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Darby O'Gill And The Little People [1959]

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Shouldn't be a 'U' certificate.
Review date: 2008-01-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

I first saw this innocent looking Disney film when I was about 14 and it absolutely TERRIFIED me and left me with nightmares for months. And I was no sheltered child... having seen many horror and other 18 certificate films way before I got to that age ...but none of them left a dent like this U certificate Disney film.

Then recently I bought the film for nostalgic purposes to see if it still had the same effect (I'm now in my late twenties) and though it doesn't now I can still see why it did. Basically the film is all about Irish folklore and one of the ideas was of a 'Howling Banshee' - a ghost that appeared and wailed whenever someone was about to die. But unlike most ghosts in horror films, this one was inescapable in that it didn't try to kill you itself, it just let you know someone was dying... and there was nothing you could do about it. I think it was that IDEA that scared me so much as a kid, not the fact that it was a ghost (though as far as ghosts go, the special effects are worthy of any modern film in my opinion).

But as an adult I love it, especially because it has the familiar face of Sean Connery in it and does tell you an awful lot about Irish mythology - Leprechauns, pots of gold etc.

Basically it IS a magical film but just be wary of showing it to anyone under 15!

Reviews

DISNEY DISAPPOINTS WITH THIS DVD
Review date: 2004-04-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

Somebody in the Disney Organisation should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
DARBY O'GILL and THE LITTLE PEOPLE must rank as one of the very best Disney feature films ever. It was one of the top grossing movies of 1959, with stunning special effects, long before computer technology, that are amazing to watch even today. The Director of LORD OF THE RINGS has publicly stated that he got his inspiration for many of his special effects from this Disney Classic.
It was Sean Connery's first Hollywood movie, and the part that led to his career as 007 in the Bond movies.
Although thought by the public to be generally a "Children's Movie" , it is anything but, and the Banshee sequence is guaranteed to chill the spine of the most hardened Horror fan.
So why is the long overdue DVD disappointing..?.. Because Disney missed a golden opportunity to capitalise on this magnificent feature by failing to include a single Special Feature. No commentary (and Sean Connery or Kieron Moore, both would have been excellent choices), No Stills, No Lobby Cards, No posters, No Cinema Trailer, ...in fact..No Nothing..JUST the basic movie...
Another gripe.....is the tampered with sound track...The original voices of Albert Sharpe (Darby), Estelle Winwood (The Widow Sugrue), Jimmy O'Dea (King Brian of Knocknasheega) and Jack MacGowan (Padraig Og) have all been dubbed with replacement voices..and badly so. Even in the opening scene Estelle Winwoods "old Hag" voice has been replaced by one that sounds like the Queen of England's cousin.....too posh. And in this scene the "dubbed voice" refers to her son Pony Sugrue as TONY Sugrue.
The dubbing takes away much of the charm and originality of the the 1959 cinema released DARBY O'GILL.
Hopefully the Disney Organisation will have come to its senses before the release of the USA version of the DVD in August 2004, but unfortunately they have made a mess of the UK version.
Nevertheless...a NOT TO BE MISSED movie....even with all the faults.

A St. Pat's Day tradition
Review date: 2004-03-18 Rating: 8 out of 10

My family and I treasure watching this film every St. Patrick's Day for its unabashed revelry in many things Irish. From the delightful fiddle-playing and singing, the celebration of leprachaun lore, the fantastical storytelling, the joy of small village living in old Ireland... this film enriches our family every year. Imagine trapping your own personal leprachaun- what would you wish for? The gentle wisdom of the whimsical Darby O'Gill charms all. He still reminds me of my own grandfather, and that alone makes the return viewing a joy.

Fascinating and spooky if you are a kid.
Review date: 2001-09-16 Rating: 8 out of 10

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.

A great film.
Review date: 2001-06-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

A funny film set in a quaint irish vilage. And a young Sean Connery, with a singing part to boot!

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Janet Munro
Albert Sharpe
Jimmy O'Dea
Sean Connery
Kieron Moore

Director(s):

Recording label: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainm
EAN: 8717418075743
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-03-29
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 87 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1959-06-26
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)

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Darby O'Gill And The Little People [1959]

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