Darby O'Gill and the Little People
A Walt Disney fantasy tale, about a caretaker who falls down a well and is captured by Leprecauns who allow him three wishes, although set in Ireland Sean was given the part as which American could tell the difference between Irish and Scottish?! Sean plays the part of Michael McBride, a young man sent to replace the caretaker Darby. The old man attempts to matchmake between McBride and Katie, after competing for her heart and winning in a spectacular fight scene, Sean sings "Pretty Irish Girl" which was released as a single! His one and only to this day. The film also stars Janet Munro, Keiron Moore, Albert Sharpe and Estelle Winwood and was released in 1959
Sean's first taste of Hollywood which he enjoyed emmensely and had third billing in the
film. This proved to be the film that would set Sean on the way to 007 stardom when Cubby Broccoli's wife viewed
it while screen testing for James Bond, and Cubby saw her enthusiasm for Sean.
Sean's song lyrics
For she is my dear my darlin' one
Her eyes are sparklin' full of fun
No other, no other
Can match the likes of her
For she is my dear my darlin' one
My sweet and so beguilin' one
I love the ground she walks upon
My darlin' Irish girl
Starring
Albert Sharpe - Darby O'Gill
Janet Munro - Katie
Sean Connery - Michael McBride
Jimmy O'Dea - King Brian
Kieron Moore - Pony Sugrue
Estelle Winwood - Sheelah
Walter Fitzgerald - Lord Fitzpatrick
Denis O'Dea - Fr. Murphy
J. G. Devlin - Tom Kerrigan
Jack Macgowran - Phadrig Oge
Farrell Pelly - Paddy Scanlon
Nora O'Mahoney - Molly Malloy
Director: Robert Stevenson
Producer: Walt Disney
Based on the stories by: H. T. Kavanagh
Written by: Lawrence E. Watkin
Cinematographer: Winton C. Hoch
Editor: Stanley Johnson
Music composed by: Oliver Wallace
Art Director: Carroll Clark
Set Decorator: Emile Kuri
Fred MacLean
Special Effects: Peter Ellenshaw
Eustace Lycett
Costume Design: Chuck Keehne
Gertrude Casey
Make Up: Pat McNalley
Animation: Joshua Meador
Production company: Walt Disney Productions
Released by: Buena Vista
Running time: 93 minutes
