Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screenplay)
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (novel) ...

Release Date:

April 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

He's the New Father of His Country!

Plot:

"Cheaper By the Dozen", based on the real-life story of the Gilbreth family, follows them from Providence...

Plot Keywords:

Large Family | Montclair New Jersey | Father Son Relationship | Brother Sister Relationship | Surgeon

Cast

Clifton Webb	...	Frank Bunker Gilbreth
Jeanne Crain	...	Ann Gilbreth
Myrna Loy	...	Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth
Betty Lynn	...	Deborah Lancaster
Edgar Buchanan	...	Dr. Burton
Barbara Bates	...	Ernestine Gilbreth
Mildred Natwick	...	Mrs. Mebane
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. Monahan

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:G | UK:U | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #14218) | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the movie, the last child born is a boy named "Robert". But in real life, the last Gilbreth child was a girl named "Jane". There was a son named Robert, but he was the second-to-last child born.

Goofs:

Continuity: Near the end of the film when the father is getting in his car to head for Europe, he tosses his hat on the seat with his coat on top of it. After saying goodbye to his family, he gets into the car and the hat is on top of the coat.

Quotes:

Man on street: Hey Noah, what are you doing with that Ark?
Frank Gilbreth: Collecting animals like the good Lord told me brother. All we need now is a jackass. Hop in!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wheels of Terror (1990) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Memories

A Kinder, Gentler Hollywood Family

Once again, this is a movie in which the original is better than the re-make, even though the latter was a decent, popular film.

What the two films offered, however, was another stark contrast in how the culture (and Hollywood) has changed. In this original version, unlike today's films: 1 - The father rules the roost; 2 - the kids are nice kids. They actually behave and are respectful; 3 - The general atmosphere is a far more kind and gentle one than scene in today's "family films."

In other words, this is a real throwback to an era of nice family films, when they really were truly that. It reminded me of "Life With Father." If you liked that film, you'd enjoy this.

Clifton Webb was fun to watch as the strict father. Myrna Loy's role as the mother wasn't as much as one would expect. Perhaps if the title hadn't already been taken, this would have been more aptly named "Life With Father" since Loy's part was so minor. The kids were pretty wholesome and believable for that era except Jeanne Crain was far too old to be playing a 17-year-old.

If the film could be described in one word, it would be CHARM. It doesn't provide a lot of big laughs but it's pleasant, and at 86 minutes doesn't overstay its welcome.