The Parent Trap (film series)


The Parent Trap is a film series originally based on Erich Kästner's 1949 novel Lottie and Lisa and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. The series began with the 1961 film of the same name with Hayley Mills playing both roles of twin sisters who were raised separately by divorced parents, without any knowledge of each other. They meet at a summer holiday camp, and switch places so that they can each meet their other parent. Mills reprised her roles three times in subsequent made-for-television sequels.
A 1998 remake, with a plot similar to the original film and written by the original film's writer/director David Swift, included segments of the story being reworked into a romantic-comedy. The twins were portrayed by Lindsay Lohan.

Films

''The Parent Trap'' (1961)

The Parent Trap was written and directed by David Swift for Walt Disney Pictures released in 1961. It was based on the book Das Doppelte Lottchen written by Erich Kästner. The film stars Hayley Mills who plays the roles of the thirteen-year-old twin girls, Sharon and Susan. Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith play the twins’ parents, Maggie and Mitch. The film is about the two girls who meet at a summer camp as strangers and realize that they are identical twins. They switch places so that each can meet the other parent, and they plan to bring their divorced parents back together. Soon after switching, the twins learn that there is a new woman, named Vicky Robinson, in their father's life. After Mitch tells Sharon about his engagement to Vicky, the girls come up with a new game plan to get rid of the woman who threatens their plan to reconnect their parents.

''The Parent Trap II'' (1986)

The Parent Trap II, written by Stuart Krieger, is a made-for-television film that aired on July 26, 1986 on the Disney Channel. It was directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The film is a continuation of the Walt Disney film The Parent Trap. The Parent Trap II was filmed twenty-five years after the original film. The idea of a second film was announced in 1985. The only actor who returned from the original film, Hayley Mills, continues to portray the twins, Sharon and Susan. The Parent Trap II focuses on Sharon's daughter Nikki who tries to set up her mother with her best friend's father, portrayed by Tom Skerritt. All the music was composed by Charles Fox as well as the title song "Lets Keep What We Got" was performed by Marilyn McCoo.

''Parent Trap III'' (1989)

The Parent Trap II was such a success for the Disney Channel that it spawned another made-for-television sequel, Parent Trap III, in 1989. Hayley Mills again reprises her roles as twins Sharon and Susan, with Barry Bostwick as a father of triplet girls and Patricia Richardson as his snobbish girlfriend.

''Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon'' (1989)

Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon is the final made-for-television sequel, with Hayley Mills again reprising her roles as Sharon and Susan, now both remarried. Also returning from Parent Trap III is Barry Bostwick and the Creel triplets: Joy, Leanna and Monica.

''The Parent Trap'' (1998)

stars in the remake of the original Parent Trap film, playing the role of the identical twins whose lives change at the summer camp they attend. The remake caught the attention of audiences when it premiered on July 29, 1998. The parents of the twins, Nick Parker and Elizabeth James, marry on a cruise ship and quickly figure out their lives are in two separate places. They each take one of the twins and then go their separate ways. Eleven years pass and the identical twins, Annie James and Hallie Parker, embark on their summer journeys not knowing each other. The initial rivalry between them turns out to bring them closer and they realize that they must be sisters. Their new goal is to make their parents fall in love again before their father and his fiancé Meredeth Blake marry. The film was directed by Nancy Meyers.

Potential remake

On February 21, 2018, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that remakes of several films are in development as exclusive content for The Walt Disney Company's streaming service Disney+ with one of those projects named in the announcement as The Parent Trap.

Documentary on the film series

Family Films Productions is developing The Legacy of The Parent Trap, a documentary film that gives a retrospective insight into developing The Parent Trap. The film will reportedly feature memories and stories of various cast and crew, about the original 1961 film and its three sequels. Among the interviews, all-new footage featuring Hayley Mills will be included. Additional interviewees include Tom Skerritt, Carrie Kei Heim, Creel triplets including, Monica Creel Lacy, Leanna & Joy Creel, Susan Henning, Ron Maxwell, Tommy Sands, and Joanna Barnes and even Lynette Winters, and Kay Cole. Bridgette Andersen's Teresa mother discusses reflections on experiences that occurred on-set during filming of The Parent Trap II, with director Ron Maxwell, among others. Marilyn McCoo also is featured sharing memories about recording music for Parent Trap II. Charles Fox who wrote the theme, "Let's Get What We Got" that was the title music in the opening for "The Parent Trap II", and the entire music score. He is also featured on-camera, with talking about his experiences in the music.
The project will analyze and also focus on the life of Erich Kastner who wrote the original German book, Das Doppelte Lottchen that the films were based on. Luke Springman, German professor Aaron Pacentine will executive produce the film. This is the first full-length film documentary that details coverage on the 1980s Parent Trap films, and the first time the director, Mollie Miller, has spoken out publicly about the original film since then.