The film’s title sequence opens with a crane shot that follows the movement of a cruise ship. The opening credits contain the title of the movie, the main actors and L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole is played throughout this, suggesting love as a theme.
Inside the cruise ship, there is a wedding ceremony occurring filmed as a point of view shot. The mood is very lively and warm as the characters inside are either dancing or enjoying each other’s company, which gives the impression that the wedding went well, and the married couple are happy. Close ups of the groom putting the ring on the bride’s finger, both of them holding hands and signing documents conveys themes such as family and romance.
As a photographer approaches the couple for a photo, their faces are not shown until the photograph is shown to us as spectators, which has some significance later in the film. When the flash of the camera goes off it turns into a firework display, which enforces the mood.
The scene then cuts to a title of ’11 years and 9 months later’.
Another crane shot is used of ‘Camp Walden’ to show the buses of girls arriving and the camera tilts downwards then a tracking shot is used to find a main character, filmed from a point of view angle so the spectator feels they’ are there in real life. The camera then pans over to a male character who says ‘Wait a minute, I thought this was a boy’s camp.’ while surrounded by girls, which suggests the film will contain comedy.
We are introduced to one of the main characters, Hallie, we can tell she is the main character as a long shot of her is given when she pops up behind the pile of luggage and then a medium close up as she struggles to get her duffle bag out. She has also had the most dialogue so far. We learn from her dialogue that she lives with her dad, who is a winemaker, and that she is friendly and polite. Shot reverse shot is used during the conversation between her and her new friends. ‘Either of you, by any chance know how to play poker?’ indicates she is both an innocent, yet cheeky character.
We are then introduced to the other main character who is revealed as Hallie’s identical twin, Annie.
As Hallie walks away with her two friends, filmed as a long shot a limo pulls up. The spectator learns that she is the complete opposite of the first character. Annie getting out of the limo is filmed from a low angle, she is wearing smart shoes and a skirt and blazer, so the spectator assumes she is not going to the camp. She arrives with her butler, has a British accent, is well dressed and uses language such as ‘picturesque’. The spectator can tell this is her Butler by the way he is dressed and the fact that she calls him Martin. This shows the class and contrast to her twin sister.
The conversation between Annie and the butler is filmed using shot reverse shot and high and low angles. He runs through a checklist then presents her with a pack of cards, a link to Hallie’s question about poker, which suggests the two sisters will play a game later on in the film.
The butler and Annie engage in a special handshake, filmed as a long shot. The handshake is not what would be expected of the two as they switch places and jump around, again showing more comedy. It shows their relationship is more like a father and daughters.
You can watch the opening of the Parent Trap here:
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