Blanche Fury is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film starring Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger and Michael Gough. It was adapted from a 1939 novel of the same title by Joseph Shearing. In Victorian era England, two schemers will stop at nothing to acquire the Fury estate, even murder. The plot is based on the Stanfield Hall slayings, an actual contemporary homicide case.
March 17, 2021: Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) (Part One)
Éirinn go Brách! Ireland forever!
Who doesn’t love St. Patrick’s Day? Other than snakes, I guess. Although, for the record, that’s never made any sense. There have NEVER been snakes in Ireland, like, at any point in the geological record. And yeah, I know, “that’s because St. Patrick chased them all away”. Yeah, OK, whatever, hand me a green beer (or a Shamrock Shake; either works for me, gonna be honest).
This is the day where everybody in the USA is an honorary Irish person. And this is coming from a Black dude with distant Scottish ancestry, don’t ask about that last part THAT’S WHERE THE DARK HISTORY IS
...Slavery. ANYHOOOOOOOOOO
Every major city in the USA has a St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Chicago colors its river green, NYC has a massive parade, Boston gets FUCKING DESTROYED every March 17. It’s an American tradition. And you may be wondering why I’m talking about the USA, instead of talking about Ireland. Well, uh...I’m not Irish. And I don’t know enough about their SPD rituals to comment accurately, so I’ll erring on the side of caution, to be honest with you.
Plus, given today’s movie, I actually think it’s somewhat fitting that I’m talking about the American perspective of Irish folklore and traditions. So, with that said...leprechauns.
In Irish folklore, the leipreachán is...barely a thing in early mythology. Yeah, the first appearance of the leprechaun was in a medieval story called Echtra Fergus mac Léti, where a man named Fergus is nearly dragged into the water by three leprechauns, who are water spirits, and tricks them into giving him three wishes. So, uh...WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?
Well, whatever it was, the leprechaun eventually transformed into the green-wearing, gold-hoarding, shoe-fixing, prankster sprite that we know it as. In Irish folklore, it’s one of many MANY different spirits and supernatural beings, but it’s one of the only ones that made it over to the USA. And BOY DID IT. Other than Lucky from Lucky Charms, you’ve also got Warwick Davis’ horror movie version.
There’s also the mascot for the Boston Celtics and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, not to mention the less-than-great borderline racist association with Irish people by assholes. Honestly, it’s not even borderline. But despite that, it’s still an internationally well-known part of Irish folklore. And part of that renown lies in today’s film, Darby O’Gill and the Little People.
I really should watch more live-action Disney movies one of these years, but this was always going to be the first. A friend of mine always talks about this movie, alongside the film The Happiest Milionaire. You know who you are. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. ALLIGATORS.
But OK, let’s get into it! SPOILERS AHEAD!!!
Recap (1/2)
We begin in Rathcullen, a small town in Ireland. A young woman named Katie O’Gill (Janet Munro) is visited by an old woman, the widow Sheelah Sugrue (Estelle Winwood), who impresses upon her the need to get married, as she’s a young woman, and that’s all you can do as a young woman in this time period, other than cleaning house and raising children, of course.
Katie’s a catch, and the talk of the boys of the town, but hasn’t chosen anyone in particular to be wooed by. As they’re having this conversation, the household is visited by Lord Fitzpatrick (Walter Fitzgerald), who’s come to look for her father, the eponymous Darby O’Gill (Albert Sharpe). She goes to get him, as he’s at the inn telling stories. Fitzpatrick walks around the estate, which is his. Darby and Katie simply mind it. When Fitzpatrick comes in, he speaks with widow Sugrue, who IMMEDIATELY BAD TALKS AND BETRAYS THE O’GILLS, in order to promote her own son! FUCK OFF MS. SUGRUE YOU’RE A BAD FRIEND
Her son, Pony Sugrue (Kieron Moore) is a strapping young man, a known brawer, and...well, kind of a dick. In the pub, Darby’s telling stories of a leprechaun that he met once, and Pony mocks him for it. The bartender tells him off, and tells Darby to continue his story. And the story turns into a flashback soon enough.
On a dark night, on a mist-covered mountain, Darby is speaking with the king of the leprechauns, Brian O’Connor (Jimmy O’Dea), having trapped him there with naught but his gaze. He forces Brian to give him three wishes, and he’ll let him go. The wishes are first for his health, then for a large crop of potatoes, and finally, of course, a pot of gold.
However, King Brian asks for his fourth wish, and claims to be a generous man. He asks for three additional pots of gold for three friends. However, this was a trick, as making a fourth wish undoes the rest of them all together. This ends the story, as King Brian does a merry jig and all that. One of the friends that Darby wished for says that he’d never accept the gold, as it comes from the devil himself. Darby says that he’d donate it to the church in his stead.
But that’s a little awkward, considering the presence of Father Murphy (Denis O’Dea), who’s actually there to get some help in carrying a new bell for the parish. Pony offers his services, but only for cash. Kind of a dick, that Pony. Murphy changes tactics, and kinda manipuates Darby into doing it. But just then, Katie comes in to tell Darby of Fitzpatrick’s visit, and hauls him away from the pub. On the Fitzpatrick estate, the Lord gives a tour to the replacement for Darby, one Michael McBride (Sean Conn...noooo...it can’t be.)
HOLY SHIT IT’S SEAN CONNERY! He was in a Disney movie? Holy shit! And this is before James Bond! So, before playing an English spy, he played an Irishman...and he’s Scottish. Dude, did Connery ever actually play a Scotsman in his career, what the hell?
OK, so Darby and Katie are basically getting kicked out, with Michael set to replace them. After some negotiation of retirement terms, Darby agrees, but doesn’t tell Katie right away. She was born in the house that they’re now being forced to move out of, in about two weeks time. In that time, Michael will stay with them to smooth the transition fully. That night, after dinner, Michael pleads with Darby to tell Katie, but he’s still putting it off for now. Darby goes to his horse, Cleopatra, and heads up a mountain, back to where King Brian was first seen. Cleopatra runs away, though, and Darby goes up the mountain alone. When he catches up to Cleopatra, she’s already at the summit, next to a well glowing gold. And then, uh...she starts to glow.
Cleopatra rears up, and Darby falls to the bottom of the well, which is where he’s found by the eponymous “Little People”, who take him to King Brian himself. There’s a dance going on in front of a large golden throne, with all of the little people in attendance, and King Brian playing a giant bagpipe on the throne itself.
Darby is welcomed in by the king, and allowed to survey the various treasures collected by the little people. The throne, fun fact, once belonged to the throne of King Fergus, from the original myth that originated the leprechaun! Very cool! However, that’s tempered by the new information that he can never leave. This was apparently a favor by King Brian, for spreading the stories of the leprechauns throughout the town, and bringing them fame. This was all meant to prevent Katie from finding out about Darby losing his job.
Seeing that Darby’s upset, King Brian offers him a chance to play a Stradivarius violin, which Darby reluctantly accepts. He plays “The Fox Chase”, a lively tune that’s genuinely quite fun and pleasant to listen to. The little people agree, and dance along with the music as Darby plays. The whole sequence is actually quite impressive and fun. Then, Darby shouts “Gone away”, prompting the lot of them to go on a fox chase on their own tiny horses, in a VERY impressive shot! Seriously, it’s very cool, considering that this is from 1959!
The little folk, tricked by Darby’s music, leave the lair of Knockasheega on the mountain, leaving Darby alone. He attempts to steal some of their gold, then takes off out of the mountain, escaping the lair. But holes in his pockets cause all the gold to fall out, leaving him with nothing. He finds Cleopatra waiting outside for him, then the two head home once and for all.
Fully expecting Brian to find him again, he prepares for his arrival. Sure enough, King Brian shows up, angry that Darby seems to have spurned his good favor. But Darby, ever the suave talker himself, once again tricks King Brian into drinking an alcohol called poitín, which is also called Mountain Dew. Which is amazing.
As Darby and King Brian Do the Dew, Darby gets King Brian to participate in a singing and rhyming game, called the Wishing Song. And honestly...I’m having a really good fucking time with this movie. It’s folksy, and very heartwarming in tone for whatever reason. I’m just having a real good time with it, y’know?
So, Darby gets Brian good and sozzled, distracting him entirely until the morning. See, in the daylight, leprechauns lose their powers entirely. Darby, decisively with the upper hand as well, uses his cat Ginger to trap Brian. Trapped once again, Brian agrees to grant Darby three more wishes. Having anticipated this, Darby uses his first to make King Brian stay with him while he decides on his wishes. And, to fully ensure that the little king goes nowhere, Darby produces a sack, which he puts the leprechaun in, before shoving him into a chest in the barn.
Great place to pause, so we can start the second half! See you there!
March 17, 2021: Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959) (Part Two)
Really digging this movie thus far!
This might start a trend of folklore movies for me. I’ll look into it, and we’ll see which film pops up tomorrow! But, in the meantime, let’s continue this look at Irish folklore. I should say, I love this culture just from stuff like the Cartoon Saloon films. You know, the sidhe and selkies from Song of the Sea, or even the Tuatha de Danann of The Secret of Kells.
I’ll have to look for films from another culture that has this same kind of tone and breadth. Anyway, let’s go on to the second half. First half is right here!
Review (2/2)
As the day begins in earnest, Darby notices that Sheelah’s snooping around which neither he nor I like. Although, he suspects her of being a witch, so we differ there. Meanwhile, the Irish British woman and the Irish Scottish man, AKA Katie and Michael, start to talk in the dining room of the cottage.
Seeing his fortunes turning around, Darby proposes that Michael work for him, were he to get what he wishes for. Michael goes out to do that morning’s work on the field, and...Sean Connery sings. Huh.
He asks Katie whether or not she thinks anything in particular of him, to which she doesn’t really. She barely knows him at this point, but he’s definitely laying it down a little...eh, just a little. Not particularly thick yet, anyway. He asks if she thinks he’s a “good lad”, and she says “Probably not.” Nice.
Meanwhile, Darby’s off to collect the bell for the church, and he comes back a town hero with the bell in tow. However, with him he carries the sack containing King Brian, which Father Murphy notices. Murphy pries into it, and Darby tells him the truth, which Father Murphy doesn’t believe.
Having a drink with the townsfolk, they also notice the bag, which Darby speaks of honestly. But, true to form, Pony and his group of assholes make fun of him and attempt to humiliate hi. However, he roves his claim by giving King Brian a shot of alcohol, which is returned empty, for everyone to see. And Darby leaves the pub, as everyone looks on in awe.
That night, he returns, only to be ambushed by Michael, who believes that he’s the person who’s been trapping rabbits on Fitzpatrick’s property (they brough this up earlier). Darby agrees to show him what’s in the bag, but all Michael sees is a rabbit. Darby argues that Brian can change shapes, and accidentally wishes that Michael could see him as well. Wish granted! But he only sees Brian as a rabbit while awake, but will see him in his true form...in his dreams.
That night, Katie returns from a night out, driven home by asshole Pony Sugrue. Darby doesn’t like this, obviously, and hopes instead that she grows closer to Michael instead. Brian hears this, but also warns that keeping him captive is liable to put Katie herself in danger, were the little folks to threaten harming her in order to get their King back. Still, Darby has one more wish to ask for.
That night, Brain actually goes out of his way to speak with both Michael and Katie in their sleep, in an attempt to bring the two closer together in their waking hours. Michaels’s definitely interested, while Katie’s not really looking to marry anyone as of yet.
And yet, still, the two do end up growing closer together. However, the next day, their reverie is interrupted by town douchebag, Pony Sugrue. With Michael ready to fight Pony, Katie steps in to stop it from happening. While this rubs Michael the wrong way, the two reconcile basically immediately, and share a kiss, as Darby and Brian look on.
However, who should throw a wrench into that plan but Pony and his mother, Sheelah. Sheelah is at the post office, spying through the town’s letters, and sees a letter from Fitzpatrick to Michael, and guesses the reason Michael’s there. She goes to deliver the message to Katie, and tells Pony to do his best to run Michael out of town, in order to get his job.
Katie’s devastated by the news of their changed employment status, and is packing. Michael comes to see her, and she angrily tells him off, despite him expressing his desire to propose to her. She takes off to find her father, who’s gone to the pub with the little king in a sac. However, when she finds him there, she angrily tosses the bag on the floor, allowing the king to escape in the form of a rabbit, humiliating Darby as he chases after it.
Katie, angered still, returns home, where Michael tries again to speak with her. She’s determined to go collect the horse, who’s run off again, and get out of there as soon as possible. She uses a pair of reins to whip Michael IN THE FACE (fuckin’ OWWWWW), then runs off to the mountain of the little people, where Cleopatra’s fled to once again.
As Michael tries to go after her, Pony shows up, knocks him out, and takes him back to the manor, where Darby finds him and wakes him up. Darby’s also realized that Katie knows exactly what’s going on, and a still-groggy Michael berates him for not telling Katie the truth when he should’ve. Darby asks where she’s gone, and Michael tells her that she’s gone after the horse, whom Darby refers to as a púca , another creature of Irish folklore. And THEN, as if that weren’t goddamn ENOUGH, a ghostly wail rides on the wind.
According to Darby, this is yet ANOTHER member of the fairy folk, a banshee, which Darby had heard previously...the night that Katie’s mother died. OH SHIT. Darby and Michael quickly run after her, to prevent her from being destroyed entirely. On the mountain, the two look for her. Eventually, Darby finds her, fallen down and unconscious. And that’s when...it shows up.
Damn, that’s spooky. Darby manages to chase the banshee away, but Katie’s still unconscious. They take her home, where Father Murphy goes to visit her. Unfortunately, it would appear to be too late for her. All the while, the banshee wails outside. Darby goes outside, and throws a shovel at it. However, he looks up to see a ghostly carriage in the sky. This is the Cóiste Bodhar, also known as the death coach.
Darby calls out to King Brian, and tells him to send the death coach away. He cannot, as once it sets out, it can never return empty. So...Darby uses his third wish to offer himself up in Katie’s stead. The coach lands, and the headless dullahan driver commands Darby to get in the coach. As the rain comes down, Darby walks to the death-coach, and enters it.
King Brian accompanies him, as he feels he owes him that much for their time together. He tells her that Katie’s now better, which Brian is grateful for. He asks Brian to keep an eye on Michael and Katie, which he agrees to do. Brian wishes that he could go with Darby all the way, and Darby returns the wish...making that a fourth wish, which undoes all the rest! And Darby’s shoved out of the Death Coach, as Katie makes up and apologizes to Michael. For the record, I’m pretty sure that Katie would die if that third wish was undone, but...eh, OK, whatever, I can dig it.
The next day, Darby’s telling his story to the patrons of the bar, only for Pony to mock him yet again. But Pony’s leaving town, and everyone’s happy to see him go. Michael shows up, noting that somebody knocked him out that night. And according to King Brian, it was Pony. And, if King Brian were there, he’d punch the dude who did it directly in the face. And that’s when the fight starts.
Damn. That’s cathartic as fuck. Darby and Michael leave, as his two-faced mother arrives and tends to him. Darby and Michael meet Katie in a carriage outside, and they all head out on a song!
...Shit, I REALLY like this movie! Darby O’Gill and the Little People! See you at the Review for more!
