Entertainment
Sean Connery's Eye-Popping, Special Effects Masterpiece Is The Perfect St. Paddy’s Day Movie
By Jennifer Asencio
| Updated
Every year, the whole world becomes Irish for a day. We wear green, drink green beverages, and get our brogue on for the day. We celebrate traditional Irish things like corned beef and cabbage, banshees, and leprechauns. Disney has all of that in one classic movie: Darby O’Gill and the Little People.
The story is based on Irish tales of the trickster Darby and his battle of wits with King Brian of the Leprechauns. In the movie, Darby (Albert Sharpe) is about to retire from his career as groundskeeper of the local manor, a fact he can’t reveal to his daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), because he has to figure out where they’re going to live once Darby’s replacement moves into the groundskeeper’s cottage. Meanwhile, he entertains his neighbors at the pub with tales of his adventures against King Brian and does good deeds for the town, such as carrying a church bell for the payment of its sound being forever dedicated to him.
King Brian (Jimmy O’Dea) is real, but only Darby has seen him so far, and his encounters with the leprechaun swaps the upper hand between them as they trick each other with riddles, treasures, and other mind games. As the rivalry between them blossoms into a friendship, events in the town are coming to a boil as local thug Pony Sugrue plots to steal Darby’s job and Katie’s heart. And when Michael McBride comes to town, everything they all knew will change as quickly as a leprechaun’s wish.
Michael McBride is played by the legendary Sean Connery in an early role that predates his first stint as James Bond (1962’s Dr. No). The 1958 movie is a musical, like much Disney fare of the era, and yes, Sean Connery sings. Fortunately, it’s brief. Otherwise, he manages to contain his wide aura as the new groundskeeper so that he doesn’t steal the show from its stars, Darby and Brian. His Scottish brogue also fits in well with the Irish setting.
Darby’s little town is full of characters: the swaggering bully Pony and his scheming mother, the town priest, the pub’s proprietor and his wife, and a cast of rural townsfolk from old Ireland. It paints a shiny picture of what was actually a desperate time for the Irish but also reflects the importance of Irish storytelling as a cornerstone of the culture that braced the people through its hardest periods. Scholars of Irish culture emphasize how important the fireside céilí, or nightly tale-spinning and singing party, was to the Emerald Isle from its early days. The seanchaíthe, or storytellers, are still revered in Ireland to this day as they continue the tradition of passing down stories orally and through song.
More than once, Darby encounters the most famous of Irish supernatural creatures, some of them charming and others terrifying. It’s easy to forget that it’s a Disney movie when things get tense, because the movie can get pretty scary and touch upon themes that one wouldn’t expect from an offering from the Magic Kingdom. It’s not a kids’ movie, but it is a family movie, with enough for everyone to enjoy and a few fun songs I swear my family didn’t sing at one another when I was a kid myself.
It also holds up surprisingly well for a movie that is almost 70 years old. The fight choreography and special effects are products of their time, but still pretty good considering they are entirely practical. Sean Connery and Keiron Moore, as Pony, both show their moves a few times with physical prowess and clear skill. It all looks very good for its time and fits in with the movie’s world of live-action magic, so its age never diminishes from its enjoyment.
To get your healthy dose of St. Patrick’s Day Irish, check out Darby O’Gill and the Little People on Disney+. But be careful what you wish for: King Brian can be tricky!
Entertainment
Kathy Hilton Shares the Style Rule She Passed Down to Paris and Nicky: 'You Don’t Need the Whole Kitchen Sink'
Less really is more, just ask Kathy Hilton.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star spilled the effortlessly chic beauty and style tips she passed down to daughters Paris, 45, and Nicky, 42, while hosting a fête for LoveShackFancy’s Sweetheart fragrance at her Bel Air, California home on March 20.
Though Hilton loves a glamorous moment (and throws a party like no other), she’s all about keeping things polished, and never overdone.
“A classic rule I’ve told Paris and Nicky is to be comfortable. I’d rather be a little underdressed than overdressed because you can always throw on fun earrings or change your shoes if you’re leaving work or getting off a plane,” she tells ET.
“You don’t want to come in with the whole kitchen sink and make a fool out of yourself. Dim it down a little bit. Just be fresh, pretty, and confident. That’s the best,” the entrepreneur continues.
Naturally, the mother-daughter trio shares more than just style advice, they share closets too.
“They can’t wear my shoes because I have a smaller foot, but they wear my jewelry, my accessories, and my handbags. … I recently borrowed a bag that was so cute from Paris. She was calling every day saying, ‘I’m going to come by and get my bag.’ … She knows her inventory and doesn’t forget, but I’m happy that she takes care of her things and that she’s appreciative,” the Bravo star says.
When it comes to what Hilton actually keeps in her purse, she leans into easy and practical items.
“I carry an eye mask that I found years ago at a drugstore in New York, pale pink silicone foot pads for comfort, my little fan, and my Lorna Murray hat because it gives an outfit a great look, makes me look a little bit taller, and keeps the sun off my face,” she explains.
“I’m also always trying the latest and newest product to moisturize my lips because they’re chronically dry, and I love the Revive neck cream and can’t put on makeup without it.”
Beyond her essentials, one thing Hilton never leaves the house without is a signature spritz.
“I spray my perfume at the end, but I make sure I don’t have pearls on. … I have a collection of fragrances. … There are ones I would wear to a ladies’ lunch, and others that are romantic and sexy that I would wear after 5 p.m. for dinner with my husband.”
Luckily, her current favorite works for just about any occasion.
“Sweetheart is so fruity and floral, and the bottle is the pinkest, most sparkly, and gorgeous. … It’s perfect for spring and summer because it’s happiness in a bottle. … I like to bring a little bit of summer everywhere I go. … Hot girl summer every day, even in the winter,” Rebecca Hessel Cohen, founder of LoveShackFancy, notes.
“It can take you anywhere. … It’s so beautiful that you want to just hold it or keep it on your dressing table,” Hilton continues.
Still, there is one area where Hilton doesn’t hold back: health and wellness.
“I do Tru Niagen IV treatments every week and take two of their supplements every day to give me energy. … I’m a mad professor with putting things together. I always have my lotions and potions, and everyone loves it. … My girls are very into it and it’s fun to compare notes.”
Through it all though, her philosophy stays grounded.
“I’ve always mixed high and low. I’m as happy at Target and Walmart as I am on the seventh floor of Bergdorf Goodman.”
RELATED CONTENT:
Entertainment
Pro Wrestler Dennis Condrey, Chuck Norris and More Stars We Lost This Year
Hollywood mourned the deaths of some of its most legendary stars in 2026.
The year started off with Broadway performer and influencer Bret Hanna-Shuford’s death at age 46. At the end of the month, comedy acting icon Catherine O’Hara died at age 71.
In February, Designing Women’s Camilla Carr died at age 83, Dawson’s Creek actor James Van Der Beek died at age 48, Harold and Maude star Bud Cort died at 77, Robert Duvall died at age 95 and actor Eric Dane died at age 53. That same month, Lizzie McGuire actor Robert Carradine‘s family confirmed his death on February 23.
Dallas star Annabel Schofield, former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone, Ghostbusters actress Jennifer Runyon, British actor John Alford, Back to the Future actor Matt Clark, British reality TV star Jordan Wright, Chuck Norris and pro wrestler Dennis “Loverboy” Condrey all died in March.
Scroll down to remember all the stars who died in 2026:
Entertainment
The Zombie Remake As Good As The Original Horror Classic
By Brian Myers
| Published
Remakes are a source of a great divide among horror fans, seemingly split into even-numbered camps that either welcome new visions of old classics or consider the very thought of reimagining a beloved film blasphemous. When it was announced in 1989 that George Romero’s zombie cult classic Night of the Living Dead would be remade for modern audiences, the news was met with mixed reaction. For those who have seen the finished 1990 version, most will agree that it is every bit as much of a gem as its 1968 predecessor.
The Night of the Living Dead remake begins in the same way of the original, with brother and sister Johnny and Barbara (played by Bill Moseley and Patricia Tallman, respectively) visiting their mother’s grave in a country cemetery in Pennsylvania. While putting flowers on the plot, the siblings are attacked by an elderly man. In the scuffle to protect his sister, Johnny is killed.
Barbara runs from the graveyard and finds what she thinks is an empty farmhouse. But a small group of zombies, much like the one that attacked her and Johnny in the cemetery, are there to greet her. She is suddenly joined by a man named Ben (Tony Todd), who helps her keep the undead at bay.
The Night of the Living Dead remake continues along much of the same path as the Romero original, with the farmhouse being occupied by a group of survivors in the basement. Conflict between the newcomers and the squatters arises, with devastating consequences. With limited resources and even fewer options, the small group tries to develop a plan to escape and find better digs.
The Night of the Living Dead remake marks the directorial debut for special effects and film makeup wizard Tom Savini. While he did not work on the 1968 Romero original, Savini became a staple of Romero‘s subsequent films. The filmmaker/special effects master helped to bring the undead to life on screen with Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, as well as lending his acting talents to small roles in several of Romero’s films that include Dawn of the Dead and Martin.
The Night of the Living Dead remake brought the horrors of the original in full, gory color. Little is left to the imagination in this version, and Savini was forced to edit out some of the more brutal scenes to avoid an NC-17 rating. The added gore aside, the movie sticks pretty close to the original as far as plot and character development, with one glaring and welcomed exception.
For the role of Barbara, Savini had actress Patricia Tallman (best known for her role on Babylon 5) evolve the character over the course of the film into a powerful player who takes no prisoners. This is a far cry from the original Barbara from 1968, who was meek and pretty helpless.
The Night of the Living Dead remake delivers better performances from its stars, particularly Tallman and Tony Todd. Sharp-eyed horror fans will recognize two faces from the 1968 version in Bill Cardille (who played a TV news reporter in both versions) and Russell Streiner, who played Johnny in the 1968 version and was cast as Sheriff McClelland in the 1990 reboot.
You can stream the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead on Amazon.
NCAA Tournament roundup: Nebraska tops Vanderbilt for 1st Sweet 16 spot
NHL roundup: Wild best Central rival Stars in OT thriller
