Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

"Cheaper By the Dozen", based on the real-life story of the Gilbreth family, follows them from Providence, Rhode Island to Montclair, New Jersey, and details the amusing anecdotes found in ... See full summary »

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Lamar Trotti (screen play), Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Clifton Webb, Myrna Loy, Jeanne Crain

Cast

Complete credited 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

Storyline

"Cheaper By the Dozen", based on the real-life story of the Gilbreth family, follows them from Providence, Rhode Island to Montclair, New Jersey, and details the amusing anecdotes found in large families. Frank Gilbreth, Sr., was a pioneer in the field of motion study, and often used his family as guinea pigs (with amusing and sometimes embarrassing results). He resisted popular culture,railing against his daughters' desires for bobbed hair and cosmetics.

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Plot Keywords:

fatherhood | motherhood | family relationships | montclair new jersey | large family | 

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Taglines:

He's the New Father of His Country!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The big house the family moves to in Montclair is the same house set originally built for Judy Garland's family in Meet Me in St. Louis (1944). Fox didn't have an appropriate standing outdoor set so they rented time on the "St. Louis Street" on MGM lot #2.

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Goofs

As the camera zooms in during the tonsillectomy, you can see the shadow of the camera on the back of one of the nurses' white coats.

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Quotes

Frank Gilbreth: [while escorting Ann out of the house on her first date] I know its not your fault Lilly, but things would have been a whole lot easier if you'd taken my advice and had all boys.
Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth: I'm sorry, dear. I'll try to be more careful with the next dozen.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: This is the true story of an American family.

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Connections

Referenced in Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (2014)

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Soundtracks

Love's Old Sweet Song (Just a Song at Twilight)
(1884) (uncredited)
Music by J.L. Molloy
Played by the children on various instruments

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Im Dutzend billiger

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1