Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

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

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:

Montclair New Jersey | Large Family | Affection | Father Daughter Relationship | Psychology

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Baldwin	...	Jim Bracken (uncredited)
Betty Barker	...	Mary Gilbreth (uncredited)
Benny Bartlett	...	Joe Scales (uncredited)
Lovyss Bradley	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Patti Brady	...	Martha Gilbreth (uncredited)
Virginia Brissac	...	Mrs. Benson (uncredited)
Ken Christy	...	Jed - Delivers Telegram (uncredited)
Denise Courtemarche	...	Jane - Age 1 (uncredited)
Ted Crane	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Dulcie Day	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Teddy Driver	...	Dan Gilbreth (uncredited)
Billy Engle	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Mary Field	...	Music Teacher (uncredited)
Anita Gegna	...	Assistant Principal (uncredited)
Vincent Graeff	...	Mailman with Special Delivery Letter (uncredited)
Eula Guy	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Craig Hill	...	Tom Black (uncredited)
Ralph Hodges	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Jimmy Hunt	...	William Gilbreth (uncredited)
Jane Lee	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Caryl Lincoln	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Roddy McCaskill	...	Jack Gilbreth (uncredited)
Tom McQuillan	...	Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Eleanor Moore	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Carol Nugent	...	Lillie Gilbreth (uncredited)
Peggy O'Connor	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Ramona Oliver	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Norman Ollestad	...	Frank Gilbreth Jr. (uncredited)
Frank Orth	...	Higgins (uncredited)
Joyce Otis	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Cynthia Pepper	...	One of the Girls Looking in the Window (uncredited)
Jeff Richards	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Syd Saylor	...	Plumber (uncredited)
Harmon Stevens	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Anthony Sydes	...	Fred Gilbreth (uncredited)
Lyn Thomas	...	Girl on Beach (uncredited)
Tina Thompson	...	Jane - Age 2 (uncredited)
Evelyn Varden	...	School Principal (uncredited)
Lillian West	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
Judy Ann Whaley	...	Baby Denise (uncredited)
Hank Wise	...	Traffic Cop (uncredited)

Directed by
Walter Lang

Writing credits
Lamar Trotti		(screenplay)
Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.		(novel) and
Ernestine Gilbreth Carey		(novel)

Produced by
Lamar Trotti	....	producer
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(as Cyril Mockridge)
Alfred Newman		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
J. Watson Webb Jr.		(as J.Watson Webb Jr.)

Art Direction by
Leland Fuller
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Thomas Little

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Linda Cross	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Lillian Ugrin	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
A.F. Erickson	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eli Dunn	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Gaston Glass	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
Fred Sersen	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
F. Bud Mautino	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Emmett Schoenbaum	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	wardrobe director
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Lyman Hallowell	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Lionel Newman	....	musical director
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herbert Spencer)
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Leonard Doss	....	technicolor color consultant
Jerry Bryan	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Doris Drought	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
John Sturtevant	....	dialogue director (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1950) (USA) (theatrical) (released by) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1962) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Oy Fox Films (1950) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1964) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

86 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

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Based on the real-life Gilbreth family. Daughter Mary died from a childhood illness; the movie includes a Mary but keeps her somewhat in the background with no lines.

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:

Frank Gilbreth:Darling, you know I am happy with our little brood, but you should have had more boys!
Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth:I'm sorry, dear. I'll try to be more careful with the next dozen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Charmed: Cheaper by the Coven (#7.3)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

When You Wore a Tulip (and I Wore a Big Red Rose)

Life With Father

Clifton Webb is a joy in this delightful film, based on a true story, of an eccentric genius and his twelve children. The color is gorgeous, and the interior design of the family's New Jersey home ought to have won an Oscar. Myrna Loy is solid as Webb's patient, loving wife, and Jeanne Crain energetic as his spunky daughter. There isn't much story here, as events unfold naturally, as they do in life, and one isn't always sure where the film is going. Early twentieth century America is captured in all its overstuffed, art nouveau-ish glory, as the film's plot, irregular, often going off on odd tangents, perfectly mimics that style of design so popular at the time. The movie is really about the end of an era, as we see the very tail end of the Gilded Age turning into the roaring twenties, and with it the death of the old paternalism, at times stiff, occasionally charming, perfectly embodied by Mr. Webb; and there is an awesome sadness at the film's conclusion, as we see a man and his era pass into history.