Movie Review # 444: The Parent Trap (1961)

Alright, so today, we are going to be reviewing one final Disney film at least for a while. This time, we will be talking about a live-action Disney film that was released back in the 1960s, when Disney’s live-action section was starting to become more popular. Not to mention that there was a remake that was released decades later after this film’s release. Released in 1961, the movie is The Parent Trap.

Plot: When two identical females, who are discovered to be twins, meet at a girl’s summer camp, they form a plan to reunite their mother, and father (Maureen O’ Hara, and Brian Keith respectively), who divorced years before. Even though their father is planning to marry some other woman, will their plan still succeed?

Now, I remember at least seeing clips, and/or teasers at least for this older version when I was younger. I also remember listening to the song, “Let’s Get Together,” from this film as a kid on one of those Disney soundtracks. So, years later, I was excited to finally watch this film on Disney+. How is this film as a whole? Well, for the most part, it’s good, but there are one, or two areas on where it could have maybe improved. First of all, did the writers really have to have certain situations happen the way they did, especially in scenes earlier in the film, or even shortly after? Also, there were one, or two scenes that most likely may have been unrealistic. Please watch this film, and correct me if I’m wrong.

But besides those potential flaws in this film, there’s plenty more to enjoy about it! First of all, most of the characters are very well thought out. Maybe one, or two could have been well developed. Still, they’re all likable overall. Even characters like the priest in this film, for instance, had a really, really great sense of humor. Now, if that doesn’t say something, I’m not sure what will. Oh, and it’s good how the main twin characters do not act neither too bratty, nor too quiet. Rather, the writers had then act how a normal kid probably would have acted back then (and maybe they sometimes do even nowadays). In addition, the movie does well with portraying how simple, and much more enjoyable life was back then. Considering the many kinds of movies, and TV shows that have been much darker, more crude, and not quite nearly as fun nowadays, that should help us to remember better films like this, or even shows like Little House On The Prairie, or even Mork & Mindy, for instance. Oh, and need I of course mention the fun song, “Let’s Get Together?” Honestly, before seeing this film, I was expecting a musical type of live-action Disney film. That doesn’t end up being the case, however. That is okay, since the movie makes up for it with a very, very good storyline oh, and did I forget that the music of this film was written by the Sherman Brothers? Considering that they wrote songs for films like 1967’s The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, and other films, they know how to make good music. Sure, there’s only the one song, but still. How about the acting? Well, the acting was also really good. It’s almost like the actors, and actresses are really trying to get into the skin of their respective characters, and feel, and act the way that they would. In addition to all of this, the movie provides some really good lessons about how to find a good husband, or wife. Yeah, this movie is most definitely a great example of how, if people did that either in America, or in other countries, where people seem so eager to get married, regardless, maybe not nearly as many divorces would be happening in today’s world, you know? Oh, and this movie provides good lessons about not getting so prideful in one’s way of thinking, and not pushing people away when they might think that they may be looking out fir the best interest of other people. Yeah, most certainly another good lesson to learn, for sure. Oh, and one more thing! 1961’s The Parent Trap is very, very funny. Not only that, but the comedy, and the drama seem to be well balanced out with each other. Definitely part of what makes a good film, you know?

And that’s my review for 1961’s The Parent Trap. So this begs the question, is this version better, or the 1998 one with Lindsay Lohan, Dennis Quaid, and some of those actors, and actresses? Well, I still have yet to rewatch the 1998 version to say for sure. I will say this, though, I thought I may have remembered the newer one being a little funnier, and the story being expanded upon more. Yeah, we’ll have to see if I still believe that to be the case after rewatching the somewhat newer version. One way, or another, definitely see both 1961’s The Parent Trap, and the newer one, if you haven’t seen either yet. You’re bound to have fun with at least one, if not both of them.

Final Grade: A-