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Cheaper by the Dozen (1950)

Based on the novel by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, Cheaper by the Dozen is a charming and humorous story of one unique American family in 1921. Frank Bunker Gilbreth (Clifton Webb) is the doting father, a successful industrial engineer who made his name in efficiency and who tries to apply his exacting standards in rearing his children – all 12 of them. Lillian (Myrna Loy) is his incredibly patient wife who amazingly enough retains her figure after delivering a dozen babies and is a prominent psychologist and consultant a la Clair Huxtable.

Narrated by Jeanne Crain as the eldest daughter, Ann, Cheaper by the Dozen starts with the Gilbreth clan at their Providence, RI, home when their father returns from a business trip. Immediately Frank gathers his 11 children, timing their obedience to his whistle call, and inspects each of them. In one scene you realize the depth of this father figure, his demand for efficiency in his children, his pride in each of them, his bottomless love for them, and his disdain for the Jazz Age. He also brings home news that the family is moving to Montclair, NJ, where he can be closer to his work. The kids protest, but Frank is adamant, and the family is soon loaded into the family car on their way to New Jersey.

Life at the Gilbreth home, as expected with a family of this size, is far from normal. But Frank and Lillian have their ways of maintaining order and encourage full participation from their children in home matters. When problems arise, the family holds council, with the father as the chairman. Issues are brought up, seconded and voted on.

When the children start school, Frank not only drives them there, but insists on meeting with the teachers and tries to advance his children into higher grades. His belief in the family’s pioneer stock and his children’s talents makes him certain they are above children their own age. He demonstrates to the principal by having the children solve complicated multiplication problems on the spot. He further demonstrates his family’s efficient methods by simulating a bath for the principal, which is especially funny given Frank’s serious nature and pride.

At the Gilbreth home, sickness is "forbidden" because it would mean an instant epidemic. So when one child coughs, there is sudden cause for alarm and the coughing quickly spreads. The family doctor says each of the children will need a tonsillectomy, as well as Frank. Frank refuses, claiming he’s never been sick a day in his life, but he suggests the children have their tonsils removed all at once at home. His reason: to film the operations and analyze how doctors could do the surgery better. The doctor only agrees when Frank says he, too, will have his tonsils removed.

The children go one by one to have their tonsils removed. Frank is there with his cameraman to capture the sequence and jokes about the simplicity of the procedure as being nothing more than a "mosquito bite." In fact, he is so curious about the procedure and wants to be awake for his own operation he turns down the ether and opts for a local anesthetic. The end result is funny, but more so when the cameraman admits he made a mistake.

The Gilbreth family goes through changes throughout the film. A new baby arrives to make it an even dozen. The family gets a dog, which Frank protests against but becomes attached to, and the older daughters struggle to fit in with the Jazz Age as their father resists and threatens to send them to a convent in Albany.

Ann, being the oldest, begins the revolution against her father. She cuts her hair short, wears silk stockings and wants to date boys. Her father huffs and puffs, but like any father, he surrenders to Ann under certain conditions. When a boy invites her to the senior prom, Frank insists on going along. She admonishes the idea, but what choice does she have? So with her father in the back seat of the boy’s roadster, Ann goes to the dance. She fears of being ridiculed by her classmates and is surprised when the girls in her class take turns dancing with her father. Frank finally admits the young generation isn’t as bad as he thought.

For such a charming film, it was saddening it didn’t have a happy ending. Then again, it is based on a true story. The finale does, however, provide a sense of hope for this unique family. To find out what happens to the Gilbreth clan, watch is "Belles on Their Toes" (1952) – a slightly inferior sequel, but charming nevertheless.

Cheaper by the Dozen is charming and funny – but mostly charming. Webb does a fantastic job as Frank Gilbreth and is full of laughs, even as he furrows his brow. Loy’s Lillian is the "straight-man" who basically puts up with her husband and goes along. Of course, the children are all cute and endearing.

DVD extras include theatrical trailers for Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on Their Toes, the 2003 version of Cheaper by the Dozen, and a poorly shot Movie Tone news piece on awards won by the film.

Written by: John Neal

Reviewers Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 9.25
Reader's Votes: 4

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