Darby O'Gill and the Little People |  | Director: Robert Stevenson
Actors: Albert Sharpe, Janet Munro, Sean Connery, Walt Disney, Paul Frees
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $7.47
as of 3/16/2010 06:22 CDT details
You Save: $7.52 (50%)
New (23) Collectible (1) from $7.47
Seller: digitaldogpound-media
Rating:  156 reviews
Sales Rank: 263
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 91 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: D33570D
UPC: 786936233599
EAN: 0786936233599
ASIN: B0001I55SI
Theatrical Release Date: June 26, 1959
Release Date: August 3, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Tell A Friend
| |
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Purportedly one of Walt Disney's most personal pet projects, Darby O'Gill shows the effort and care put into it. Even now the special effects hold up shockingly well. Darby O'Gill is an estate caretaker, but in his advanced years he's more fond of telling tall tales in the local pub about the wee folk than keeping the grounds. A new man (a very youthful Sean Connery) is sent in to take his place, and O'Gill doesn't know what will become of himself and his daughter. He snags three spectacular opportunities, however, when he catches the king of the leprechauns. This film is whimsical without being silly, supernatural without being outlandish, and all and all a treat for the whole family. --Keith Simanton
Product Description
Darby O'Gill (Albert Sharpe) is a man with the Irish gift of gab who finds himself face-to-face with the magical little people, the leprechauns, in an underestimated Disney classic. Unexpectedly, one of the old storyteller's tall tales comes true when he captures the King of the Leprechauns, who must grant him three wishes. Unfortunately, all the wishes backfire in amusing, and sometimes frightening, ways. This classic family film features the era's cutting edge special effects and beautiful Irish scenery.
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 156
 Wonderful escape...excellent fantasy... August 10, 2004
R. Gawlitta (Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA)
70 out of 72 found this review helpful
I saw this in theatres when first released. I was a kid, and awestruck. Then the VHS came along. It was good. And now, the best DVD you could imagine! The film could stand on its own, and at a good price. The extras are generous...2 short documentaries, and a scripted "making of" involving Disney himself. Loads of fun! The wonderful Albert Sharpe came out of retirement to make this, and he is sharp as a tack; a thoroughly complete performance. He should've had Oscar recognition. For that matter, this film was not nominated for any Oscars at all. The sweet ballad "Irish Lass", though a hit at the time, was ignored, as well as the wonderful Special Effects...and, sadly, Sharpe's performance. The most interesting element of the film is seeing Sean Connery with hair (?); he gives a fine performance and isn't that bad a singer; good insight about how he got this role, in the extras, but I won't blab away the stuff. Janet Munro made her Disney debut, here, and he used her in many others (I liked her in "Swiss Family Robinson"). I don't know what happened to her. She later gave a remarkable performance in "The Day the Earth Caught Fire"; I really like her a lot. She is a natural beauty. This is PURE Disney...sweet, serious, and especially, great for kids. Let the fantasy take them to another place, as it did for me, when I first watched it. It's Albert Sharpe, though, that gives the crowning performance of his wonderful career. Watch it. Love it. Always believe...
Sir Sean Sings!! April 12, 2004
Deborah MacGillivray (US & UK)
68 out of 71 found this review helpful
Disney made a slew of films in the early to middle 60's in England, and they are such great whole family films. They are releasing The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, with the brilliant Patrick McGoohan at the same time this one comes out. I hope it's trend from Disney, because there are a lot of costume historicals that I would love to own from their British Period.This film has long be a fav of mine. Back before Connery because forevermore in our mind James Bond, he did this nifty little Irish Drama. He is coming to take over for an Irish lord as factor, displacing an old man and his daughter. Moonlight and Magick has Connery beginning to fall for the daughter and charmed by the old man. But Da is not going down without a fight. He catches the King of the Wee People and plans of getting his three wishes. It's done with Irish faerytale charm, Connery is proper dashing as the new hunk, (even show his South Pacific singing voice), the Irish myths are loving retold, making this a delight anytime, but a must for St. Paddy's day!
Little People, Sean Connery and Widescreen August 3, 2004
Darrell Heath (Little Rock, AR USA)
40 out of 40 found this review helpful
"Darby O'Gill and the Little People" is Disney live action fantasy at its finest. The film ably captures all the beauty and wonder of Irish folkbelief and transfers it to the screen with considerable charm, it is indeed a film the whole family can enjoy (although young kids may find the banshee a bit frightening).
Kudos to the cast, who really bring this film to life. Albert Sharpe is great as the lay about but loveable Darby O'Gill and the beautiful Janet Munro lights up every scene she's in playing Darby's daughter and Sean Connery's love interest. BTW this is the film that producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman found their James Bond in while casting about for a little film they were making called "Dr. No."
As to the issue of widescreen here is the official word from Disney (as included on a flyer in the DVD):
"Darby O'Gill and the Little People is presented as it was originally shot, in a 1.33;1 aspect ratio. When released to theaters in 1959, the studio recommended projecting the image at 1.75:1, to satisy the public's growing appetite for widescreen movies. To give the illusion of this wider image, theaters often needed to crop films at that time, and some of the picture was not seen. The following presentation has not been cropped, and none of the original image has been lost"
Hopefully that settles the issue of Disney "ruining" this film with this DVD release. So, buy the movie, pop some popcorn and settle in for a grand evening's entertainment!
Darby O'Gill and the Little People February 18, 2002
Laurel J. Pierson (Sisters, OR, USA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Great Disney flick. Its a hoot seeing Sean Connery in his twenties. Nice family movie. I love the old Irish legends, especially the Banshee and the Coach d'Bower. Albert Sharpe does a great job as Darby. The cinematography is beautiful. My grand kids love this movie. They are 9 and 3. Its something they can watch together.
The New DVD is Outstanding August 30, 2004
Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
If you ever want to find out how Disney tried to bridge the gap between their classic animated fantasies and the live action spectaculars of today, DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE is a typical example of the way things shaped up in 1959. Very few of Disney's movies were specifically about the Irish people, and it is noteworthy that, even in the day of MULAN and POCAHONTAS, no animated feature has been released by Disney that concentrates on an Irish story! So this is where you would go if you wanted to look at Irish legend told through Disney's famous factory of observation and fun.
Of course for those who like looking at "stars before they were stars" the movie reveals a Sean Connery whom some will not recognize because he's just so darn young! Connery had filmed a few movies earlier in the UK, and I suppose Disney executives thought that if his name was "Sean," he might be Irish as John Ford (who sometimes said his name was "Sean") and cast him as an Irish woodsman with a huge crush on Janet Munro. Well, both Munro and Connery and Scottish but it didn't seem to make a difference to the youth of America at which this picture was aimed. The DVD transfer is stunning and filled with the creamy, crisp photography typical of Disney product at the time.
It's no QUIET MAN but it has its moments; and it's scary for kids, so turn out all the lights and let the little ones in, one by one.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 156
|
|
|
|
