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Parent Trap Page
The Periods - Settings and Clothes
The Original Parent Trap Settings----Camp and Mom's House
Seeing the original Parent Trap movie is such a treat today because the production and art direction were so well done. Starting with Camp Inch we the viewer see a lovely mountain camp with pine trees, expansive lake and fun looking cabins. There are many camp activies we get to glimpse at, and we see Hayley in many typical locales of a camp. There are scenes set in the shower, at the sinks for clean-up, on the lake canoeing, hiking to the isolation cabin, the mess hall, and even bus loading area. All the time there are birds chirping and girls basically have a good time.
There is the Boston house, with it's many nicely decorated rooms. We get the idea of a grand house. Unfortunatly a studio is used for the park scene with mom. This looks phony and was a mistake by who ever chose it.
The Remake Settings--
Camp and Mom's House
This too has a nice camp setting. The cabins are especially comfortable looking and outdoor areas are places you would want to be in for eight weeks. We get to see the lake, the mess hall, loading area for buses, and various outdoor path type areas. The grounds seem some how more "picturesque" than the original, with lots of activities going on behind the main action.
The London house is absolutely lovely. The garden out front is to die for, and the interior is like something you get to see in a costly magazine showing houses of the rich. Glad the girls will get to be raised hear and there. All the London scenes were eye popping and I love looking at them.
Dad's House--The Original
The House used in the 1961 movie on the outside is probably real, but the interior looks like a set. But what a great set! I love the stone wall, the tile floor, open courtyard, with pond, and the open air feel to it all. The outside gives you the feelling of wide open spaces, with it's lake, long drive, stables and pasture land for cattle. This is a low ranch style California home. Even the Dad's bath is way beyond the norm with it's glass shower and big mirror. These people are living high and wide, and we get to watch.
Other Locations--1998
The Napa Airport is well shot. First how Dennis Quaid comes into the shot, he has a fixed gaze toward the off camera plane. Then when we see Halley there's a nice red biplane in the background for interest. Nice touch.
The Airport in London was adquate.
The Hotel Stafford (also the name of the boy in the original!) is very well shot. The drive up to the Hotel, walking the hall ways, the pool area with it's tables and deck chairs, all seemed real and not a set. I believe a real hotel was used, but I remember hearing that the elevator used was actually created out of a closet or something
The Clothes -- The Original
This is one of my favorite parts of any movie. This is what makes movies so wonderful. Picture a world where everyone is dressed by the same person, and that person knows what they are doing!
Back in the 80's, I believe it was, that is when every female had her "colors done". What that meant, for you the uninformed, was that her color type was calculated and then she knew what colors were best on her. (By the way, I believe tourquoise is the universal color, looking good on everyone.) In the Hayley version this is not entirely followed, but to some extent it is.
The four types are these: Winters (people with dark hair/light skin, or people with grey hair), Fall (Redheads), Spring and Summer (I don't remember the difference between these--but one is a blond). Blonds should wear pastels.
So on the the characters: Mitch is both a blond and grey, so sometimes he's in pastels sometimes in contrasts. Contrasts are white shirts with dark coats. Maggie is a redhead, she should wear browns, golds, blues, greens and purples. Hayley is a blond, she looks best in pastels. Usually she is, but some times they put her in black, which is ok, but not her colors. Vicky is also a blond, and they do a good job with her (pastels).
The 1998 Version
The 4 season color sceme is closely followed here. Nick is a winter--Dark contrasted with light. Brown leather jacket with white T-shirt, light blue shirt/dark pants and jacket. Liz--a blond/pastels, even in her closet there are only pastel clothes. OK, you're saying what about the little black dress? Let's face it, it is a staple in any wardrobe, like sunglasses, it's a classic--gotta have one. The twins--redhead, therefore yellows, browns, blues (like the speedo swimsuit), and greens. Merdith--blond: pastels, she does get away with navy and black, perhaps because they are such high power business colors. Martin is also a winter and keeps to contrasts. Chessy has a lot of earth tones, which works with her colors, and Grandpa is jewel tones, I guess to give him more color.
Just a Word about Style
A well done job is attained in the original by dressing everyone in character, and stylishly. Mitch has a manly build--broad at the shoulder, slim at the hip. To accentuate this he wears tight jeans and broadshouldered fitted jackets that come to the waist. Maggie goes successfully from matron (fitted suits and tailored dresses) to gay divorcee off the shoulder tops to balance with the hips, in bright carefree colors and patterns. Hayley is contemporary in flats, and dresses with poofy skirts. Vicky is dressed in society babe rich tailored, figure accentuating dresses.
In the New Version Nick is a California cowboy. He wears black jeans, t-shirts, leather jackets, and sport coats. No suit here. Oh, and black cowboy boots. He looks good without knowing it. When he checks himself out in the mirror he's only looking for anything out of place, not admiring what he sees. Liz wears clothes that move with her, there's a swing to them because of the fabric that is used. She looks good in sleeveless dresses, and really does have great legs. The twins wear very in clothes. Especially the dress-up dresses, the chinese number was very popular last summer. I liked the swim suit, and short shorts too, very girly.
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