The popular English child star Hayley Mills played a dual role in this Disney family classic with the help of split screen magic. The promotion for the film read, "What could be better than one Hayley Mills? How about two?" The two young ladies Hayley brought to life were Susan and Sharon Evers, twins, who were separated by their parents' divorce when they were infants. The two young ladies meet at camp when they are 13 years old and their striking resemblance prompts a series of events that leads to the wondrous discovery that they are indeed twin sisters. Sharon had been raised in the custody of her mother, Margaret McKindrick a very refined atmosphere in Boston. Susan was raised by her father on a ranch in Carmel, California.

Both eager to know the respective parent they had been denied, they hatch a plot to trade places when camp ends. First, however, Sharon's long hair had to be cut to match Susan's short bob, and much time spent in orientation to the other's lifestyle and home setting. The audience shares in their devious plan witch takes form with almost military strategy. The ultimate goal of this clever scheme is to re-unite their parents so they can all be a family again.

Susan travels to Boston to meet her mother, Maggie, (played by Maureen O'Hara). The unsuspecting Maggie, believes Sharon is safely home, while in reality it is Susan who is gazing with wonder at her beautiful mother whom she has never seen until that moment. Their "bonding" begins that very afternoon as they picnic in a park and Susan begins asking her mother a battery of questions about her father and how they met; favorite song - any sentimental ammunition the girls can use to bring their parents together.

Meanwhile, in Carmel, California, Sharon, has a few glitches in her designated plans. Her reunion with her father, Mitch Evers (played by Brian Keith) goes well, but once at home at the ranch, she learns that during her absence at camp her father has fallen for a young women (Joanna Barnes) who is obviously after his money. Sharon's repeated attempts to discourage her father's desire to marry this conniving woman fail, and she calls Susan in Boston to convey the serious problem they now face. Unfortunately, Susan's grandfather overhears her conversation and she is must then reveal her identity to her mother. It's a tearful confession and a moving experience for both, but they come to terms with her mother saying, "I don't want to lose you now." Obviously Maggie must return Susan to her father in California.

The arrival of his x-wife only days before his wedding is quite a shock to Mitch. He is standing on the patio by the lake with his fiancÈ, Vicky, and her mother, and he catches a glimpse of Maggie peering out at him clad only in his bathrobe. This blast from the past is such a surprise that he loses his balance and falls into the lake. Excusing himself he goes into the house, dripping wet and there, not only sees Maggie, but both of his girls, side by side. Happy to realize that he has had Sharon with him all that time, his emotions are soon mixed when the reality of the fact that Maggie has appeared in a most inopportune time...and clad in his bathrobe at that. The girls are excused and Mitch and Maggie are soon quarreling and Mitch emerges with a black eye - inflicted by Maggie who wasn't about to be intimidated by his "orders" to "get into something decent."

There's a happy ending for this group, of course, as his gorgeous x-wife quickly charms her way back into Mitch's life. The film has so many things going for it. There is excellent chemistry among all cast members. Brian Keith, in particular, is a new leading man for O'Hara and his rugged masculinity is a perfect match for her. After viewing 56 of O'Hara's 57 films, I can say without reservation that she is at her most beautiful in "The Parent Trap." She fairly explodes with color and energy on the screen. This film also brought comparison to Irene Dunne in her comedic timing. There is the wholesome, charming Hayley Mills, the spice of the obvious physical chemistry of O'Hara and Keith, and a prestigious supporting cast consisting of Charles Ruggles, Una Merkel, Leo G. Carroll and Joanna Barnes. It is understandable why this film remains a timeless Disney classic.

There is the perfect Disney Happy ending with Kate and Mitch Evers re-tying the knot in a gorgeous lakeside wedding and the little happy maidens of honor are, of course, Susan and Sharon. The parents have been trapped, and their love re-kindled. There have been several sequels to this film, but one still finds it such a shame that the sequels couldn't have included Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith. O'Hara and Keith clicked so well together on this film, that the same year they made another film together, "The Deadly Companions" directed by Sam Peckinpah. Quite a contrast from this first wholesome vehicle. In 1966 Brian appeared in another film with Maureen, "The Rare Breed" - only in this one, Jimmy Stewart won the fair Maureen.