Apparently Hoopla, Multnomah County Library’s streaming service, has a lot of Haley Mills movies available, so I watched this film, which I had not seen since I was a tween.* I discovered that Haley Mills, who I adored as a child, was quite good at acting like Haley Mills in that her character in this movie was not ostensibly different than Sharon & Susan in the Parent Trap** I did appreciate the fact they let the child actors be mediocre singers*** as they sing along with Burl Ives.****
Cost: free from the aforementioend Hoopla
Where watched: at home, while sick
*Not that tweens existed when I was tween-aged.
**I have a feeling that I would not find her character much different in any of her movies, but I don’t have the time to invest in the research.
***There is a song in this movie called “Femininity” which is good fodder for many topics of discussion. The lyrics follow below.
****That said, I loved Michael J. Pollard as Digby Popham. He attempted a Maine accent and wasn’t bad in the acting department.
Femininity
You must walk feminine
Talk feminine
Smile and beguile feminine
Utilize your femininity
That’s what every girl should know, if she wants to catch a beau
Dance feminine
Glance feminine
Act shy and sigh feminine
Compliment his masculinity
That’s what every girl should know, if she wants to catch a beau
Let him do the talking
Men adore good listeners
Laugh, but not too loudly (Haha)
If he should choose to tell a joke
Be radiant, but delicate
Memorize the rules of etiquette
Be demure, sweet and pure
Hide the real you
You must look feminine
Dress feminine
You’re at your best feminine
Emphasize your femininity
That’s what every girl should know
Femininity, femininity
That’s the way to catch a beau
poster from: http://www.impawards.com/1963/summer_magic.html
This poster does not get across at all what the movie is about. It suggests a love story for Haley Mills, but that is not the case. The dress is also not from the movie and that dog did not have a prominent role.