Darby O'Gill (Albert Sharpe) seems to be as full of blarney as any old codger in Ireland, but the stories of leprechauns he tells at the pub are true. In fact, he and the tiny King Brian (Jimmy O'Dea), ruler of the little people, are friendly adversaries, continually out-foxing each other. Darby needs a bit of magical help from the wily king when Lord Fitzpatrick (Walter Fitzgerald) replaces him as caretaker with the handsome, strapping young Michael (Sean Connery) from Dublin. Michael falls in love with Darby's beautiful daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), which is all right with Darby; but the lad has a rival in a local ruffian (Kieron Moore), the son of a devious widow (Estelle Winwood) who wants her boy to be the caretaker. King Brian's supernatural assistance is necessary to make everything come out all right, but the sneaky leprechaun won't play matchmaker without a fight. Finally, real trouble comes in the form of the Banshee, and Darby will need all his quick wits to save his daughter from the wicked spirit.
This wonderful piece of whimsy from Walt Disney is brightened by marvelous special effects and supreme film making craftsmanship, helmed by Robert Stevenson, whose name is on most of the best live-action films from the Disney Studios. In his films, major technical challenges and small moments between actors are handled with equal deftness. Today's moviegoers will enjoy seeing Sean Connery before he was James Bond and even hearing him sing (though no one would wish his brief solo a minute longer). Of course, the real star is Albert Sharpe, who didn't make many movies, but whose thoroughly Irish charm is preserved for as long as this movie lasts.
This wonderful piece of whimsy from Walt Disney is brightened by marvelous special effects and supreme film making craftsmanship, helmed by Robert Stevenson, whose name is on most of the best live-action films from the Disney Studios. In his films, major technical challenges and small moments between actors are handled with equal deftness. Today's moviegoers will enjoy seeing Sean Connery before he was James Bond and even hearing him sing (though no one would wish his brief solo a minute longer). Of course, the real star is Albert Sharpe, who didn't make many movies, but whose thoroughly Irish charm is preserved for as long as this movie lasts.