I've always been a huge fan of Hayley Mills and grew up with her in this type of movie. Like everyone else, I always just figured it was cute and heartwarming, then got to thinking...and I see at least one other reviewer agrees with me.
This Disney family classic tells the story of two twins, Susan and Sharon, whose parents divorced shortly after their birth. Each parent assumed custody of one of their daughters, so these twins have been unaware they have a sister. However, the pair inadvertently meet at summer camp, recognize each other (of course, they're identical), and decide to switch places by going to live for awhile with the opposite parent. Then the scheming but appealing duo embarks upon a mission to reunite their divorced parents, despite the fact that the father is now engaged to another (rather nasty and not at all suitable) woman.
First, Hayley Mills is of course an absolutely fabulous little actress here, playing the dual roles of the sisters, Sharon and Susan. She's bubbly, perky, endearing, charming, and all the rest of it, plus makes you believe there really are two different girls. Also, the parents are well cast, with the rugged Brian Keith portraying the father and the beautiful, sophisticated Maureen O'Hara as the mother.
However, I agree totally with another reviewer that questions...what kind of strange, cruel, uncaring parents would split up their kids like this? Talk about dividing assets! It seems these twins have essentially no contact or awareness of the non custodial parent, in addition to being quite oblivious that they have a twin sibling. Furthermore, it is incredible that these parents seem to want no contact with their non custodial child. Such a parent does not come across as very heartwarming to me, even if played by Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara! Thus, the basic premise behind this tale is beyond bizarre. Of course the cute antics of the twins get the parents back together in the end. If this estranged couple is so easily reunited, one wonders why they ever divorced in the first place. However, I could forgive this...we all want a happily ever after ending here...but not the splitting up your children in infancy business.
Anyway, it's a lively, light hearted, entertaining little movie that's fun to watch, lots of mischievous pranks and so on. But as for a 'family film', it has some strange messages. Parents should discuss some of these issues with their own kids while watching it, whether or not they themselves are in a divorced situation. My own child did not grow up with divorced parents, but I would still have wanted to make it plain...this is Disney and makes a cute story, but dividing up your children like this, denying them knowledge of their sibling or noncustodial parent isn't remotely acceptable in real life.
As far as the new 1998 version is concerned, this 1961 Hayley Mills one is a classic and perfectly fine just the way it is. Why must Hollywood always feel compelled to do remakes? It's like they don't believe modern audiences can relate if the hairstyles or whatever are a little different. Absurd!
This Disney family classic tells the story of two twins, Susan and Sharon, whose parents divorced shortly after their birth. Each parent assumed custody of one of their daughters, so these twins have been unaware they have a sister. However, the pair inadvertently meet at summer camp, recognize each other (of course, they're identical), and decide to switch places by going to live for awhile with the opposite parent. Then the scheming but appealing duo embarks upon a mission to reunite their divorced parents, despite the fact that the father is now engaged to another (rather nasty and not at all suitable) woman.
First, Hayley Mills is of course an absolutely fabulous little actress here, playing the dual roles of the sisters, Sharon and Susan. She's bubbly, perky, endearing, charming, and all the rest of it, plus makes you believe there really are two different girls. Also, the parents are well cast, with the rugged Brian Keith portraying the father and the beautiful, sophisticated Maureen O'Hara as the mother.
However, I agree totally with another reviewer that questions...what kind of strange, cruel, uncaring parents would split up their kids like this? Talk about dividing assets! It seems these twins have essentially no contact or awareness of the non custodial parent, in addition to being quite oblivious that they have a twin sibling. Furthermore, it is incredible that these parents seem to want no contact with their non custodial child. Such a parent does not come across as very heartwarming to me, even if played by Brian Keith and Maureen O'Hara! Thus, the basic premise behind this tale is beyond bizarre. Of course the cute antics of the twins get the parents back together in the end. If this estranged couple is so easily reunited, one wonders why they ever divorced in the first place. However, I could forgive this...we all want a happily ever after ending here...but not the splitting up your children in infancy business.
Anyway, it's a lively, light hearted, entertaining little movie that's fun to watch, lots of mischievous pranks and so on. But as for a 'family film', it has some strange messages. Parents should discuss some of these issues with their own kids while watching it, whether or not they themselves are in a divorced situation. My own child did not grow up with divorced parents, but I would still have wanted to make it plain...this is Disney and makes a cute story, but dividing up your children like this, denying them knowledge of their sibling or noncustodial parent isn't remotely acceptable in real life.
As far as the new 1998 version is concerned, this 1961 Hayley Mills one is a classic and perfectly fine just the way it is. Why must Hollywood always feel compelled to do remakes? It's like they don't believe modern audiences can relate if the hairstyles or whatever are a little different. Absurd!