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

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

Visual Effects by
Ub Iwerks	....	special photographic effects
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)
• RKO (1962) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Hallmark Channel, The (2006) (USA) (TV)

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: When Susan is telling Sharon her plan to switch places, Sharon is holding the ice cream spoon in her hand. In the next shot the spoon disappears.

Quotes:

Miss Inch: Congratulations. In the history of this camp, that was the most infamous, the most disgusting, the most revolting display of hooliganism we have ever had.
Miss Grunecker: Rolling around like hooligans in front of our guests.
Miss Inch: And worst of all, two sisters who should be setting a good example.
Susan Evers: We're not sisters!
Sharon McKendrick: I've never seen HER before in my life.
Miss Inch: They are! Aren't they?
Miss Grunecker: No ma'am. Just look-alikes.
Miss Inch: An amazing resemblance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "What I Like About You: The Parrot Trap (#1.6)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

For Now, For Always

Great Family Movie

I loved the parent trap. I think that it is an excellent family movie. Too bad that we can't get back to good family movies such as this one. The only thing is that I couldn't figure out who I liked best Susan or Sharon.