1961 VS. 1998

Saw both at least 20 times each growing up.

The original is embarrassing. Sorry, I had to say it. Mills' acting was so forced in nearly every scene and the film felt contrived as a whole. I love it, though. The character interactions were great and funny throughout. Really, though, the only thing the original had that was better than the remake was Maureen O'Hara she was amazing in every scene. Funny, charming, awesome.

The remake had great production values, an awesome score, really great chemistry between the two adult leads, and laughs throughout. A really well-written, well-made film that I love watching. But seriously, Alan Silvestri's score is beautiful. Where Dreams Have No End and We Actually Did It are incredible.

In the remake where Sharon wins a bit more against the fight with Susan. I wish they'd kept that in the remake. They make Hallie get away with murder with Annie scoring hardly any points!

Anything Depp can do, Crispin Glover does better.

Prefer the 1998 version.

I like both versions but the 1961 version is better.

i prefer the 1998 version, it's snappier and funnier. the 1961 version had some good bits, maureen o'hara for instance and a real argument between the parents but the physical fighting was far too much and her song was boring. the side characters were hilarious in the newer version which made it worth watching. plus meredith was way more convincing in the newer version

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To Spamalot or not to Spamalot?

43 years old--grew up on the 61 version, the 98 version came out in my late 20's.

Overall, I prefer the 98 version--especially since Lindsay Lohan came across as a much more solid and natural actress than Hayley Mills did. Since the movie primarily hinges upon the 'twins', the actress playing them needs to bring it in.

Plus, as a kid I never understood why Susan/Sharon spoke with a distinct English accent, when one twin was supposed to be from California and the other one from Boston. (The whole "Can't, shan't" scene made zip sense to me, since both twins sounded exactly alike.) It was distracting then, it's distracting now. I'm not familiar enough with English accents to know if LL's was any good, but at least the twins did sound different from each other when they spoke.

The downside to the 98 version--the premise of splitting up the twins might have been possible in 1947 (the presumed birthyear of the twins in the original, since they were about 13/14 in 1961), but I'm not so sure it would have flown in 1987 (the birthyear of the twins in the remake, since they were 11 in 1998). Especially given international laws might apply in the latter case (since Nick was a U.S. citizen and Liz was a U.K. one). I'd think the twins would have dual citizenship, which would possibly complicate splitting them up legally without anybody finding out. Especially given that Annie would have been born in the U.S. and then taken to the U.K. to live.

Not to mention, Nick and Liz had both made 'names' for themselves in their respective fields. I'd find it hard to believe a publicist/reporter wouldn't have done some digging and realized that both of them were 'missing' a daughter.

TPT-1961 was on Retroplex this morning and I watched it all the way through.

UGGHHHHHHH.

1. Hayley Mills was buck-ugly and coudln't sing for diddly.

2. The CONSTANT physical fighting (or threats of it) for pretty much the entire movie. I know it was the macho-man 1960s and husbands hitting wives (and vice versa) was supposed to be OK, but my god!!! Every two minutes they were smacking each other, in the face! I absolutely do not believe Disney ever decided this was a good idea.

3. Maureen O'Hara, who I love in many other movies, DID NOT look good (relatively) in this movie. And for most of it she acted completely bitchy.

4. Brian Keith, as I posted some time ago, just acted like a complete tool throughout the entire movie.

5. I never got even the slightest impression there was really any love and affection between Keith and O'Hara. Mainly it looked like as soon as Vicki marched out, Keith says, "oh well, I guess that's the last even half-decent looking broad I am gonna get my hands on, well old faithful (O'Hara) is here with the twin, neither of us is getting any younger, we might as well just bite the bullet and get back together." They certainly didn't appear to have fixed any of the problems between them which had led to the breakup in the first place.

When you see the final scene of them getting (re)married, your reaction is, 'Wellll..... OK .... whatever turns you on ... frankly I give it a couple years, until about two weeks after one or both of the twins moves out to college."

With Quaid and Richardson in the 1998 version, they actually sold the idea they really loved each other, it had been a MISTAKE to break up, and they wanted to get back together. When THEY get remarried, you actually feel good about it.





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4) You ever seen Superman $#$# his pants? Case closed.

I'm going to say the 1998 version is better. I remember watching the original when I was a kid and thinking it was so boring.

I go to seek a great perhaps.