The Parent Trap (1961)

Teenage twin sisters swap places and scheme to reunite their divorced parents.

Director:

David Swift

Writers:

Erich Kästner (book), David Swift (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Hayley Mills	...	Susan Evers / Sharon McKendrick
Maureen O'Hara	...	Maggie McKendrick
Brian Keith	...	Mitch Evers
Charles Ruggles	...	Charles McKendrick (as Charlie Ruggles)
Una Merkel	...	Verbena
Leo G. Carroll	...	Rev. Dr. Mosby
Joanna Barnes	...	Vicky Robinson
Cathleen Nesbitt	...	Louise McKendrick
Ruth McDevitt	...	Miss Inch (as Ruth Mc Devitt)
Crahan Denton	...	Hecky
Linda Watkins	...	Edna Robinson
Nancy Kulp	...	Miss Grunecker
Frank De Vol	...	Mr. Eaglewood

Storyline

Hayley Mills plays twins who, unknown to their divorced parents, meet at a summer camp. Products of single parent households, they switch places so as to meet the parent they never knew, and then contrive to reunite them.

---

Plot Keywords:

summer camp | actress playing dual role | identity swap | lake | identical twins | 

---

Taglines:

It's a LOOK-ALIKE, RING-A-DING, LAFF-AFFAIR!

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Susan Henning won the 1965 Miss Teen USA pageant.

---

Goofs

When Vicky and Edna exit Mitch's house, they get into a 1959 Lincoln 4-door. However when they are driving away, (interior shots of) the car in which they are riding is a 1959 Mercury. This is evident by the distinctive types of rear roof pillars that the cars have.

---

Quotes

Verbena 'Ever's Housekeeper': You didn't know what a good thing you had when you had it.
Mitch Evers: Huh?

---

Alternate Versions

An early US laserdisc release is missing the car scene mentioned above, but not the pool transition a few minutes later. It is, on the other hand, also missing about 50 seconds at the start of the conversation between Margaret and her father as she tries to pack for the trip to CA (during which he informs her of the plane ticket, questions her choice of dress, and ponders what sort of lady Mitch might have married since the breakup). Like many Disney releases, it is also missing the distribution title card (Buena Vista) and the accompanying drummed introduction to the title song.

---

Connections

Featured in The Boys (2009)

---

Soundtracks

Reveille - Bugle Call
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

One of my favourites

This is one of the best Disney movies ever made. It is funny, warm, and it is something everybody can enjoy. To watch this in the twenty first century is a wonderful trip back in time. This movie is very 60's, but that does not make it out of date, the tricks and gags are timeless. I loved this movie when I saw it for the first time many years ago. Therefore, when the new 1998 remake came out, I had to see that too. The new one is also sweet and warm, but the original version is the best. If you see this version first and then all or some of the new afterwards (as I tried, for fun, one was on TV and I have the other on DVD), the new one reveals itself as being superficial and a bit cheasy compared to the original.

Details

Official Sites:

Disney's Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 June 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Parent Trap

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$25,150,385

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,650,385

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1