Wouldn't it be nice if someone could switch places with you and know exactly how you feel? In Disney's 1976 film Freaky Friday, that's exactly what happens: a power-struggling mother and daughter magically switch places when they both wish the other to walk in her shoes for a day. Teenage troublemaker Annabel suddenly has to deal with the challenges of running a household while mother Ellen is back in junior high! Mary Rodgers-daughter of composer Richard-wrote the novel and the screenplay for the film, which showcased the inspired casting of a then-fourteen year-old Jodie Foster and theatre star Barbara Harris, who both received Golden Globe nominations for their performances.

Foster, who started her acting career at age two in a suntan lotion commercial, was already a professional child actress in feature films by Freaky Friday. A self-proclaimed Disney kid, she starred in family-friendly fare such as Napoleon and Samantha (1972) and One Little Indian (1973), but had also built an impressive repertoire with decidedly more mature performances in films like Taxi Driver (1976) and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974). During an interview around the opening of Freaky Friday, Foster commented, "I think it's important for my career that I make all different kinds of films. I'm proud that I made Freaky Friday. I shouldn't make one kind of picture like so many child stars of the past did. And I thought the idea of Freaky Friday was terrific. A lot of my friends think it's my best picture. I really like working for Disney." It was her loyalty to her Disney contract that prevented Foster from accepting another role, that of Princess Leia in Star Wars (1977). As the story goes, George Lucas decided to make Leia older once it was confirmed that Foster would not be cast. Jodie ended up making Candleshoe (1977) instead, with co-stars Helen Hayes and David Niven.

Barbara Harris is better known for her theatre work; a pivotal founding member of The Second City improvisational troupe, she went on to Broadway and earned two successive Tony nominations, winning one for her role in The Apple Tree in 1967. Some of her notable film performances include working with Jason Robards in A Thousand Clowns (1965), an Oscar®-nominated Best Supporting performance in Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971) with Dustin Hoffman, and Robert Altman's Nashville (1975). In the 80s, she delivered memorable supporting roles in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988).

The waterskiing subplot was an addition to the screenplay by Rodgers, presumably at the behest of Walt Disney who loved the inclusion of playful stunts like this. Foster and Harris, however, did no actual waterskiing: close-up shots were achieved filming the actresses against a green screen, and professional skiers were used for long shots.

Freaky Friday has been remade twice: as a TV movie starring Shelley Long and Gaby Hoffman in 1995, and with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan in 2003. Foster was reportedly contacted for the Curtis role in the remake, but declined.

Classic television fans will recognize a lot of the Freaky Friday cast, including John Astin from The Addams Family (1964-66) and Dick Van Patten of Eight Is Enough (1977-81). But wait! There's more! Why it's none other than "Boss Hogg" from The Dukes of Hazzard (1979-85). Sorrell Booke pops up, too, as does Ruth Buzzi from many years of Laugh-in (1968-73) and even Charlene Tilton of the legendary soap Dallas (1978-91).

Producer: Tom Leetch, Ron Miller
Director: Gary Nelson
Screenplay: Mary Rodgers
Cinematography: Charles F. Wheeler
Film Editing: Cotton Warburton
Art Direction: John B. Mansbridge, Jack Senter
Music: Johnny Mandel
Cast: Barbara Harris (Ellen Andrews), Jodie Foster (Annabel Andrews), John Astin (Bill Andrews), Patsy Kelly (Mrs. Schmauss), Dick Van Patten (Harold Jennings), Vicki Schreck (Virginia).
C-95m. Letterboxed.

by Eleanor Quin