The Parent Trap (1961)
Directed by David Swift

Film Review

In the second of her six films for Disney, Hayley Mills is on double duty, playing two identical twins, and getting away with it thanks to the miracle of split screen photography.  The Parent Trap is a slightly overlong but enjoyable romp that originated as a novel (Lottie and Lisa) by Erich Kästner.   Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara both appear to be having the time of their lives as the estranged husband and wife who succumb to Mills' Machiavellian matchmaking machinations, but it is the two-timing Mills who gives most entertainment value, even getting to sing a duet with herself in one memorable scene.  So successful was the film that it spawned a series of sequels in the 1980s, with Hayley Mills bravely reprising the lead roles.  Lindsay Lohan starred in the 1998 remake directed by Nancy Meyers, a schmaltz-fest that has neither the charm nor slightly anarchic good humour of the original.  Unlike most of Disney's live action films, this one functions adequately as both an adult rom-com and children's entertainment.  Silly but fun.

Film Synopsis

During a stay at a summer camp, Susan Evers is surprised when she meets a girl, Sharon McKendrick, who is physically identical to her.  As the two girls get to know one another they soon arrive at the conclusion they are twin sisters who have been brought up separately after the break-up of their parents' marriage.  Whilst Susan lives on a ranch in California with her millionaire father, Mitch, Sharon inhabits a posh house in Boston with her socialite mother Maggie.  Both girls are keen to meet the parent they have never known and so agree to swap identities.  After changing their hairstyles and adopting each other's mannerisms no one could fail to be taken in by the deception.  Their plan is to find a way to bring their parents back together again so that they can all live together.  Sharon has barely arrived at her sister's home before she makes the shocking discovery that her father intends marrying a younger woman, a gold-digger named Vicky Robinson. The girls must act fast if they are to prevent the marriage and reunite their parents.  They get their opportunity when Vicky is lured into taking a camping excursion with Mitch...