| Scene | 1961 | 1998 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background Information | Sharon McKendrick is the daughter of Margaret (Maggie) McKendrick of Boston MA. Susan Evers is the daughter of Mitchell (Mitch) Evers, a rancher in Carmel CA. | Hallie Parker is the daughter of Nicholas (Nick) Parker, of Parker Knoll vineyards, Napa CA. Annie James is the daughter of Elizabeth (Lizzie) James, wedding gown designer, London England. | |
| Opening Credits | 2D Claymation sequence illustrating the opening music. Music: The Parent Trap, performed by Annette Funicello and Tommy Sands | Video montage of a wedding on the QE2, officiated by Captain Sean Haworth, of vintner Nicholas Parker to Artist Elizabeth James, on 8 January 1986. Music: L-O-V-E | The '98 version provides important backplot to the story, while the '61 version is kind of a spoiler. |
| Arrival at camp | Sharon McKendrick arrives at camp. She goes over her grandmother's checklist with her chauffeur. Sharon is assigned to Arapaho. Her grandmother instructed her to make sure that her tent was well ventilated - but later it is Susan that gets ventilated. :-) | Hallie Parker finds her duffle, and meets her cabin mates. We find out she's from Napa, and that she plays poker. Annie James arrives at camp. She goes over her mother's checklist with her butler, Martin. They do the handshake, and say goodbye. We learn that Annie is good at poker, too. Music: The Happy Club; Parent Trap Suite; Soulful Strut | Sharon McKendrick is the analog of Annie, yet it is Sharon and Hallie who ended up in Arapaho. Annie ends up in Navajo, and we never do learn which tent Susan was assigned to. |
| Mess Hall | The twins see each other for the first time, and are disturbed. Chief Eaglewood of the Thunderhead Boys Camp announces the Dance. | The twins don't meet each other, but Marva Sr. sees them together, and is confused. Music: Top of the World. | The Hallie & Annie are allergic to strawberries. |
| The Twins first talk to each other | At the lake - Susan and pals paddle their canoe up to Sharon & friends. Susan insults Sharon's looks, Sharon's friend dumps the canoe over. | Big Fencing Scene. Annie accidentally pushes Hallie into trough. Hallie pulls Annie in. The twins only now see each other for the first time. Hallie insults Annie's looks, Annie dishes it back. | Even in completely different situations, the correspondance is maintained. Susan/Hallie gets wet, Sharon/Annie gets insulted. |
| Poker Scene/Beds on Roof | Only in '98 version. | Hallie beats Annie in Poker, and makes Annie dive into Moose Lake, naked, to pay off the bet. Hallie then snatches Annie' clothes. In next scene, Annie gets her revenge by putting the beds of tent Arapaho on top of the cabin. Spoiler: This is one of the few early close-ups where you can see that Annie has pierced earlobes - (no earrings, of course). Music: Bad to the Bone. | The '98 version shows a gradual escalation in the pranks. Cool note: LL was taught two different ways to hold the cards. And there could have been close to a hundred bucks in that pot. Maybe Grandpa didn't have to chip in all that much for the dinner cruise. |
| Tent trashing | Susan & friends trash tent Arapaho. Sharon gets drenched by bucket of water. A surprise inspection catches the tentmates cleaning up. Sharon & tentmates are banned from the Dance. | Hallie & friends trash tent Navajo. Annie gets drenched by a water balloon. During a surprise inspection, the Marvas get caught by one of the traps, and the twins are banished to the isolation tent. | The tent trashing techniques are similar - but the addition of feathers to the '98 version is inspired. However, you can tell that LL didn't actually get hit by a balloon - they must have dumped a bucket of water on her. |
| The Dance | Sharon gets revenge by cutting out the back of Susan's skirt. The twins get into a knock-out brawl that trashes the dance room. In the next scene, Miss Inch banishes the twins to the isolation tent. | Only in '61 version. | The dance music is "Let's Get Together" performed by Annette Funicello. |
| March to the isolation cabin | Music: Bridge over the River Kwai. Campers tag along until Miss Inch shoos them off. (Trivia: the isolation cabin is "serendipity.") | Music: The Great Escape March. Campers are made to march behind until they reach the isolation cabin. | Just thought I'd mention the change in background music. Aside from this the scenes are very similar. |
| Feuding in the Cabin | Punishment will last for 4 weeks, until the end of camp. We see Susan & Sharon ignoring each other in the mess tent, and then (in the showers) Susan tells her buddies that she is giving Sharon the silent treatment. | We don't know how long Annie and Hallie are punished. We get a cute sequence I think of as "Duelling Light Switches", where Annie, who is trying to write, fights over the light switch with Hallie, who is trying to sleep. | |
| The Storm | Susan is putting up her pictures. The wind blows in and Sharon helps Susan tie up the loose flap. Sharon helps Susan gather up her photos. Only Ricky Nelson is ruined. Sharon doesn't know who he is. Susan shows Sharon a picture of her home, and her dad. Sharon gets the shivers. Susan offers Sharon a Fig Newton, and asks her about her dad. They comment about how everyone is splitting up. Susan asks Sharon her age. They have the same birthday (November 12, 1946). Rain stops. Susan goes to get a popsicle. Sharon stops her. ("Can you only think about your stomach at a time like this?") Sharon asks Susan about her mother. Sharon fetches a picture of her mother. Lunch bell rings. The girls hug. | Annie is playing solitare. Hallie is fixing her pictures. The wind blows in and Annie helps Hallie shut the window. Annie helps Hallie gather her photos. Only Leonardo Di Caprio is ruined. Annie doesn't know who he is. Hallie shows Annie a photo of home, and her dad. Annie recognises the profile, and gets the shivers. Hallie offers Annie an Oreo (with peanut butter). Hallie asks Annie about her dad. Comment about how everyone is splitting up. Hallie asks Annie her age. They have the same birthday (October 11, 1986). Rain stops. Hallie goes to get a popsicle. Annie stops her. ("Will you stop thinking about your stomach at a time like this!") Annie asks Hallie about her mother. Annie mentions her photo. Hallie gets her photo, Annie fetches her photo - and they match them up. The lunch bell rings. The girls hug. | This scene is very nearly identical, down to the "choreography" and cinematography. The change in the parents' photo is an inspired touch - the symbolism is cool (putting the parents back together). The change in birthdate makes the twins Libras instead of Scorpios - a big mistake. Fig Newtons and Oreos are both made by Nabisco. But Fig Newtons are not as good with Peanut Butter. Please don't ask how I know. |
| The plan | Susan & Sharon are eating ice cream/popsicles. They discuss their parents never remarrying. Susan gets the idea to switch places. Sharon realizes that they can get their parents back together. | Hallie & Annie are in bed. They discuss their parents never remarrying. Hallie gets the idea to switch places. Annie realizes that they can get their parents back together. | |
| Learning to be each other | This comes after the haircutting in the '61 film. First, the girls swap wardrobes, while Sharon describes her house. Then, at the isolation table, Susan describes the weekly routine at the ranch to Sharon (who isn't paying attention). Susan makes Sharon bite her nails. Sharon coaches Susan on her accent while they brush their teeth. | Annie shows Hallie pictures of her family at the isolation table. Hallie shows Annie a diagram of Parker Knoll in the art room. Annie teaches Hallie the handshake on the pier. Music: Do you believe in Magic | Susan's favorite food is chili beans. Later, we will learn that Hallie's favorite food is cornbread & chili. We never see Hallie tell Annie to bite her nails. |
| Cutting the hair, (and piercing the ears) | This is only a few moments with little dialog. | Here it is a major production, with the addition of ear piercing. | This part is quite different. I have to say that the ear piercing was really cute. |
| Leaving Camp | Sharon tells Susan to find out about how their parents met, and about their first date. And to bring Mother to California - "Boston is no place to rekindle a romance." Susan practices her diction on Miss Inch as she says good bye. | Annie tells Hallie to find out about how their parents met, and Hallie tells Annie to find out why they broke up. | |
| ACT TWO: Hallie/Susan arrive | Susan enters the house, and sees Grandmother arranging a social gathering. Susan meets Grandfather and "makes a memory". Mother comes down the stairs and she & Susan have a tearful reunion. Grandmother comes out, and criticizes Susan's hair. Susan gives grandmother a bird cage made out of popsicle sticks. | Hallie arrives in Heathrow, and greets Martin with the Handshake. Picturesque drive through London, and Hallie arrives home (7 Pembroke Lane). Hallie meets Grandfather and "makes a memory". Mother comes down the stairs, and she and Hallie have a tearful reunion. Music: Soulful Strut; There she goes. | It makes a lot of sense that Susan gets to Boston before Sharon gets to California. It makes no sense that Hallie gets to London before Annie gets to Napa. Grandfather still smells of peppermint and (pipe) tobacco. |
| At home with Mom | In mother's bedroom, Maggie is dressing for an afternoon Red Cross meeting. Susan tells her about camp. Susan tricks Maggie into a little "woman to woman" talk. | Tea time in London. Hallie tells Mom about camp. Martin finds Cuppy. Liz has to go to the studio, and takes Hallie along. Cute Studio photo shoot scene with Vendela. Music: Here comes the sun; Never let you go. | |
| Talk with Mom | Susan and Maggie have a little talk in the Park. Susan guides the conversation to Dad, and their first date. Maggie sings a bit of "their song". | While shopping at the Royal Arcade, Hallie asks Liz about Dad, and how they met. The QE2 story comes out. | It's kind of sad that the whole 1961 park scene was blue screened - they couldn't even get out to a real park. |
| ACT THREE: Airport, and Drive Home | Sharon is met at the airport. Dad notices the nail biting, and complains about the lack of letters. Sharon keeps saying "us" and "we" instead of "I". | Annie arrives at Napa Airport. Nick drives Annie home. Dad notices the nail biting, and complains about the lack of letters. Nick notices Annie is talking oddly. Annie explains why saying "DAD" is so important. | |
| Back at the Ranch | Hecky and Verbina greet Sharon. Andromeda barks at Sharon. Mitch tells Sharon to come down and meet someone. We get a glimpse of Vicky. | Chessy greets Annie. Sammy barks at Annie. Nick tells Annie to come down and meet someone. We get a glimpse of Meredith. | Verbina and Chessy immediately notice a change in the girl. |
| Unpacking | Verbina tells Sharon about Vicky - while "Not saying a word". | Chessy tells Annie about Meredith. | In the '98 version, we learn how the golddigger met Dad. |
| Meeting the Fiance | Sharon goes down to the pool and meets Vicky. Sharon tells Vicky about Mitch's "other women". | Annie goes down to the pool and meets Meredith. Annie tells Meredith about Nick's "other women". | |
| First phone call | Sharon calls Susan at a prearranged time. Sharon is desperate, and asks Susan to bring Mother out immediately. Susan refuses to bring Mom out so soon. | Annie calls Hallie. Martin answers the phone, "It sounds like your twin." Annie is desperate, and asks Hallie to bring Mother out immediately. Hallie refuses to bring Mom out so soon. Hallie gets caught leaving the closet. | |
| Talking with Dad | On the golf course, Mitch tries to break the news about Vicky. Sharon asks about her mother. Sharon sidetracks Mitch, and they just keep golfing. They meet Vicky and her mother at the clubhouse. | Chessy quizzes Annie about the phone call. Annie meets Nick in his office. Annie asks about her mother. They are interrupted by Meredith and her assistant. | Brian Keith was really cute squirming around during the "birds & bees" talk. |
| Riding with dad | Sharon and Mitch are riding down the beach. Mitch asks Sharon her opinion of Vicky. Sharon runs off to the house before Mitch can bread the news. | Annie and Dad are riding in the vineyard. Nick asks Annie about her opinion of Meredith. Annie runs off to the house before Nick can break the news. | The "opinion" scene is a lot more natural in the '98 version. |
| The secret is out, part one | Sharon runs into Verbina. Sharon can't take the pressure anymore, and reveals herself to Verbina. | Annie runs into Chessy. Chessy confronts Annie. Annie reveals herself to Chessy. | Lisa Ann Walter (as Chessy) does a really good crying scene here. |
| Breaking the news | Dad talks to Sharon. Sharon plays the piano. Dad tells Sharon about marrying Vicky. | Dad tells Annie about the wedding. Annie freaks out and yells in French. Annie runs out of the house. | The adoption joke works pretty well in both versions. I like both the piano bit and the yelling in French, but I think the piano playing was funnier. |
| Talking with the fiance | Vicky and Sharon have a woman to woman talk. Sharon sends a telegram. | Meredith and Annie have a woman to woman talk. | The gloves come off, and the Games begin. |
| The Telegram/FAX | A telegram arrives at the McKendrick house. Susan has a horrible time trying to explain it to the family. | A FAX arrives at the James house at dinner time. Hallie makes a show of tasting the wine. She spots the Fax that Martin is holding, and excuses herself to run to a phonebooth. | Lindsay Lohan is hilarious in this scene. |
| Second phone call | Sharon calls Susan to tell her to come out NOW! Grandfather overhears the call. | Hallie calls Annie collect. Annie tells Hallie about the wedding. Hallie promises to bring Mom out to California in the morning. | Sharon never actually mentions a wedding - she just says "It's the worst thing that could happen." |
| Grandfather finds out | Grandfather catches Susan sneaking out of the study after the midnight phonecall. They have a little chat. | Hallie bumps into Grandfather while exiting the phonebooth. Hallie reveals all to Grandfather. | |
| Telling Mom | At breakfast, Susan rebels and reveals herself. Grandfather pulls Grandmother away so Maggie and Susan can have a moment. | In the morning, Hallie reveals herself to Mom. | Simon Kunz (as Martin) has a great crying scene here. |
| Mom packs | While Maggie is packing, her father commends her on her matronly demeanor and settled taste in clothes. Maggie decides that some shopping is in order before they head for California. | Elizabeth is completely unnerved by the prospect of seeing Nick again. Martin agrees to accompany the two to Napa, and recommends a dress. | Grandfather does a hilarious job in prodding Maggie into fixing herself up. |
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