The Parent Trap (1961)
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88% of critics liked it
(17 reviews) -
68% of users liked it
(158,339 ratings)
We get a double dose of Hayley Mills in this Disney vehicle: she plays 13-year-old identical twins Susan and Sharon, who meet for the very first time in summer camp. They soon learn that they were separated at a very early age when their parents Mitch and Maggie (Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara)… More We get a double dose of Hayley Mills in this Disney vehicle: she plays 13-year-old identical twins Susan and Sharon, who meet for the very first time in summer camp. They soon learn that they were separated at a very early age when their parents Mitch and Maggie (Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara) divorced. On a lark, the girls switch places: the one living with Mitch goes back home with Maggie, and vice versa. Mitch is planning to remarry the "wrong woman," vituperative Vicky (Joanna Barnes). The twins conspire to reunite their parents, but the road to reconciliation is rough indeed. It takes a slapsticky camping trip to get rid of the troublesome Vicky and to prompt Mitch and Maggie to renew their vows. The film introduced a hit song, "Let's Get Together," which represented the high point of Hayley Mills' very short-lived recording career. The Parent Trap was based on Das Doppelte Lottchen, a novel by Erich Kastner, which had previously been filmed in German and British versions (real twins were cast in both); over thirty years after Parent Trap was theatrically released, a short series of sequels were made for the Disney Channel cable service, with a grown-up Mills back in her original role(s), and two sets of second-generation twins. Baby Boom collaborators Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer would remake the film with a new cast in 1998. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- David Swift, David Swift (II)
- Written By
- Erich Kästner, David Swift
- Genres
- Kids & Family, Romance, Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 21, 1961 Wide
- Studio
- Buena Vista Distribution Company
Critic Reviews
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, TIME Magazine
Surprisingly, the film is delightful-mostly because of 15-year-old Hayley Mills, the blonde button nose who played the endearing delinquent in Tiger Bay.
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Common Sense Media Editors, Common Sense Media
Hayley Mills rocks in her dual role as twins.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
An enjoyable, corny Disney picture with a memorable soundtrack featuring tunes sung by Tommy Sands and Annette Funicello.
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David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...irrelevant and dated...
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Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
There is plenty in The Parent Trap to cause you to chuckle.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Hayley Mills
as Sharon McKendrick, Susan Evans
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Maureen O'Hara
as Maggie McKendrick
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Brian Keith
as Mitch Evers
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Charlie Ruggles
as Charles McKendrick
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Una Merkel
as Verbena
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Leo G Carroll
as Rev. Mosby
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Joanna Barnes
as Vicky Robinson
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Cathleen Nesbitt
as Louise McKendrick
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Ruth McDevitt
as Miss Inch
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Graham Denton
as Hecky
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Linda Watkins
as Edna Robinson
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Nancy Kulp
as Miss Grunecker
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Frank de Vol
as Mr. Eaglewood
- Charles Ruggles


