There are many overlooked Disney live-action movies from days gone by that are filled with charm and magic. One of those is particularly appropriate for viewing on St. Patrick’s Day. Darby O’Gill and the Little People is the tale of an Irishman who engages in a battle of wits with leprechauns. It stars Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery, and Jimmy O’Dea. This movie is the combination of the stories from two books Darby O’Gill and the Good People and The Ashes of Old Wishes And Other Darby O’Gill Tales. Both were by Herminie Templeton Kavanagh.
It also features a very young Sean Connery singing Pretty Irish Girl. Check it out here:
Here is the trailer for Darby O’Gill and the Little People:
Take a wee bit of ancient folklore, mix in some spectacular special effects and a magical cast — and you’ve got one of the most enchanting fantasies of all time! A frisky old storyteller named Darby O’Gill is desperately seeking the proverbial pot of gold. There’s just one tiny thing standing in his way: a 21-inch leprechaun named King Brian. In order to get the gold, Darby must match his wits against the shrewd little trickster — which proves no small task, indeed! Fall under the spell of DARBY O’GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE for a fun-filled evening of magic, mirth, and nonstop shenanigans!
If you would like to watch this charming film, you can catch it on Disney+ or on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/darby-ogill-and-the-little-people/id296796330
This is a film that my family watches every year and I love it. It is charming. It is a bit corny. It is classic live-action Disney. It is one I never miss on St. Patrick’s Day!
** Updated in 2024 with Disney+ as a place to watch this film and family memories**
