Twice Blessed

Irecently recorded this from TCM. As an old comedy, it's quite good, and brief. The teenage dialogue of the day is a blast. However, the premise that the parents got divorced because he couldn't stay married to a "strong, glamorous, working woman" is archaic. When you hear speeches about the proper raising of children and a woman's "career" it's another era. There is a quiz on Radio! Old-fashioned music and dancing make it a treat. Yes, the casting of actual twins removes the technical issues associated with the 2 "Parent Traps", but these girls didn't go on to fame and/or (mis)fortune, like the subsequent actresses. I do miss the warm moment, in the newer films, when the girls first realize they're sisters. On the other hand, there is the SHOCKING moment near the end, when the twins disguise themselves as hotel maids in BLACKFACE!

Stephanie (Lyn Wilde) and Terry (Lee Wilde) are identical twins who have been separated since their parents, Jeff Turner (Preston Foster) and Mary Hale (Gail Patrick), got divorced seven years earlier. Mary is a top assistant to a Senator and had raised Stephanie who became a brainy shy teen. Reporter Jeff's easy parenting style has made Terry a free-spirit party girl. The girls envy each other and decide to switch places.

I know times have changed. Jeff is still one angry petty man. It's not an appealing look. Other than for the kids, this couple is better off apart. I really don't want her going back to him. This is Parent Trap but the message is way different. The girls do have some fun adventures. Let's ignore the black face. Mostly, I don't like Him.

To my mind, this is the best version of Kaestner's Das Doppelte Lottchen (The two Lottchens), much superior to "The Parent Trap" primarily because it uses real twins rather than one person in a double role. I would like to see this film rereleased on video.

Arriving via American Airlines in Florida, child psychologist Gail Patrick (as Mary Hale) has a frosty meeting with local feature editor Preston Foster (as Jeff Turner). It turns out they divorced seven years ago. Strangely, the court divided the pair's twin girls. Mother received the cultured Lyn Wilde (as Stephanie Hale) and father brought up jitterbugging Lee Wilde (as Terry Turner). Intrigued by their opposite lifestyles, the young women change identities. This means fooling boyfriends Marshall Thompson (as Jimmy) and Jimmy Lydon (as Mickey). Wondering if the parents get back together is unexciting, but the dance sequences are fun. Near the end, the Wilde twins appear as "black-faced" hotel maids...

***** Twice Blessed (5/31/45) Harry Beaumont ~ Lee Wilde, Lyn Wilde, Marshall Thompson, Jimmy Lydon

As you watch "Twice Blessed", it's obvious that this film was later remade as "The Parent Trap" by Disney. However, if you check the IMDB pages for each film, they claim to be written by different writers...which is odd since the Disney film clearly wasn't just inspired by "Twice Blessed"...it is, essentially, the same film with one major difference. Instead of using one actress to play both twin sisters, in this original actual twins, Lyn and Lee Wilde, play twin sisters.

Jeff and Mary (Preston Foster and Gail Patrick) are godawful parents. After they divorced, they separated their twins...with Jeff taking one and Mary taking the other! While the girls get to spend a little time together, they essentially live separate lives because the parents are jerks. On a lark, the girls agree to switch places without telling their parents...and both have difficulty adjusting to their sister's very different lives. Goofiness ensues. At the same time, their parents start reassessing their divorce.

While you'd THINK both sisters would be very similar because they are identical, oddly in this film they are totally different...with one being a swing-loving teen and the other being a super brainiac. Oddly, the brainiac needs glasses...the other doesn't! To me, this is a weakness of the plot and makes the switch seem a bit silly. Another weakness is the unlikability of the parents and the father's very nasty girlfriend, Alice. Overall, an interesting plot due to its obvious connection to the Disney films but one that really makes little sense when you think about it...something you could also say about the Disney ones as well.