Film Favorites of '59

Happy St. Pat's 2013 (as of 20 minutes ago.) A special shout-out to anyone who saw our SPD Parade here in San Buenaventura-by-the-Sea, California. Last year we'd a wee bit of Murphy's Luck: rain fell just enough to cancel the Parade on Saturday the 17th, 2012. Venchurrans are so lucky to have an annual SPD parade, just like the big cities. June Gloom arrived early & hung on through this year's parade, all the better to see clover-colored-cloathing & dyed poodles. Not to mention our giant inflatable oinker.

To the point. DARBY O'GILL's one of my dearest evergreens, as essential to St. Pat's as "1776" is to the Fourth or the 1970 SCROOGE is to Christmas Day. I feel a certain kinship with it because the Disneyland Matterhorn, myself & DARBY all premiered the same year, 1959. Plus, along with MARY POPPINS & the pre-WWII cartoon features, it's among Disney's greatest films. I once was lucky enough to see it in a theater, the bottom half of a double-bill with PINOCCHIO. A double-draught of the finest Hollywood moonshine.

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Another recommendation for Green Day:
the "Spirit Folk" & "Fair Haven" episodes of STAR TREK VOYAGER.
(Fair Haven's an idealized Irish village populated by lifelike holograms, intended as a recreational idyll for the crew. In true WESTWORLD fashion, though, things turn predictably unpredictable. Richard Riehle, my favorite modern actor, has unusually generous screen time as Seamus, the town mooch & shanachie.)

A quick, incomplete sampling of essential listening for Green Day:

Irish Rovers: practically anything in their vast catalog
Boys of the Lough: FAREWELL & REMEMBER ME
Derek Bell: MYSTIC HARP I & II
Chieftains & Guest Artists: THE LONG BLACK VEIL
Tommy Makem/Liam Clancy: COLLECTION
Bing Crosby: TOP O'THE MORNING-THE IRISH COLLECTION
Dubliners: BEST OF

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Film Favorites of '59:

Film: DARBY O'GILL & THE LITTLE PEOPLE
Runners-up:
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
THIRD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN
LI'L ABNER

Actress: Janet Munro, DARBY or THIRD MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN (either or both)

Actor: Albert Sharpe, DARBY

Supporting Actor: Jimmy O'Dea, DARBY

Original Song: "Livin' Doll," SERIOUS CHARGE

Instrumental Piece: NORTH BY NORTHWEST main title

Musical Number: "Don't That Take the Rag Off'n the Bush," LI'L ABNER

Ensemble Cast: LI'L ABNER