The Parent Trap will forever be a top-rated movie on my rewatch list. For me the movie is highly relatable, I also find it extremely amusing to imagine the life and the adventures that the characters in both the original (1961) version of The Parent Trap, as well as the more recent (1998) version had. My personal favorite is the 1998 version, but that’s what I grew up watching so I have a bias outlook on the remake. I chose the scene where the twins discover they are twins as well as dabble in the aftermath of their big discovery, In other words, after the big realization.
1961 The Parent Trap 1998 The Parent Trap
Scene: Realizing they are twins Scene: Realizing they are twins
Adaptation:Being original is hard but the 1961 version of The Parent Trap killed it. This was one of the first teen movies that battled a lot of major topics, the main being the topic of divorce and or family separation. The adaptation didn’t necessarily change form movie to move, as one would expect. Although the story did have a couple of new ideas and minor tweaks. The main change comes after the girls realize they look alike because they are twins. The way the parents meet up again after being separated is the biggest adaptation change.
Ideology: In 1961 people wanted transportation and housing to be free of charge as well as public catering and collective upbringing of children. The ideas of communism were soon on the rise. This coincides with the ideas that kids growing up now and kids growing up in the in 1990’s have more freedom; most parents have been giving their children less responsibility. This could be shown in the higher level of pranks performed in the remake of the original Parent Trap or by comparing the conversations with the daughters and fathers about remarrying.
Genre: The 1961 film fits into many genres, comedy, family film, romantic comedy, and romantic film. I have to scratch my head at some of those categories considering the film is about a separated family. The 1998 version falls under more categories, comedy, family film, Romance film, Adventure film, and drama. I would say the categories of genres changed pretty drastically over a span of 37 years. I believe this is because of the more dangerous stunts and the drastic rekindling of the parent’s relationship.
Social History: Other than a loaf of bread being 20 cents,1960 Major News Stories include the US Enters the Vietnam War, The IRA starts its fight against the British, John F Kennedy wins presidential Election, Chubby Chequer and The twist start a new dance craze, (Love it) Soviet missile shoots down the US U2 spy plane, Aluminum Cans used for the first time, The US announces 3,500 American soldiers are going to be sent to Vietnam, Xerox introduces the first photocopier, Fidel Castro nationalizes American Oil, sugar and other US interests in Cuba, OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is formed. 1998 is different story, January first smoking is banned inside restaurants. In 1998 after many years of troubles in Northern Ireland, both sides agree to the Good Friday peace agreement. The US President Bill Clinton denies he had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky but later admits it. The Soviet Union Banking system suffers a meltdown when the Rouble lost 70% of its value against US dollar in 6 months with several of the largest Russians banks collapsing. U.N.I.C.E.F. reports there are approximately 250 million child laborers worldwide. Divorce rates also fluctuated throughout the years of the movies production and the time in between. In 1950 divorce rates were at an all-time low and in 1960 they started to increase and have been drastically increasing since then.
Semiotics: Although the movie has some minor differences I like to think that it still symbolizes the same topics. That is the struggle of young girls discovering they have a sister all while trying to discover who they are. There is also the symbolism of many households during that time divorce was becoming more common and The Parent Trap gave kids a way of understanding what was going on as well as give them hope for the future in relationships. It also gives kids a sense of power, throughout the movies the twins make everything possible. They figure out they are twins, they successfully pull the ole switcher-roo move, and they succeed in bringing their family back together.
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