illness, the Banshee cry? Death? The coming of the coach? The to-ing and fro-ing about the wishes? Darby and the happy ending?

4. Katie as heroine, her relationship with Darby? The coming of Michael? Falling in love? The dream? Unconscious? Recovery? The wedding?

5. Michael as hero, his work, the encounter with Darby, taking over from him, the attraction towards Katie, the dream, the villain? The clashes with Pony Sugrue? The final fight? The wedding?

6. King Brien and the leprechauns, their glee, magic and mischief, the wishes, drinking, losing power, the tricks, talking to Katie and Michael? The happy ending? Pony Sugrue as the villain? The rivalry with Michael? The fight? The characters in the town: Sheelah, Lord Fitzpatrick, Father Murphy, Tom Kerrigan?

7. The leprechauns and their place in Irish mythology, delight and glee, the sinister touch, the importance of the Coach of Death?

9. The appeal of this kind of magic and fantasy?