Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLANT
Review: I give this movie a 5 star because I love that little King Leprochuan. He is soo cute when he was drunk.

Rating:
Summary: A charming story for young and old alike!
Review: I saw Darby O'Gill when I was a little girl and have loved it ever since (even though the Banshee scared the bejesus out of me!) Both the story and the special effects hold up extremely well, even by today's standards. I didn't even mind Sean Connery's attempt at singing, though it's probably a very good thing for him that he found more promising work as a secret agent many years later. Truly one of Disney's best! I watch it every St. Paddy's Day, right after The Quiet Man.

Rating:
Summary: Great story, acting, music, special effects!
Review: This has to be Disney's greatest kept secret - a film which satisfies on many levels. There's a wonderful story with many plot twists and turns, great whimsical performances by veteran actors and a young Sean Connery, lovely Irish melodies and the main song, "My Pretty Irish Girl" (Mr. Connery sings it!), inspired humor and comedy, incredible special effects made in 1958 which surpass many made today ( you'll believe they hired real leprechauns), and some pretty scary parts ( intense for some ). Did I mention a great surprize plot twist at the end? It's one of my favorites that I watch again and again. Even old grumps will find some fun in this. Try it!

Rating:
Summary: Among the best live action films Disney has made!!!
Review: Set in early 20th century Ireland, this tale involves the good-hearted caretaker Darby O'Gill's adventures with the fairyfolk of Ireland. Sean Connery sings, everyone entertains...a great film!

Rating:
Summary: One of the few movies that the whole family really can enjoy
Review: Oh why cant they make movies like this anymore? This is a wonderful movie and really does deserve to be called a movie that "the whole family can enjoy". This one has it all, comedy, drama, chills, suspence, singing, the whole shebang and not one wisecracking kid to be found. Not only does it feature a young suave Sean Connery but also the beautiful Janet Munro in one of the few films that she made. This movie is filled with myths and legends of Ireland and the special effects stand up to anything being made today and this one was filmed over 40 years ago! You will love this one!

Rating:
Summary: Warning! Full Screen Release
Review: According to all information released by Disney, this is just a cheap FULL SCREEN version. If you are a movie collector, don't buy this crap. Wait for Disney to release a real version of the movie.

Rating:
Summary: Full screen but not a total loss...
Review: It is true that this release will be "full screen", however I believe it is an open matte full screen vs. a pan-and-scan, meaning you will get the full image as seen in theaters, plus a little extra top and bottom. It is also quite possible the director framed his shots with the full-frame in mind, knowing it would be exhibited that way in some venues. More importantly, the TV Special "I Captured the King of the Lephrecauns" is listed as an extra feature. Whether we'll be getting the show in its entirety or merely some clips is yet to be seen, but this show was just as entertaining and important as the feature it supports and I hope they have the common sense to include the full hour program.

Rating:
Summary: Looks great - but WHY wasn't it shot in widescreen?
Review: Okay, yes, I'm the President of the Widescreen Watchers Association (the guy who always whines about pan-and-scan butcheries), and even I'M accepting the fact that we're not being ripped off here. So Darby was indeed filmed in standard frame, but... why?

Surely the whole mythical Irish countryside feeling could only have benifited very greatly from being shot in widescreen to begin with! Widescreen started in 1953, and this movie was done in 1959.

It's not like Disney didn't have the dough! What's up with that blarney?



Rating:
Summary: Fascinating and spooky if you are a kid.
Review: Darby is always telling tales about local folklore. Soon he finds out that the tales he tells are real and must take the consequences as he meets the little people and confronts a banshee.

I grew up with this film and it was not until much later that I realized that Sean Connery ...Michael McBride was the 007 guy. Everything is so fascinating when you are young. And the special effects are superb for the time. However I did have to take time to get over the banshee.


Rating:
Summary: Horrible Dubbing! - but the Special Features are Worthwhile
Review: .
Though the original film was a storytelling masterpiece, the dubbing on this version ranks down there with the worst of the Godzilla films.

We're sure there's a story about how this disaster occurred, but it's a terrible let-down. Quite an inadequate effort for such a marvelous Disney film.

In this case, the special features are the ONLY reason to purchase this DVD version. The Sean Connery feature is interesting; and the original episode of "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns" is crowned by Walt Disney's most extensive acting appearance in his entire career. Fascinating to watch!

SaturdaysToys.com ranks this one: "Two out of Five Stars." Skip this one and grab the "Old Yeller / Vault Disney" DVD before they're gone. That one's a perfect 10!

Dave Mason
for Saturday's Toys
.