Parent Trap Page
offical website
I feel that the re-make is the perfection of the doppleganger plot. Where as the original had some heavy and even unkind relationships between the parents, the 1998 version is all love and selflessness. Bascially, we see in this movie how we wish life could be in this fallen world. Not bickering parents, wanting it their way, but parents whose love was only suspended for a time. We can yearn in our seats for reconciliation, because these parents should be together.
Also with the girls being 11 not 13, there is more of a reason for them to want and need their parents to reunite. Eleven is still young enough to listen to a parent, lets face it at thirteen they are beyond caring what a parent has to say, it's the peer group that runs their lives now.
The parents, Nick and Liz, truly dote on their twin. Nick is decidely lost without Halley. So lost that the Vamp, Meredith, is able to insinuate herself into his life, only because Halley is away. Liz has her work of designing wedding gowns while Annie is at camp. We get the idea of her devotion to Annie by the way she doesn't have anything but work to keep her busy. Once Annie has returned all Liz does is work, or spend time doing things with Annie or planning their next outting together.
In the original Mitch, the father, is down right snotty to Susan when they are in the T-Bird on the way to the ranch. He tell's her what a great time he was able to have with her gone. As we watch we hope he is projecting hurt feelings of missing her, but it's sick behavior any way you look at it. Nick in the re-make almost has tears of joy when her hugs and kisses Halley. He does not want her to go back to camp again, for him eight weeks was too long. Even in the original the mom only seemed to have beauty going for her. When she is re-united with her twin she's too busy for her. Liz wants to know everything about Annie's experience, and makes an effort to delay work for her.
I'd have to say that I enjoyed the camp more in the original than in the re-make. The dance was so fun, and so 60's. But the scenes in the cabin in the 1998 version were so much better than the original. The idea of the torn photo was brilliant. The image even of putting the photo back together said exactly where the movie was going to go. Let's get these two together, yeah, yeah, yeah! The hair cut, and the ear piercing, were really fun scenes.
Another great addition was Chessy and Martin. Both were so emotional, and great comic relief. There's something about the servant devoted to the master, that just works in plots, but in real life it just doesn't happen that way. Anyway these two were pure fun. Plus their falling in love reinforced the need for the parents to fall in love again.
The winery used as Parker Knoll is actually the Staglin Family Vineyards in Rutherford Bench. Which is some where in Napa, California. Filming at the ranch ended in November, and used were shots of the tiled pool, garden sculptures and mangnificent fireplaces. The house is a Tuscan-style mansion and is in the same area as Francis-Ford Coppola's winery. I have looked and have found wines produced by this vineyard. If you are looking in your local wine store
search for their label, it has the distinctive sculpture piece on it from
the garden when Annie as Hallie runs into the house away from Nick
and his news of marriage to Meredith.
Camp Walden is actually played by Camp Seeley of Crestline, California. About 160 girls from Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Victorville, Big Bear, San Bernardino and Riverside took part in the filming. Girls between the ages of 8 and 12 played the campers and older girls played the counselors.They all went through wardrobe, hair and make-up every morning just like the stars. Filming took about a month, ending Oct. 15, 1997.
According to the official Disney website Linsey Lothan was informed of her winning the role on June 5. On June 31 she flew to London, and met Natasha Richardson on July 8. The photo-shoot with Vendela took place on July 18. On August 18 the first scene with Dennis Quaid was shot. Camp Walden according to her was shot around Sept. 17. With the last day being Dec. 17 (of the whole production). I also know that Napa Airport was actually Long Beach, California Airport. I have personally flown out of this somewhat small airport on a seaplane.
