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Monday
Feb132012

A Very Parent Trap Valentine's Day

We bring you a few pieces of one of history's most charming romantic comedies, The Parent Trap.

Hayley Mills and Hayley Mills play twins who get split up at birth. They meet at summer camp and decide to switch places in order to reunite their divorced parents. Get some Fig Newtons and see if their little "trap" works.

And watch for some great movie magic, largely credited to the great Ub Iwerks (the man behind Mickey Mouse's early success). Split screen and body double techniques hold up very well even against fancy new movie techniques of today. 

Charles Ruggles, who plays the Grandfather, is as charming as any old man could possibly be on film. And funny too.

Brian Keith's character lives in the Carmel, California area, is wealthy, outdoorsy, and has the best ranch house I've ever seen. Maureen O'Hara's character is wonderful. My wife says, "she is so stunningly beautiful" every time she first appears on the screen.

The Parent Trap (1961) is my favorite live-action Disney film. It is the most re-watchable of all the movies I own. It is extremely whitty, beautiful, and like I said, charming.

Haven't got plans for Valentine's Day? WATCH THIS. Never seen it? Go buy it right now. Try not to be tempted by the 1998 Lindsay Lohan version. Or the sequels. None of which are the worst things in the world but they don't hold a candle to the original.

One of the real gems of the film is the animated title sequence before the film. It's beautifully crafted  stop motion animation by Bill Justice, X. Atencio (Haunted Mansion, etc.), and T. Hee, (Fantasia, etc.).

 

Hayley Mills, we love you. Call me. Email me.

 
First six photos from the cover of my cool 2-disk Parent Trap laserdisc.

 

Related posts:

Walt Disney Studios Post Production Behind-the-Scenes
Fess Dies Today at 85
Original Visions of CalArts
The Makings of a Good Sequel
Magic Highway U.S.A... It doesn't get much better than this.
Swiss Family Treehouse Model

 

Reader Comments (6)

Fun!

February 14, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterConnie

I agree 100% - this one is a fantastic flick. You just can't top Maureen O'Hara!

February 14, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterDave

YES. This is a wonderful film. The pacing, the color, the script, acting, humor, etc. I love the juxtaposition between the mother's Boston lifestyle and the father's California lifestyle.

February 14, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterTahitianTimmy

Woah Woah Woah I think the first parent trap was wonderful, but the one from 1998 is what I grew up watching. I think the 1998 one is cute too.

February 22, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterKaylin

just stumbled upon your site and love it...have been here hours! And agree with you wholeheartedly on this one...my favorite live action Disney film ever!!

February 29, 2012 | Unregistered Commenteramanda

It seems you told my fathers story ..lol

June 20, 2016 | Unregistered CommenterRaksha

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