The Parent Trap Movie Review (1961)

It’s Hayley Mills times two! I feel like that was used in some old-school advertising for this movie. Regardless, this next film is number 50 and I was very excited to reach this movie milestone. For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.

A Brief Summary

(Taken from D23)

After an imaginative title sequence using stop-motion animation (by experts T. Hee, Bill Justice, and X. Atencio) and the song “The Parent Trap” sung by Annette Funicello and Tommy Sands, the film introduces twins Sharon and Susan, who were separated as children by their divorced parents, and who accidentally meet during a summer at Camp Inch. Determined never to be separated again, the sisters decide to bring their parents, Mitch and Maggie, back together again. In this they have a rival, the devious Vicky, who wants to marry Mitch for his money. But after a fateful camping trip, Vicky finds living with the twins is not worth it and flees, leaving Mitch and Maggie to reunite happily. 

What works

• The pacing throughout the movie is pretty decent. See my thoughts in the section below about the girls’ camp scenes, but for the most part I thought it flowed well and allowed for character development without feeling super rushed.
• Sharon’s yelling rant to Mitch about marrying Vicky is fabulous, one of the highlights of the movie, and one of the few moments where I was happy that it was Hayley Mills playing the twins.
• I did like the 2nd camp (aka twins vs. Vicky). A much better use for their pranks than at the girls’ camp. 
• Grandpa kind of reminded me of Mr. Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Gets involved when he really needs to, otherwise, he’s quite content to keep out of the way.

What may or may not work

• The idea for the opening credits, with the song & claymation/stop-motion, was a decent one, but they had these AWFUL cherubs as a mainstay in during that sequence, cherubs that were just horrifying all over.
• We could take out the entirety of the girls’ fighting at camp, rewrite a reason for them being paired off in the isolation cabin and the movie would be just fine. To be fair, it does make the antics during the 2nd campout fit much better character-wise, but still.
  • The Escalation at the Girls’ Camp
    • Susan – mean comment (calls Sharon Frankenstein)
    • Sharon – roommate tips over Susan’s canoe (right after Frankenstein comment)
    • Susan – she/roommates boobytrap Sharon’s cabin (How did they get away w/ using all that stuff and/or not get in trouble?)
    • Sharon – she and roomie cut off a chunk of Susan’s skirt at the dance, revealing Susan’s underwear. A pretty low blow.
    • The girls fight at the dance, punch is spilled, the cake is splattered, it’s all a hot mess.
    • banished to isolation tent/table for rest of camp
• There was a SUPER AWKWARD conversation between Susan & her dance “date”. I mean, it probably could be seen as fine, but honestly, it was cringe-worthy.
• Let’s talk about how NO ONE at the girls’ camp took seriously the fact that they looked the same until the camp director said we’re isolating you two together. The fact that they looked alike was the reason for why they started fighting, yet no one really took their faces seriously. 
• The ending was a little meh. The explanation and visualization of Susan’s dream could have been done better.

Honorable Mentions

• “I’d bite off her nose. Then she wouldn’t look like me.” (One of Susan’s roommates says this, but seriously. What?)
• “Camp Thunderhead accepts your invitation and thanks you.” – Camp Thunderhead boy (cue squeals, ugh)
• “What if we got some ants and when she comes by the window, we dump ’em down her dress.” -red-head roomie
  • “impractical” -Sharon
  • “Where you gonna find ants at night, stupid” -another roomie 

Side Questions

• Handholding? y’all just met these boys and you’re handholding already? (for context: practically every girl at the camp dance)
• What does Mitch even see in Vicky?
• Susan is super loud talking on the phone to Sharon in the parlor. It’s early in the morning, what the heck?
• Mom doesn’t like it either but has made no previous efforts to change it. What?
• Vicky’s mom married 4 times. Is that really the in-law you want to bring into the family, Mitch?

Would I watch this movie again?

• If I’m with others who want to watch it, I’ll watch it. It was fine, just not my favorite. But story-wise, it was executed better than some of the other Disney live-action films.

If you’ve seen The Parent Trap, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

Rewind to the beginning of the Disney Film Project

Skip back to the previous film with The Absent-Minded Professor

Fast Forward to the next film with Nikki, Wild Dog of the North

The Parent Trap can be found at Disney+