The Parent Trap (1961) VS (1998)

Parent Trap Blog Post Analysis

    For my assignment, I will be comparing the original production of The Parent Trap (1961) in comparison to the “newer” film starring Lindsay Lohan (1998). One of the aspects I will be analyzing is the difference in the parenting styles in the year 1961 and 1998.

    I feel that in the 1960s parents had more control over their children than they did in the late 90s.  I found an interesting article to help better understand these differences.

    “...today’s parents, compared with 1950s parents, are paying more attention to, doing more things for, providing more help to, and praising their kids far, far more than did 1950s parents…parents did not seek our opinion about such things as what we would deign to eat for dinner and did not care whether we approved of their choices or not. Furthermore, they did not care how we felt about any decision they made. We were given reason to control our emotions rather than let them control us.” (Rosemond)

    In the late 1990s, we saw more technology released and used, there were more people using cell phones (the TV shows were better, life was simpler… I was also a toddler which may have had some effect on the simplicity of things lol).

There are many scenes in both Parent Trap films where the differences in parenting are evident.

One example is when the father announces to his daughter his intentions of remarrying.

In the 1961 version, when “Susan” begins to protest the father becomes angry, he yells at her to stop shouting and ends the conversation.

However, in the 1998 version while the conversation still doesn’t go well, the scene is very light-hearted and comical. When “Hallie” starts yelling in French, the dad is not strict at all, allows it to happen, and doesn’t seem to upset when she storms out of the house.

Another example is when the daughter living in England receives a telegram (or fax, 1998). Once again, we see a lack of discipline in the 1998 film.

In the 1961 film the family demands to see the telegram “Sharon” receives and the meaning behind the message, later we see the grandpa eavesdrop on her phone call. Later the Grandma is giving a schedule of the day, when Sharon interrupts and is scolded for her actions.

While in the 1998 butler finds fax, “Annie” asks to step out and literally freaking leaves the house and runs to use a telephone, (this was always crazy to me, maybe I don’t fully understand culture in England but if I left the dinner table and ran away a few blocks my mom would have kicked my butt) When her mom has plans they are a question/suggestion, rarely an order.

The final comparison I have for this topic is when the families realize the switch, once again the 1998 film seems to portray the parents as complete pushovers.

In the 1961 film when the family in England realizes the twins switched places there is initially confusion, and slight anger from the mother, then she is nice, and sad she didn't know it was Susan.

In the 1998 film when the family in California realizes the difference, the maid is very emotional and happy, wants to make her everything in the kitchen. The dad is never mad, he’s a mixture of happy and excited but still confused.

When the family in England catches on, the mom cries and is not angry (until she realizes she must see her ex-husband again lol).

In both locations, the girls are never yelled at and are not punished until they return to California.

           In conclusion, I feel like parenting styles will vary depending on location, culture and the times. While in the Parent Trap the parents in the 1961 filmed were seemingly more stern and the 1998 film more lenient, I feel if we saw another remake in 2018 (20 years later holy moly), we would circle back to parents being more firm with their children.