The Parent Trap (1961)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

David Swift

Writers:

Erich Kästner (book)
David Swift (written by)

Release Date:

21 June 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

It's Strictly a Laugh Affair

Plot:

Hayley Mills plays twins who, unknown to their divorced parents, meet at a summer camp. Products of single parent households...

Plot Keywords:

California | Summer Camp | Twins | Divorced Parents | Gold Digger

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Hayley Mills	...	Sharon McKendrick / Susan Evers
Maureen O'Hara	...	Margaret '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
Crahan Denton	...	Hecky
Linda Watkins	...	Edna Robinson
Nancy Kulp	...	Miss Grunecker
Frank De Vol	...	Mr. Eaglewood
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kay Cole	...	Betsy, Sharon's Camp Inch roommate (uncredited)
John Mills	...	Mitch Evers' golf caddy (uncredited)
Irene Tedrow	...	Miss Lockness - the Housekeeper (uncredited)
Lynette Winter	...	Ursala, Camp Inch roomate (uncredited)

Directed by
David Swift

Writing credits
Erich Kästner		(book "Das Doppelte Lottchen")
David Swift		(written by)

Produced by
George Golitzen	....	associate producer (as George Golitzin)

Original Music by
Paul J. Smith		(as Paul Smith)

Cinematography by
Lucien Ballard		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Philip W. Anderson

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark
Robert Clatworthy

Set Decoration by
Hal Gausman
Emile Kuri

Costume Design by
Bill Thomas

Makeup Department
Pat McNalley	....	makeup artist
Ruth Sandifer	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan Volkman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Robert O. Cook	....	sound supervisor
Dean Thomas	....	sound

Special Effects by
Ub Iwerks	....	special photographic effects

Visual Effects by
Bob Broughton	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gertrude Casey	....	costumer
Chuck Keehne	....	costumer

Music Department
Evelyn Kennedy	....	music editor
Franklyn Marks	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Xavier Atencio	....	special titles
Leon Charles	....	dialogue coach
Don DaGradi	....	sequence consultant
Walt Disney	....	presenter
T. Hee	....	special titles
Bill Justice	....	special titles

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista Distribution Company (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Hallmark Channel, The (2006) (USA) (TV)
• RKO (1962) (Japan) (theatrical)

Runtime:

129 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Approved (certificate #19646) | USA:G (re-rating) (1992) | Australia:G | Finland:K-8 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Productions

Trivia:

The screenplay originally called for only a few trick photography shots of Hayley Mills in scenes with herself; the bulk of the film was to be shot using a body double. When Walt Disney saw how seamless the processed shots were, he ordered the script reconfigured to include more of the special effect.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Mitch falls into the pool, he talks with one of the twins and puts his wet hand on her shoulder, getting the shoulder of her dress wet. A second later the dress is dry in the spot where he put his hand.

Quotes:

Louise McKendrick: Charles, stop burbling.
Charles McKendrick: I haven't burbled in years!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Roseanne: The Parenting Trap (#7.12)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

For Now, For Always

Spectacular!!!

This movie is one of the best sixties one out there. It is much better than the 1998 version. Haley Mills plays both characters to perfection (as always), and it has a great plot with unexpected twists and turns. You really should see this!!!

~Jen