The Parent Trap (1961)

Release Date: June 21, 1961

Watch Date: January 9 – January 13, 2024

“Hayley Mills lights up the screen in Disney’s beloved The Parent Trap. Mills stars as Susan and Sharon, identical twins separated at birth. Neither twin knows the other exists until a simple twist of fate finds them at the same summer camp. Then, realizing who they are, they plan a little twist of their own: they switch places with high hopes of getting their divorced parents back together.”

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    People don’t handle divorce well.

    Well, some people do, but in general it’s a tough thing to manage. I don’t blame anyone who struggles. There’s grief, and anger, and depression, but also a sense of freedom, of moving forward, people can often be quite happy about their divorce. It’s a super complex topic that I’m certainly not equipped to talk about. There’s losing your home, potentially. The division of property, and money. Throw children into the mix, at any age, and I can’t even imagine how stressful it must be for all parties involved.

    Do I think most divorce lawyers would recommend each parent only taking one child from a set of twins though, living on complete opposite ends of the country and having no contact with their other parent, and in fact denying that parent is even able – or wants – to have contact with them?

    I’m going to be honest and say, probably not.

    But while the premise is absolutely insane, and downright cruel if you look at it too hard, the actual movie manages to pull of a lighthearted, comedic, and at times even romantic romp, that Bob and I found ourselves laughing along to more often than not.

    Hayley Mills is a gem, and I love her, and I am so excited for the time we’ll get with her in our Disney journey. She simply lights up the screen every time she’s on it, and playing two different characters, often against yourself, could not have been easy. But she managed it, and she pulled it off brilliantly, at least for an actress of her age and experience.

    There’s chemistry between the parents, and they’re both look exactly the way I always imagine old movie stars to look, which makes the whole thing even more romantic. I don’t think they should be together though, even by the end. The father accuses the mother of being repeatedly physically abusive in their past, and she is again, and he sets her flying off the handle with even the simplest comment. It just doesn’t seem like a healthy or safe relationship for anyone.

    The grandfather on the Boston side, and the reverend on the California side, are both charming and add a touch of comedy and humanity to what might be an otherwise surreal experience. Again, as long as you’re not looking too hard at the film, the plot doesn’t really break your heart. And everyone seems so happy to be reunited with their long lost relatives. What cruel divorce lawyer came up with this strategy? And which judge approved it? And then, for that matter, sending your kids away six months of the year to opposite ends of the country, the solution the parents propose now that the teens have met, who would approve that? What school would they go to? How would they make friends or connections?

    All in all, the whole film is funny, lighthearted, and entertaining enough that I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob asks to watch it again by the end of the year, and that’s saying something. It’s a Disney classic for a reason, and if I recall correctly it even briefly launched Hayley Mills’ singing career – not something I would have suggested, but is clearly the early blueprint for the futures of Selena Gomez, Hilary Duff, and Lindsey Lohan.

    If you’ve only watched the 90s version, I highly suggest you give the original a try. And if you’ve never watched either, don’t dismiss this one out of hand just because it’s old. It’s aged like a fine wine.