The Parent Trap: Caught in the Act (2002) Online

This 19-minute documentary short came with the Disney DVD, "The Parent Trap" two-movie collection. It's on a separate disc of bonus materials, where it's entitled "Caught in the Act: The Making of The Parent Trap." This was a separate Buena Vista production in 2003. The bonus disc has a number of other shorts apparently made by the Disney studio. They include a music video, "Let's Get Together;" a short called Lost Treasures, "Who's the Twin;" "Kimball and Swift: The Disney Years," with director David Swift interviewing long-time animator Ward Kimball; and "Seeing Double," a special effects featurette.

Ward Kimball was the lead animator at Disney from 1935 to 1980. He also was a jazz trombonist who founded the Dixieland band, "The Firehouse Five Plus Two." The band played from 1949 to 1972. The members were all from the Disney studio who had their regular jobs. They played nights and on special occasion, cut a couple of records, and appeared on TV.

This main featurette has film snippets and still pictures with interviews of actors Maureen O'Hara, Joanna Barnes, Hayley Mills, director David Swift, Mills' double, Susan Henning-Schutte, and others. They all paint a glowing picture of their work together on "The Parent Trap." They all referred affectionately to "Uncle" Walt Disney. The special includes background on the music, written by the Sherman Brothers. And, it looks at the technical challenges that they overcame. Ub Iwerks was their special effect guru who pioneered the split screen and other techniques that enabled them to have Hayley Mills facing the camera and playing both twins in the movie at the same time.

Anyone interesting in the mechanics of movie-making and the history and art and craft of film should enjoy this short and the others with it.