The Parent Trap (1961)

The biggest hurdle with this story is buying the conceit that these two adults would've made the decision to separate these twins in the first place. Otherwise, it's just delightful. Almost beat-for-beat identical to the likable 90s remake, only better because the humor doesn't project as much; it lets the audience work a bit more. Effectively funny and fairly moving, it's classic family entertainment with a great anchoring performance by Mills at the center.

Live Disney at its quality peak and loaded with delicious scenes that one can watch over and over and still enjoy. Maureen O'Hara was into her forties here and puts her youthful competition in the shade in the sexy department.The one sad thing about this film is that thousands of divorced kids became fixated on the plot, on the idea of reuniting their parents. Luci Arnaz and Desi Jr. watched this a dozen times, dreaming of bringing Lucy and Desi back together (they had been recently divorced). Lucy finally blew up. "NO MORE PARENT TRAP. We are NOT getting back together and its not your fault and nothing you can do would help."

It is hard to see or discuss the 61 version without comparing it to the second version with Lindsay Lohan that came almost 40 years later.So let's do this in reverse and start with the later version (although if you have seen neither, I advise you start with the earlier one.) The second version is a polished gem, about as slick as it gets, and while the supporting cast is solid, that film is 99% about Lohan and how cute she is. In other words, a star turn.This film is not so clearcut. At first you think it is about Mills (who, typical of the era, never provides any sort of backstory for her clearly Brit accent) but, as the film progresses, you suddenly realize that Mills is merely part of a larger ensemble cast.An ensemble cast that includes Brian Keith (about as stereotyped as a "dad" you can find in that era) and Maureen O'Hara.O'Hara, on closer examination, is not merely the "mother" in the piece, she is the star. She lights up all her scenes in a way that is obvious only when you consider the scenes she does not appear in.When the film takes a bold run at pure situation comedy (about the halfway point) it is O'Hara that makes that work, too.In short, this is a film which is neither as perfect nor as polished as its successor, but still has an awful lot to offer.Recommended.

Hayley Mills plays twins who, unknown to their divorced parents, meet at a summer camp. Products of single parent households, they switch places (surprise!) so as to meet the parent they never knew, and then conspire to reunite them.This is an undisputed Disney classic. And what makes it great, beyond just being a known classic, is how it appeals to a wide age range. There is something for the kids, but there are also some risqué jokes that may be better appreciated by adults. Some hanky-panky suggestions, for example.Sadly, I had actually seen the 1998 version first. I like that version, but I really wish I had watched them in order. There are also apparently a handful of sequels to the original, but I can't say I'm nearly as excited about them.