It has been said that Walt Disney's favorite motion picture was whichever one he was currently working on. Perhaps this was the stock answer given because the challenge in choosing a favorite film could be as difficult as naming a favorite child.

I know I've always had a hard time naming my favorite Disney movie. If I narrow down the genre (animation or live action), perhaps the decision becomes a little easier. Or perhaps if I pare it down to a specific timeframe (the 1950s or 1991), I'm able to come to a quicker decision. Or maybe I should develop the standard answer of "whatever movie I last watched."

The question has been asked of me of before. I was once the subject of an article that appeared in my college newspaper that centered on my affinity for Disney. The writer asked me this very question and I had to come up with an answer. After racking my brain for a few seconds, I came up with one - Darby O'Gill and the Little People.

Darby O'Gill and King Brian share a drink while singing "The Wishing Song"

It might seem an odd choice given the nearly 70 years of Disney feature history and hundreds of titles from which to choose. But there is something that has always stuck with me about this film, which I first watched projected in my elementary school auditorium. Perhaps it is my Irish heritage that predisposes me to having an extra interest in the movie. Or maybe it is simply that it is an enjoyable film with great acting, humor and special effects.

Released in 1959, the film centers on a caretaker of an Irish manor who is being replaced by a younger man, Michael McBride of Dublin, and sent off into retirement. As the lord of the manor says, "Darby retired about five years ago. Didn't tell me about it." Instead, Darby spends much of his time at the pub, poaching rabbits and searching for leprechauns and their pot of gold.

When the new caretaker arrives to take over, Darby convinces him to pose as his assistant until he can break the news to his daughter that they have to move to a smaller house on the grounds. Before telling her though, he sets off to capture King Brian of Knocknasheega and get the leader of the leprechauns to grant him three wishes.

After falling down a well, Darby O'Gill is a welcomed guest of the leprechauns who dance a jig as Darby fiddles

The ruse is kept up for awhile. But after learning the truth about her father, Katie prepares to leave the cottage. With a storm approaching, she goes after a runaway horse to the top of a haunted hill and gets knocked to the ground unconscious. Things look dire as she lies in bed after being found and taken home. Hearing the cry of the Banshee and seeing the approach of the Costa Bower, or death coach, Darby uses his third wish -- after basically wasting his first two -- asking to be allowed to take her place instead. With the wish reluctantly granted and Darby onboard the Costa Bower, King Brian tricks Darby into wishing a fourth wish, which negates the previous three. Darby is thrust from the coach and is back home where he learns that Katie has had a miraculous recovery and a happy ending ensues.

There's so much to like about this film. The cast is superb. Albert Sharpe is perfect as Darby O'Gill. He plays the part for mainly for laughs but also excels in more dramatic moments, such as when he says he'll retrieve a new church bell for Father Murphy or when he is wishing his way onto the Costa Bower to save Katie. He's a bit of a scamp but you can't help but to root for him in his quest to capture the king of the leprechauns and get his three wishes. I've always had a bit of a crush on Janet Munro, starring here as Katie in the first of several movies for Disney. Jimmy O'Dea is King Brian; looks and acts every bit the part of a leprechaun. And I've always found it interesting that this was Sean Connery's first major movie role, predating his James Bond days. He even sings a bit on one of my favorite little Disney songs, "Pretty Irish Girl."

Darby O'Gill drives a cart with passengers Michael McBride and his daughter Katie

I think my favorite part of the film though is its visuals. It's surprising to learn that the movie wasn't filmed on location in Ireland but rather on the Disney studio stages and at the Albertson and Rowland Lee ranches in California. Peter Ellenshaw's matte paintings complete the illusion. And unlike many movies filmed before digital special effects were commonplace, Darby O'Gill and the Little People doesn't have the hokey look that often appears in older movies. Instead of using a two-strip printing process to superimpose images over one another, this movie photographed human-sized characters in the same shot as the leprechauns using a complicated system of placing actors playing the "little people" three times farther in the background and three times lower than their human counterparts. The effect couldn't look more real because it was. Watching this movie would make you swear that leprechauns really do exist.

And that was the effect that Walt Disney strove for. The film is dedicated: "My thanks to King Brian of Knocknasheega and his leprechauns, whose gracious cooperation made this picture possible - Walt Disney." Publicity for the movie even included an episode on the Disney anthology series called "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns," which features Walt going to Ireland to ask King Brian if he'll appear in the film. Authenticity was played for great effect and achieved through its realistic filming techniques.

I had recorded Darby O'Gill and the Little People off the Disney Channel years ago. I was pleased to find out that it was going to be released on DVD last year. I received a copy for Christmas. In addition to the film and the episode of "Disneyland" mentioned above, the DVD extras include featurettes called "Mr. Connery goes to Hollywood" and "Little People, Big Effects." I can't wait to pop it into the DVD player Thursday night as I enjoy my traditional St. Patrick's Day meal of corned beef and cabbage.

-Story by Matthew Walker; Graphics ©Disney

Posted March 16, 2005

Want to comment on this review? E-mail Matt at matt@startedbyamouse.com or use the Talkback feature below. Have a review of your own? Post it to the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums.

We Were Started By A Mouse Too!  •  When In Cyberspace ... Disney Link Directory  •  

  •  Purchase Walt Disney World Tickets here - DISNEY TICKETS via DWTickets.com  •  

  •  Receive discounts on ORLANDO VACATION HOMES near Disney World from OrlandoVacation.com  •