Darby O'Gill and the LIttle People

 

 

Darby O'Gill 

and the Little People

Strand Theatre

Saturday, August 30 at 7 PM

Sean Connery in "James Bond meets the Leprechauns"...Well, not exactly. In 1959 I went to the Strand to see this magical Disney film about about an aging Irishman who meets the King of the Leprechauns and claims a pot of gold. 

 

Sean Connery is indeed in this one (singing no less), and it led to his role as James Bond in Dr. No in 1962. But the real star is Albert Sharpe as Darby. But I have to say, Darby had a daughter, played by Janet Munro, who is the love interest of Sean's character. Her laughing Irish eyes (she's actually English) were as magical (to me) as anything King Brian of the Little People conjured. 

 

It's a Disney live action movie with fantastic believable special effects. Or real leprechauns. Ireland is recreated in California by way of exquisite matte paintings by Peter Ellenshaw. There's a nightmare-inducing banshee. These effects remind me that the Lord of the Rings movies and even Sinners may use computers, but they essentially are using the same tricks that were so convincingly employed on Darby O'Gill all those years ago.

 

The one thing the movie doesn't have is children. Thinking about it now I realize no one would make this family friendly movie today. It's really about an old man (who was the same age I am now) facing his mortality. It was obviously a labor of love for Walt Disney. And it shows.

 

Indulge me: come see Darby try to decide how to use his 3 wishes.

 

Tickets are $9 in advance at Highway 61 Coffeehouse, and they will be $10 at the door. 

 

Your wish has come true..the popcorn is free!!!