Get ready for an extra special POME roundtable! POME Editor Ashley introduced our Editorial Coven to the Disney classic Darby O’Gill and the Little People — a St. Patrick’s Day tradition from her childhood. Join us for baby Sean Connery, a stirring leprechaun bromance, and the finest ghost horse SFX that 1959 had to offer.
Rachel: i am excited to talk about this movie!!!
this was a new film to all of us except Ashley, I think
Ashley: indeed
Jenny: yeah i had not seen it before and it was pretty cute and fun!
right out of the gate, i have to say that i love a property that really commits to the bit
Rachel: modern movies could NEVER
Ashley: that shit was like the word of god to child me
CC: I genuinely did not know what I was getting into for the entire duration of this movie L O L
Jenny: TWISTS AND TURNS
Rachel: ok before we get into it too much, let’s do a quick summary
CC: firstly, in lieu of our normal roundtable content, this time around we are watching a beloved film from Ashley’s childhood to celebrate st. paddy’s day
st. patty’s day?
my family is italian lol idk anything about this holiday
except that green beer is involved somehow
also snakes?
Jenny: lol that sounds about right
Ashley: i think boston ppl say st. paddy’s but it’s saint patrick so it feels like it should be st. patty’s?
anyway, i know for sure that this is an American irish thing and not a real irish thing
the snakes thing is because St. Patrick is said to have driven the snakes out of ireland
which 1. there are actually no native snakes in ireland and 2. it’s a metaphor for witches >:-|
CC: oh, rude
Jenny: agree that it feels like more of an american thing and not like a real cultural tradition thing. tbh i’ve never quite understood it bc like — we’re MID-Lent — and this is the time you choose for the big drinking holiday?? doesn’t seem very irish-catholic to me
Rachel: oh a great point!
also wow snakes as witches, so original
CC: love to have no bones lol
Rachel: CC snakes have bones!!!!
Ashley: LOL
CC: oops sorry I meant to say limbs
Digits
Rachel: LOL
Jenny: LMAO
Ashley: fingies
CC: toe jam
Ashley: bellybuttons
Jenny: phalange
CC: things I do not know about: st padrick’s day AND snakes
ANYWAY so this movie
beauty and the beast but with a leprechaun? except the protagonist was the elderly father and not the beautiful young daughter?
uh no romance also?
(no monster romance I mean)
Jenny: some romance
Rachel: Garby and Brian, friends forever
Ashley: rachel, it’s DARBY
Rachel: GOD DAMMIT
look snakes have no bones and his name is Garby
Ashley: lolololollll
i can get into it
CC: bless
Jenny: but yeah they are like frenemies the whole time. all about darby trying to get 3 wishes out of king brian
Ashley: the Darby-Brian relationship is really the heart of the movie
even though there is a side hetero plot of Sean Connery and Young Woman Ne’er to Be Seen Again
Rachel: I def assumed that because it is Sean Connery he would be the main character!!!
was so happy that the main character is an old man who wants to do good by his daughter but also match wits with the king of the leprechauns!!
Ashley: he was too babby at the time
he’s like, “i will do anything to make it in hollywood, including pretending to be irish for the walt disney company”
Rachel: he is so babby
i was glad he was really a side character because all he had to do was look handsome and not let his scottish accent slip in
i wish this was all his roles
Jenny: oh man yeah but the accent work in this movie was really all over the place
Rachel: it really was lol
Jenny: felt very “to americans, all british accents sound the same so who cares” which, like: accurate
Ashley: you get what you pay for, i’m not unconvinced that this movie cost exactly $100 to make
$98 went to special effects
CC: $2 went to king brian
Jenny: the special effects were good and fun!
Ashley: i LOVE them and still do
Rachel: loved that banshee and also the possessed horse!
Ashley: both of those scared the everloving jesus out of me!!!!!!
CC: crone of the year banshee chasing the dad around screamin
love this for her
Ashley: honestly don’t come for me but guillermo del toro WHO
CC: L O LL LLLLLLLLLLLLL
Jenny: but also the perspective work! i feel like they had a lot of fun w it
Ashley: hahahahaha YESSSS
the classics really just can’t be beat
CC: so Ashley, my burning question for you is: how does this movie hold up against your memories of it?
bc every family has That Movie You Rewatch All The Time, and I’m genuinely not sure my family’s would hold up lol
Ashley: HAHA
i mean, it honestly is, i would say, a genuine quality film
they just don’t make em like this any more!!!
Rachel: i was thinking that if they made it now, there’s no way the young hot guy and gal WOULDN’T be the leads
Ashley: yup
CC: to be fair, if they made this movie now disney would have spent like 5 billion dollars on the banshee alone
Jenny: idk idk. bc i was def watching this and thinking
Jenny: give me 6 seasons of a jonathan strange & mr norrell style prestige drama
i know disney is horny for expanding on existing properties rn and this could be a great dark horse for them
Rachel: oh i would love that, please
Ashley: i pretend i do not see it!!!
Rachel: lolll
i mean this film is good and does not need an update
CC: if anything, get leads who are better at lip synching
Ashley: i think we really have technology to blame for that one
CC: although it straight up sounds like the songs were performed by bing crosby and the andrews sisters, v hot properties of the time right? lol
Ashley: HAHAH yeah no they were def not actually singing
Darby’s fiddling tho? 100% real sync sound i will hear NO COUNTER ARGUMENTS
Jenny: LOL
i believe it
CC: I know I keep drilling into this well so pls don’t mind me i’m just curious about stuff like this
but ashley, what were like, the Big Nostalgic Moments for you in this one? the scenes that are like, burned into your brain forever from all the rewatching?
def the banshee right?
(which moments from this movie are going to replay in my head for the next 30 years L O L)
(as I’m consulting an expert here I mean)
Ashley: oh man, i mean def the banshee for sure
but also the drinking contest
and the leprechaun party
i mean, i guess it was a herald of my hedonistic youth to come because i LIVED for those leprechauns turning all the way up and just like, getting tricked
head empty, no thoughts, just getting so hot n bothered by this fiddle i’m gonna hop on my wee little horse and 100% lose my shit
CC: amazing, YES, loving that energy from them
very Wee Free Men
Jenny: bless
CC: hanging out with the boys losing it to a sick violin beat
Jenny: the dream
Rachel: me and the gals after we’re vaccinated
Jenny: lololol
Ashley: 1 0 0
i do also have that one song they sing memorized to this day
Rachel: that was very disney, maybe the most disney moment of the show
movie
i also felt like it was a bit of a reversal??
normally i feel like the handsome man stumbles on that hot gal singing
Jenny: oh true!
Rachel: appreciated that Katie got to stumble on young McBride and appreciate his voice and his muscles
good for you girl
Jenny: honestly a lot of her journey, i was like: good for you girl
they go for a walk after mass to fool around in the woods, and she really goes for it!
CC: yeah I was surprised and impressed!
Ashley: oh yeah, she’s honestly wonderful
Jenny: i like to think that it’s because she’s strong-willed and knows what she wants
hopefully not bc she was too swayed by king brian’s suggestions
Rachel: this hit me hard lol
how dare
Ashley: HAHAHAHAHA
this was the part i had forgotten
Jenny: very tokyo tarareba
CC: what if,,, what if,,,,,
what if u buzz off king brian!!!
Ashley: automatically erase all thoughts of gender norms plz and thank u
CC: marry this hot rando u just met, because as a literal 20 year old you are running out of time
cool, perf, ty
no pressure sweety!
Ashley: also if u don’t u will be evicted
Jenny: oh god yeah the whole eviction plot was rough
Jenny: landlords really do be like that
Rachel: i will say, half pay and free rent for the rest of my days…
more than i expected honestly
Jenny: i mean, yes: it was a p sweet deal in the end
but the way he brought it up
just “here i am with your replacement! please get out!”
rude
CC: “i am going to uproot you in 2 weeks, YOU’RE WELCOME”
Rachel: yeah the deceit was the real problem
Jenny: but deceit was also darby’s problem!
he could’ve just told katie what was happening! instead of just assuming she’d fall in love with his successor within 2 weeks? or that he’d be able to capture and extort a leprechaun within 2 weeks
Ashley: he did like to tell a tall tale or two
Rachel: yeah i think he had his pride
and maybe thought he could use Brian to change the outcome, although honestly that was a little unclear
Jenny: agreed! bc he didn’t really seem to know what katie wanted or what could help her
and maybe if he’d laid out the options…
explained the whole scenario…
she could’ve made an informed decision!
though if it were me, in her position, i probably just would’ve wished this asshole out of town
CC: WHAT CONSEQUENCES
PERFECT
LMAOOOO
Ashley: PONYYYYYYYY
CC: why is his name pony, is my big question here
Rachel: this guy was crazy!! always smiling!!
Ashley: that mf absolutely got ran outta town to america and joined the mafia
Rachel: oh i believe it
Jenny: even though pony’s mom (above pictured crone) was p blind to his faults and that made her conniving ends less righteous, i did enjoy her, ngl
Jenny: if only bc we were JUST talking about matchmaking crones
Ashley: she has zero shame and i do love this about her
Rachel: i mean when you are a widow at this time!!!
it’s hard!!
your worth is determined by your no good son
CC: i guess u gotta look out for your terrible son, pony
Jenny: maybe if she’d named him after a good animal, he wouldn’t’ve turned out this way; my son, bunny, would never
Ashley: look, whoever marries katie PROBABLY gets the caretaker job and it comes with a FREE HOUSE
it’s honestly a shock they hadn’t been forcing her down the aisle at 17
CC: he does not deserve this name
Jenny: LOL
CC: maybe not relevant just always worth dropping into the chat
Jenny: that is absolutely what i thought of when i assumed that sean connery would be playing pony
Ashley: extremely relevant
Rachel: LOL
CC: what this movie needed was more male entertaining
Ashley: THIS is true
Rachel: disappointed sean connery never took his shirt off
Ashley: scything weeds is thirsty work!!
Jenny: give those leprechauns a bit more poteen and we’ll see where the night takes them i guess
and all their TINY HORSES
CC: LMAOOOO
Ashley: LMAOOOOOOO
CC: pony ft. the leprechauns
Ashley: oh god okay speaking of poteen
can we please take a gander at the old-timey racism of the movie poster
Rachel: oh for sure
Ashley: idk i guess it’s just a style thing but darby’s face is very ????
Rachel: oof yeah
i mean he had a very animated face but this seems like a lot
Ashley: also – not related – WHAT is going on in the bottom right corner
Rachel: I WAS GONNA SAY
enhance
CC: there is just so very much to unpack here
Ashley: somehow this actually captures the spirit of the film most of all
CC: oh yeah for sure
Rachel: this is also an unkind portrayal of katie
Ashley: yeah that just looks like a rockabilly couple on south congress
Jenny: LOL
Rachel: LOL yes exactly
CC: rockabilly…..steampunk’s slightly less awkward cousin
very into swinging
Ashley: but … more racist?
CC: sounds right i don’t know many rockabilly people
the only ones I know are very into that band flogging molly though
Ashley: i feel like at least the steampunks are very into Victorianism but Diverse
okay here is a question
which actually, is a perfect follow up to the last RR i couldn’t join
if you were granted a wish by KNOWN WISH-RUINER King Brian of the Leprechauns
what would it be?
Rachel: HMMM
CC: please leave me alone
that’s my wish
wish granting apparatuses never work out!!!
Ashley: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA oh my god that is genius
CC: don’t @ me king brian that’s my only wish
Rachel: lol that is very smart
i think i am not that clever, but i am dumb enough to think i could come up with a fullproof, no regrets wish
hubris
Jenny: oh very same rachel
i’m just sitting her pondering
Rachel: ok i wish for no more auto warranty spam calls ever again
please
let me be
Ashley: ooooo good one!
CC: oooh very good
Ashley: i do think the trick is to think small but maximize satisfaction
CC: feel like king smooth brain would be like “this person is 2 boring i don’t even wanna mess with her” bc you have played it all v close to the chest
not a boring wish, just a smart one!! you would have him fooled
Rachel: it feels like low stakes wishes are less likely to backfire
Jenny: what if: non-sarcastically perfect timing
as a wish
bc if you just say “perfect timing” then you’re going to end up w the worst timing ever
but if you clarify?
maybe not
idk
timing feels valuable though
CC: imo that one is so subjective, you’re giving him a lot to work with
Ashley: like… everything is your life is just timed perfectly?
yeah i agree with cc
lots of room for tricksies
Jenny: fair
but i am a gambling man i guess
go big or go home, i say
when you’ve already kidnapped another living thing
Ashley: LOL JENNY
see that’s why you and king brian would get along
he might fuck with your wish but at least you will have made a friend
Rachel: i mean i do love the idea of having what you need when you need it
right place right time
Jenny: yeah, like no overdraft fees, ever. when you go to buy a house, the interests rates are the lowest they’ve ever been and the perfect place accepts your offer right away. you get the right job at the right time. you meet the right people at the right time. seems good!
always a parking spot open right when you’re pulling up
Rachel: and Brian would respect you for the lofty ambition
Jenny: and isn’t friendship the REAL tresaure?
CC: oh v true
Rachel: it’s the leprechaun friends we made along the way
Ashley: that is definitely the thesis of the film
for me, i am a simple creature
i would simply wish for a lifetime supply of cheese that also never goes bad
Rachel: oh i love that
Jenny: brilliant
CC: parm 4 days
Rachel: if you combine that will timing, you’ll always have the right kind of cheese for the right kind of situation
no blue cheese for your pasta
Ashley: oh damn
i mean, i would eat that tho lol
as they say in old-timey ireland, a man is only worth as much as his weight in cheese…
CC: that sounds right
Rachel: we have learnt and grown so much because of this movie!!
with that, do y’all want to go into final thoughts?
CC: yeah!
mine is:
I just want to confirm, one more time, I know that snakes have bones!!!!
I am v anxious to make sure that folks know that I know that
Rachel: LOL
i laughed so hard when you said it because it is 1000% something i would say
CC: I know that snakes just don’t have blood
my bad
mea culpa
Ashley: lolololololololol
my final thought is: NEVER, EVER EVER EVER EVER EVERRRRR trust a horse !!!
Jenny: it’s TRUE!!!
THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED!
Rachel: AHAHAH
CC: AGREED
they have no business being so big anyway
Ashley: they will simply fall under the spell of the fae at the drop of a hat
Jenny: their loyalty does not lie with ye petty mortals!!
my final thought is mostly just: i think i would like to be a leprechaun??
Jenny: little vest, little jacket, fun and diversion
live in a dope haunted castle at the top of a hill; fuck w the local townspeople for fun; sleep all day, vibe all night
Ashley: and those PERFECTLY shiny curls
i’m with u jenny
Jenny: the dream!
CC: partying every night
Rachel: it honestly sounds like a blast
Ashley: also it only takes like a tablespoon of poteen to get absolutely shitfaced
Jenny: lol then i’m already part of the way there!!
Ashley: hahahhaha
CC: LOL
Rachel: hahahaha
ok my final thought is
if they do ever remake this movie
i hope they wait like 40 years
and then cast Michelle from Derry Girls as Darby O’Gill
Ashley: omg ????
Jenny: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love this
DISNEY!
LISTEN! HIRE US!
CC: i really gotta watch this show!!!
guess I have a few decades to catch up and get hyped
Rachel: it’s really really good!! and michelle has the chaotic energy that I think Darby requires
Ashley: absolutely
y’all we’re really gonna give the people what they want once we do a revolution and nationalize walt disney studios
Jenny: i’m so ready
CC: amen
Rachel: we have to give the people what they want!!
Ashley: it’s the only way
All images in this article via Darby O’Gill and the Little People (1959), unless otherwise noted.
