WEBmikey: Darby O'Gill and the Little People : 3 of 5

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Darby O'Gill and the Little People : 3 of 5
10.18.2004 11:15 PM \| Link	I bought this movie quite a while ago when it was released on DVD - I'm not really sure why, except that it's a 1959 Disney classic that I've always wanted to see, since I've read so much about it. I finally got to spend the time and enjoy the film, and now I'm really glad I own it! This is a fantastic movie set in Ireland about an old man, his daughter and her budding love interest (one of Sean Connery's first American films!), and of course, leprechauns! The special effects are absolutely spectacular for the late 50s - not only are the matte paintings just fantastic (by Peter Ellenshaw, who did effects for many Disney films), but the use of forced perspective to create scenes of normal-sized Darby surrounded by hundreds of dancing quarter-sized leprechauns is sheer genius! There's an excellent short documentary about the effects, which had me completely amazed - the techniques invented here were later used in The Lord of the Rings films. The DVD also includes a full episode of the black & white Disneyland TV series, where Walt presents the story and making of the film as if he had to travel to Ireland to find the King of the Leprechauns to get him to act in the movie (Walt at his fantasy best!). There's no better movie to watch while smoking your pipe and drinking Irish Whiskey! Labels: disney, dvds


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