The Parent Trap

The Parent Trap
Released 1961
Directed By David Swift
Music By Paul J. Smith

Happy Fall time Disney Movie Fans!!  I love this time of year … The harvest, sweater weather, and yes … I admit I was that nerdy kid that looked forward to going back to school.  At this time last year, my partner Steven and I were making our way down to Florida to meet up with my parents.  For Christmas that year we had decided that a trip to Disney World would be perfect, especially since it would have been sixteen years since my last trip!  At this time of year, EPCOT came alive with the Food and Wine Festival and we all had a ball going to the different parks.  So much has changed since I was last there!!

Fall time normally meant traveling for my parents as well.  Being a part of the Produce Marketers Association meant going to conventions all over the country throughout the year.  From big name produce’s like Dole, Del Monte, Chiquita, and Dolci all the way down to smaller outfits like Thos. Iseri Produce (started by my grandpa and later run by my papa-san) the conventions took my parents to some of the most amazing places.  I even got to tag along as an unofficial mascot for the onion business and got to learn about the wonderful history of the country.  In October of 1992, one of these trips took us to the beautiful city of Boston.  Now … Going to an arts and cultural center in and of itself was reason enough to get excited about a week long stay in Boston; but picture Boston in late October and well … Need I really say more?  We walked the Freedom Trail, visited Cape Cod and Plymouth Rock, went to Old Sturbridge Village, and took the tour of Paul Revere’s Home, learning about America’s past. 

You may be asking what on earth this has to do with Disney movies.  Funny enough my fascination with Boston stemmed from this month’s movie, The Parent Trap.  The Parent Trap shows Disney’s magic in live film, starring a double dose of Hayley Mills, who would later return in the sequels as Sharon McKendrick and Susan Evers (though  I’m not entirely certain if Mills made a cameo appearance in the remake starring a young Lindsey Lohan).  For those of you familiar with the films the sisters were twins separated at birth by their parents; Sharon grew up with her mother and grandparents as a prim and proper soon-to-be lady of society, while Susan grew up in Monterey, CA with her ranching father, free-spirited and a little tom boyish.  The ladies meet up during summer camp and plot to get their parents back together by switching places.  Their father is played by Brian Keith, and mother by Maureen O’Hara.  Other cast members include Joanna Barnes as the gold-digging Vicky Robinson, Ruth McDevitt as the slightly scattered camp leader Miss Inch, and even a cameo appearance of Hayley’s father Sir John Mills as Brian Keith’s golf caddy!  While many people come to Disney movies expecting great and hummable musical tunes, The Parent Trap really only offers three songs but a very lush and beautiful score reminiscent of Hollywood dramas from the 60’s.  The first song plays during the opening credits and shares the same title as the movie.  For a bit of random trivia, “The Parent Trap” was sung by Annette Funicello and Tommy Sands, both of whom were at the Walt Disney Film Studios filming Babes In Toyland.  Annette would make another vocal cameo singing “Let’s Get Together” which would later be sung as a duet by Hayley as Sharon and Susan.  Then there is the short clip of Maureen O’Hara singing “For Now For Always” which underscores the orchestral music of the Paul Smith, though the songs were written by Richard and Robert Sherman (names I’m certain we’re all familiar with by now).

Really what can one say about The Parent Trap?  Here we see Disney magic in creating a new effect of using the same actress for dual roles at the same time.  In watching the bonus DVD you see this was created by filming the scene and literally splicing the film in half, then pasting the two together.  Considering the release of the film, pretty remarkable at the ingenuity of the Disney film makers on their technique; the twins were also created using a stunt double.  The directors had stated they wished to have an actress that Mills could respond to rather than relying solely on the actor’s imagination to play off each other.  This belonged in my collection right next to Mary Poppins … In fact it was probably played just as much.  With Disney’s eye for casting the right actor for the right part in both their live action and animated features, watching a Disney film will acquaint with performers at the top of their game.  Films being released today will show you the beginnings of actors going on to do more and become bigger in entertainment (think about Zac Efron and his up and coming career); but films from the past also give us legends of the business.  Parent Trap was my first exposure to the talents of three greats: Maureen O’Hara, Bryan Keith, and of course the incomparable Hayley Mills.  Parent Trap was the second film of Mills’ career (the first was also produced by Disney Studios, Pollyanna) and she would later return to play more with Disney, including Parent Trap 2 where she falls prey to the same trap set by her daughter. 

Parent Trap has always reminded me that Disney is synonymous with one word: Magic.  Whether it’s on screen, at the resorts, with the brush stroke or mouse click of animation, Disney teaches us magic.  Magic to say that things can and will be alright if we believe, and even approach with a little humor.   Parent Trap touches upon tough instances in life: Dealing with divorce of parents, finding family, reconciliation, and how knowing and doing what is right can only be complicated because we make it so.  As a child, I saw a family coming together through scheming and comedic antics of two long-lost sisters; now I see it as a heart-warming and somewhat tear jerking movie about reconciliation. 

Well everyone, September is going by quickly and school is starting back up and we’re gearing up for another winter here in Ohio.  I’m getting bundled up and ready to start hunkering down and awaiting for another year to draw to a close.  I have mentioned that in 3 years’ time, my partner and I shall be returning to Walt Disney World for our 5 year anniversary, and I am certain that if my mother has her way I’ll be going out to the west for a Disneyland and California Adventure.  In the meantime, I’m thinking about adding a new element to my blog in the coming months or year.  Please keep reading on after the final thoughts.  

Title: Parent Trap

Perfect For: I am going to venture out and say this is perfect for the Disney Adult.  Parent Trap teaches us to listen, to forgive, and remember to keep our families in the forefront of our minds.

Most likely character you’ll see in the parks: Alas you will not see a character nor an attraction inspired from this film, at least not in my research.  If you know differently then please, comment below.

As many of you know, I love to cook and experience culinary adventures.  If you've traveled to the parks in Florida, many of you know that not only are you getting a theme park experience unlike any other, but Walt Disney World is home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world.  That being said I am thinking about adding an element where not only am I reviewing a movie for your consideration, but also now adding a recipe to go along with that movie.  Could be inspired by the movie, or a recipe of food they are eating in the movie (maybe Lady and the Tramp’s Spaghetti and Meatballs or The White Queen’s Turkish Delight).  What do you all think?  Please feel free to leave a comment down below and as always, keep watching, dreaming and bringing magic to the world.  

Make it a Magical Day – Pat A.