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The Parent Trap
The Parent Trap DVD cover
Directed by	David Swift
Produced by	George Golitzen
Written by	David Swift
Starring	Hayley Mills Maureen O'Hara Brian Keith Cathleen Nesbitt
Distributed by	Buena Vista Distribution
Release date(s)	July 21, 1961 (USA)
Running time	129 minutes
Language	English
Followed by	The Parent Trap II
IMDb profile

The Parent Trap is a film by Walt Disney Productions Corporation which was first screened in 1961 with a remake released in 1998. They were based on a book by Erich Kästner (Das Doppelte Lottchen, or Lottie and Lisa). The 1961 film was followed by three sequels. All these sequels were TV movies.

The film was shot mostly in California at various locales, including millionaire Stuyvesant Fish's 5,200 acre (21 km²) ranch in Carmel, Monterey's Pebble Beach golf course, and the studio's Golden Oak Ranch in Placerita Canyon, where Mitch's ranch was built. It was the design of this set that proved the most popular, and to this day the Walt Disney Archives receives requests for plans of the home's interior design. Of course, there never was such a house; the set was simply various rooms built on a sound stage. The careful use of double-exposure and split-screen shots, as well as a double for Hayley Mills, provided the illusion of the twins.

Directed by David Swift, the movie was nominated for two Academy Awards, one for Sound by Robert O. Cook, and the other for Film Editing by Philip W. Anderson. Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman provided the songs, which, besides the title song "The Parent Trap," includes "For Now, For Always," and "Let's Get Together," and these too added to the film's enormous popularity. The film was re-released theatrically in 1968, and released on video in 1984 and 1992. The studio later produced three television sequels starring Hayley Mills.

This story introduces twins Sharon and Susan (both played by Hayley Mills), who were separated as babies by their divorced parents. The girls accidentally meet at a summer camp, Camp Inch (by all apparent accounts, Camp Inch was based on a real girls' camp called Camp Crestridge for Girls near Asheville, North Carolina). Determined never to be separated again, the sisters decide to bring their parents, Mitch and Maggie, back together by switching places and going home to the opposing parent, making the parents have to get together in order to switch them back. However, they have a rival in the form of Mitch's new girlfriend, the devious Vicky, who wants to marry Mitch for his money. After getting both parents to switch the girls back and meet each other, the twins convince their father to take them on a camping trip with Vicky. During the camping trip, Vicky finds that living with the twins is not worth it and flees, leaving Mitch and Maggie to reunite happily.

• Hayley Mills Sharon McKendrick/Susan Evers
• Maureen O'Hara Margaret 'Maggie' McKendrick
• Brian Keith Mitch Evers
• Cathleen Nesbitt Louise McKendrick
• Charles Ruggles Charles McKendrick (as Charlie Ruggles)
• Una Merkel Verbena
• Joanna Barnes Vicky Robinson
• Linda Watkins Edna Robinson
• Ruth McDevitt Miss Inch
• Frank De Vol Mr. Eaglewood
• Crahan Denton Hecky
• Leo G. Carroll Rev. Dr. Mosby
• Nancy Kulp Miss Grunecker
• John Mills Mitch Evers' golf caddy (uncredited)
• Lynette Winter Ursula, Camp Inch roommate (uncredited)

Directed by: David Swift
Produced by: George Golitzin
Songs by: Bob Sherman & Dick Sherman

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• The screenplay originally called for only a few trick photography shots of 'Hayley Mills (I)' in scenes with herself; the bulk of the film was to be shot using a body double. When Walt Disney saw how seamless the processed shots were, he ordered the script reconfigured to include more of the special effect.
• The title song was performed by Tommy Sands and Annette Funicello. They were on the lot shooting Babes in Toyland (1961).
• For the scene where Maureen O'Hara and Charles Ruggles are speaking in the bedroom, Charles didn't have any place to put the ashes of his cigarette so, on his own, he decided to put them in his hand.
• Susan Henning took on the role as Hayley Mills' body double for several of the twin shots in the film. As part of her contract, she signed away her rights to be credited. At the wrap party Walt Disney presented her with a small statue of Donald Duck, called The Duckster, in recognition of the "best unseen performance on film." Only 2 other Ducksters have ever been awarded. To her credit, Ms. Henning did star with Elvis Presley later.
• The "isolation" cabin that Sharon and Susan stay in at camp is named "Serendipity".

• The Parent Trap II (1986)
• The Parent Trap III (1989)
• The Parent Trap IV: Hawaiian Honeymoon (1989)

• The Patty Duke Show
• Double Trouble
• Sweet Valley High
• It Takes Two
• The Parent Trap (1998 film)

• The Parent Trap (1961) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Parent Trap (1961) Vault Disney DVD Review with Pictures
• The Parent Trap I & II: 2-Movie Collection DVD Review with Pictures