Cheaper by the Dozen | |
---|---|
Based on | Characters created by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. Ernestine Gilbreth Carey |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox (1950-1952, 2003-2005) Disney+ (2022) |
Release date | 1950-present |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Cheaper by the Dozen franchise consists of a series of films and stage adaptations, [1] based on the real-life events of the Gilbreth family. Based on novels co-written by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, the film series includes two biographical films and three loosely-remade family comedy films inspired by their story. The general plot centers around the lives of parents with a large number of children. Each depicts familial relationships, and working through the challenges that arise with an over-sized household.
Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) was well-received critically and financially, which led to a sequel with Belles on Their Toes (1952). Years later, a fictional loose-remake based on the true-life family was adapted and released in 2003. Though it acquired mild critical reception, its box office returns inspired 20th Century Fox to greenlight a sequel titled Cheaper by the Dozen 2 (2005) which upon release received poor critical response.
A reboot of the franchise was exclusively released on Disney+ on March 18 2022. [2]
The autobiographical novels Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes were written by siblings Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, and released in 1948 and 1952, respectively. The books detail their upbringing in a large family of 12 children, as well as the time and motion study techniques by which they were raised.
In Cheaper by the Dozen, the book details the eventful life of the wealthy Frank Bunker Gilbreth and Lillian Moller Gilbreth, in raising a large family. The couple tested and perfected their business practices, helping factories fine-tune their assembly lines for maximum output at minimum cost, and used these skills in their personal lives with their large number of children. The book includes the insights of two of its members, the authors, with the comedy and heart of growing up in an over-sized family. Throughout its pages, the authors seek to teach the importance of hard work. The events and stories within the book are organized topically while the book coming to an abrupt end, portraying the sudden real-life death of their father.
A sequel to the first novel, Belles on Their Toes details the family's continued adventures following the passing of Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr., with Lillian's attempts to continue perfecting business practices. With the studies rendered and the knowledge she acquired with her husband, Lillian continues to work and provide for her large family. The novel details her role in taking over the profitable business, and the ways in which each family member contributed saving money and maximizing the family income. The Gilbreth family endured a chicken pox outbreak and the influence of an unwelcome boyfriend, and even met the President of the United States.
Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriter(s) | Story by | Producer(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheaper by the Dozen | March 31, 1950 | Walter Lang | Lamar Trotti | ||
Belles on Their Toes | May 2, 1952 | Henry Levin | Henry Ephron & Phoebe Ephron | Samuel G. Engel | |
Cheaper by the Dozen | December 25, 2003 | Shawn Levy | Sam Harper, Joel Cohen & Alec Sokolow | Craig Titley | Ben Myron, Robert Simonds & Michael Barnathan |
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | December 21, 2005 | Adam Shankman | Sam Harper | Ben Myron & Shawn Levy | |
Cheaper by the Dozen | March 18, 2022 | Gail Lerner | Kenya Barris & Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry | Kenya Barris |
As a biographical film, the plot details the story of the large Gilbreth family. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth work together in raising 12 children. As both are business professionals and renowned efficiency experts, the trials of raising their children are detailed with comedic situations. The married couple have added assistance from their oldest daughter, who oftentimes acts as a parental figure to her younger siblings. Though Frank and Lillian experience push-back from their children, the family works together to overcome the challenges of everyday life, and to strengthen the couple's company in work experiences. The family’s bond is tested with the sudden passing of Frank, due to heart failure. The family decides to continue to work together, while Lillian takes charge of the business.
After the death of her husband, Lillian Gilbreth works tirelessly to provide for her family, consisting of 12 children. The recent-widow seeks additional work to make extra money. Despite her engineering background, Lillian is challenged by sexist bigotry when applying for various jobs. The family works together, facing difficulties of young adulthood and in helping their mother with the cost of living.
Tom and Kate Baker find themselves the parents of 12 children. The couple came to a compromise with their working careers, early in their marriage, to provide for the large family. Tom is the sole breadwinner coaching college football, while Kate retires from her passion as a journalist to raise their kids. Their day-to-day lives suddenly change when Tom is offered the opportunity to coach at a collegiate level, at the same time that Kate's parenting memoir is purchased by a book publisher. Upon moving into a new home for Tom's new job, Kate leaves to begins her book tour. As Tom is left to care for the children, much comedic chaos ensues within the household. Through these events, Kate realizes she would rather be home with her family, while Tom realizes how difficult her job as a mother can be. Ultimately, Tom resigns from his job to spend more time with the family.
After the wedding of their oldest daughter Nora and the upcoming birth of her first child, Tom and Kate Baker plan a vacation for their large family. Hoping for a relaxing summer vacation at a lakeside resort, the family realizes upon arrival that they will be staying in the most aged unit in the area. As it was the last rental available, Tom attempts to fix it up though his knowledge of household repairs is limited. Tom’s old rival, Jimmy Murtaugh and his equally large family, happen to be staying at the same resort. The not-so-friendly competitiveness, begins to spoil the trip. The Bakers’ teenage son Charlie falls in love with the Murtaughs’ teenage daughter Anne, and the Bakers’ preteen daughter Sarah falls in love with the Murtaughs’ preteen son Elliot. Sarah and Elliot go to the movies together, and their fathers come to the movie theater to spy on them, but Tom and Jimmy end up getting kicked out of the theater because the other moviegoers become suspicious of their behavior. The Bakers rally together to try and win the annual Labor Day competition against the Murtaughs. During the final challenge, Nora Baker goes into labor. The Murtaugh family abandons the task, coming to assist the Bakers which dissolves the discord between the households. Jimmy reveals that he was always jealous of Tom's popularity when they were growing up, and the two fathers become friends. The baby is born, and he is named Tom after his grandfather, with Nora stating that though her dad has never been perfect he's excelled in many ways at being a good father. Nora’s younger sister Lorraine is selected as the baby’s godmother. Nora and Charlie both decide to move to the lake.
In August 2019, following the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney, The Walt Disney Company then-CEO Bob Iger announced that a reboot of Cheaper by the Dozen was in development and would premiere exclusively on the company's streaming service, Disney+. [3] Later that month, Gail Lerner signed on as director, with a script co-written by Kenya Barris and Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry. Barris would also serve as producer. [2] Principal photography was scheduled to commence on July 13, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. [4] In March of the same year, however, filming on all Disney projects were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and industry restrictions worldwide. [5] It ended up having bad reviews.
By November 2020, Disney's new CEO Bob Chapek announced that filming on all movies that had been postponed by the coronavirus had resumed filming, and in some cases completed principal photography. [6] Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff were cast to co-star as the parents of the family in the film, [7] [8] while Journee Brown, Kylie Rogers, Andre Robinson, Caylee Blosenski, Aryan Simhadri, Leo A. Perry, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Christian Cote, Sebastian Cote and Luke Prael were cast as their children. The plot centers around a blended multiracial family, who navigate familial relationships and maintaining a family business. [9] The film debuted on Disney+ on March 18, 2022. [2] Principal photography began in April 2021. [10]
This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in notable roles.
Character | Film | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cheaper by the Dozen | Belles on Their Toes | Cheaper by the Dozen | Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | Cheaper by the Dozen | |
1950 | 1952 | 2003 | 2005 | 2022 | |
Principal cast | |||||
Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr. | Clifton Webb | Clifton Webb P | Clifton Webb A | ||
Lillian Gilbreth | Myrna Loy | Myrna Loy A | |||
Anne "Annie" Gilbreth | Jeanne Crain | ||||
Ernestine "Ern" Gilbreth | Barbara Bates | ||||
Mary Gilbreth | Betty Barker | ||||
Martha Gilbreth | Patti Brady | Debra Paget | |||
Frank Gilbreth, Jr. | Norman Ollestad | Robert Arthur | |||
William "Bill" Gilbreth | Jimmy Hunt | Tommy Ivo | |||
Lillian "Lillie" Gilbreth | Carol Nugent | ||||
Fred Gilbreth | Anthony Sydes | Jimmy Hunt | |||
Dan Gilbreth | Teddy Driver | Anthony Sydes | |||
Jack Gilbreth | Roddy McCaskill | Teddy Driver | |||
Jane Gilbreth | Tina Thompson | June Hedin | |||
Robert "Bob" Gilbreth | Uncredited infant | Roddy McCaskill | |||
Tom Baker | Steve Martin | ||||
Kate Baker | Bonnie Hunt | ||||
Nora Baker-McNulty | Piper Perabo | Piper Perabo | |||
Merris Carden Y U | |||||
Charlie Baker | Tom Welling | ||||
Lorraine Baker | Hilary Duff | ||||
Henry Baker | Kevin G. Schmidt | ||||
Sarah Baker | Alyson Stoner | ||||
Jake Baker | Jacob Smith | ||||
Mark Baker | Forrest Landis | ||||
Jessica Baker | Liliana Mumy | ||||
Kim Baker | Morgan York | ||||
Mike Baker | Blake Woodruff | ||||
Kyle Baker | Brent Kinsman | ||||
Nigel Baker | Shane Kinsman | ||||
Paul Baker | Zach Braff | ||||
Zoey Clayton-Baker | Gabrielle Union | ||||
Deja Clayton-Baker | Journee Brown | ||||
Kyrie McAlpin Y | |||||
Ella Baker | Kylie Rogers | ||||
DJ Clayton-Baker | Andre Robinson | ||||
Elias Murphy Y | |||||
Harley Baker | Caylee Blosenski | ||||
Annalyn Black Y | |||||
Haresh Baker | Aryan Simhadri | ||||
Niam Saharan Y | |||||
Luca Baker | Leo Abelo Perry | ||||
Luna Baker | Mykal-Michelle Harris | ||||
Bailey Baker | Christian Cote | ||||
Bronx Baker | Sebastian Cote | ||||
Seth Baker | Luke Prael | ||||
Supporting cast | |||||
Tom Black | Craig Hill U | ||||
Joe Scales | Benny Bartlett U | ||||
Dr. Burton | Edgar Buchanan | ||||
Mrs. Monahan | Sara Allgood U | ||||
Hank | Ashton Kutcher U | ||||
Dylan Shenk | Steven Anthony Lawrence | ||||
Shake McGuire | Richard Jenkins | ||||
Tina Shenk | Paula Marshall | ||||
Bill Shenk | Alan Ruck | ||||
Diana Phillips | Vanessa Bell Calloway | ||||
Quinn | Cody Linley | ||||
Cooper | Adam Taylor Gordon | ||||
Jimmy Murtaugh | Eugene Levy | ||||
Sarina Murtaugh | Carmen Electra | ||||
Bud McNulty | Jonathan Bennett | ||||
Calvin Murtaugh | Shawn Roberts | ||||
Anne Murtaugh | Jaime King | ||||
Daniel Murtaugh | Robbie Amell | ||||
Becky Murtaugh | Melanie Tonello | ||||
Elliot Murtaugh | Taylor Lautner | ||||
Lisa Murtaugh | Courtney Fitzpatrick | ||||
Robin Murtaugh | Madison Fitzpatrick | ||||
Kenneth Murtaugh | Alexander Conti | ||||
Mike Romanow | Peter Keleghan | ||||
Kate | Erika Christensen | ||||
Dominic "Dom" Clayton | Timon Durrett | ||||
Melanie | Brittany Daniel | ||||
Michele | Cynthia Daniel Hauser | ||||
Tricia | Abby Elliott | ||||
Anne Vaughn | June Diane Raphael | ||||
Chris | Simeon Daise | ||||
Thalia | Lola Raie |
Film | Crew | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Composer | Cinematographer | Editor(s) | Production companies | Distributing company | |||
Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) | Cyril J. Mockridge | Leon Shamroy | James Watson Webb Jr. | 20th Century Fox | |||
Belles on Their Toes | Arthur E. Arling | Robert Fritch | |||||
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) | Christophe Beck | Jonathan Brown | George Folsey, Jr. | 20th Century Fox Robert Simonds Productions | 20th Century Fox | ||
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | John Debney | Peter James | Matthew Cassel & Christopher Greenbury | 20th Century Fox 21 Laps Entertainment Dozen Canada Productions | |||
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022) | John Paesano | Mitchell Amundsen | Troy Takaki | Khalabo Ink Society Walt Disney Pictures 20th Century Studios [11] | Disney+ |
Film | Box office gross | Box office ranking | Budget | Net income/loss | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North America | Other territories | Worldwide | All-time North America | All-time worldwide | ||||
Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) | $4,425,000 | — | $4,425,000 | not available | not available | $1,700,000 | $2,725,000 | [12] [13] [14] |
Belles on Their Toes | $2,000,000 | — | $2,000,000 | not available | not available | $1,130,000 | $870,000 | [12] |
Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) | $138,614,544 | $51,597,569 | $190,212,113 | #431 | #1,686 | $40,000,000 | $150,212,113 | [15] [16] |
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | $82,571,173 | $47,583,395 | $130,154,568 | #953 | #1,667 | $60,000,000 | $70,154,568 | [17] [18] |
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022) | — | — | — | — | — | Information not publicly available | Information not publicly available |
Film | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic | CinemaScore |
---|---|---|---|
Cheaper by the Dozen(1950) | 80% (5 reviews) [19] | — | — |
Belles on Their Toes | — | — | — |
Cheaper by the Dozen(2003) | 24% (119 reviews) [20] | 46/100 (17 reviews) [21] | A- [22] |
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 | 6% (94 reviews) [23] | 34/100 (24 reviews) [24] | A- [22] |
Cheaper by the Dozen(2022) | 37% (38 reviews) [25] | 42/100 (11 reviews) [26] | — |
A stage adaptation of the novel was released in 1992. The adaptation, written by Christopher Sergel, follows the premise of the autobiography with similarities to the feature films. Written for an adolescent to college-age audience, the play primarily follows the point of view of Anne Gilbreth, the primary character. The plot details the events of Anne's every-day popularity in high school. Her father Frank, is esteemed as a pioneer of industrial efficiency, uses his work skills upon the large family of 14 individuals. Seeking to save money and to find a more organized living for his family, Frank comedically pushes forward with unorthodox practices. Over the course of the play, Anne learns amidst her frustrations that the secret reason her father has been behaving differently is that he has a serious heart condition. In turn, Frank comes to the sentimental realization that his daughter has grown. [27]
A comedy-musical adaptation of the play by Christopher Sergel debuted with a score and lyrics co-written by David Rogers and Mark Bucci. Similar to the play, Cheaper by the Dozen: The Musical takes liberties with the source material. Frank Gilbreth was an expert in industrial efficiency, and throughout the musical sings numbers dedicated to this achievement. The family doesn't understand why he begins to push his restrictive ways upon them, but his oldest daughters rebel against his attempts. The oldest daughter named Anne, seeks for her independence from the rules set by her father. As the father's worsening heart condition comes to light, the family begins to realize the levity of his actions. Frank wants his large family of 14 individuals to be able to survive, when he is no longer on the Earth. A mutual respect grows between Anne and Frank, as she moves away to college. [28]
Lillian Evelyn Gilbreth was an American psychologist, industrial engineer, consultant, and educator who was an early pioneer in applying psychology to time-and-motion studies. She was described in the 1940s as "a genius in the art of living."
Bonnie Lynn Hunt is an American actress, comedian, director, producer, writer and television host. Her film roles include Rain Man, Beethoven, Beethoven's 2nd, Jumanji, Jerry Maguire, The Green Mile, Cheaper by the Dozen, and Cheaper by the Dozen 2.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Shawn Levy. It is a remake of the 1950 film of the same name. Both films were inspired by the semi-autobiographical book Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It stars Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, and Piper Perabo with supporting roles by Kevin G. Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Forrest Landis, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Blake Woodruff, Brent and Shane Kinsman, Paula Marshall, and Alan Ruck. Outside of a passing mention of the Gilbreth name, the film has little connection with the original source material.
Gabrielle Monique Union-Wade is an American actress. Her career began in the 1990s, when she made dozens of appearances on television sitcoms, prior to landing supporting roles in 1999 teen films She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. She rose to greater prominence the following year, after she landed her breakthrough role in the teen film Bring It On.
Frank Bunker Gilbreth was an American engineer, consultant, and author known as an early advocate of scientific management and a pioneer of time and motion study, and is perhaps best known as the father and central figure of Cheaper by the Dozen.
Zachary Israel Braff is an American actor and filmmaker. He portrayed John Michael "J.D." Dorian on the NBC/ABC television series Scrubs (2001–2010), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 2005 as well as for three Golden Globe Awards from 2005 to 2007. He starred in The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy (2000), The Last Kiss (2006), The Ex (2006), and In Dubious Battle (2016). He has done voice-work for Chicken Little (2005), Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), and the Netflix series BoJack Horseman.
Jaime King is an American actress and model. In her modeling career and early film roles, she used the names Jamie King and James King, which was a childhood nickname given to King by her parents, because her agency already represented another Jaime—the older, then-more famous model Jaime Rishar.
Thomas "Tom" Joseph Welling is an American actor, director, producer, podcaster, and model. He is best known for his role as Clark Kent in The WB superhero drama Smallville (2001–2011). He also co-starred in the third season of Fox fantasy comedy-drama Lucifer as Lt. Marcus Pierce/Cain (2017–2018).
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is a 2005 American family comedy film directed by Adam Shankman. It is a sequel to the 2003 film Cheaper by the Dozen and stars Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling, Piper Perabo, and Hilary Duff with Kevin G. Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Forrest Landis, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Blake Woodruff, and Brent and Shane Kinsman reprising their roles as members of the 12-child Baker family, alongside Eugene Levy, Carmen Electra, Shawn Roberts, Jaime King, Robbie Amell, Taylor Lautner, and Jonathan Bennett as new characters. It tells the story of the Baker family as they go on a vacation and contend with a rival family, the Murtaughs.
Jacob Smith is an American former actor. He began his career as a young child, making several guest appearances on popular TV shows before being cast as Owen Salinger on Party of Five, a role he held for two years. After the series' end, Smith went on to appear in Phantom of the Megaplex, a Disney Channel Original Movie, in 2000 and then in Cheaper by the Dozen and its sequel, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a 1950 American comedy film based upon the autobiographical book Cheaper by the Dozen (1948) by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. The film and book describe growing up in a family with twelve children, in Montclair, New Jersey. The title comes from one of Gilbreth's favorite jokes, which played out in the film, that when he and his family were out driving and stopped at a red light, a pedestrian would ask: "Hey, mister! How come you got so many kids?" Gilbreth would pretend to ponder the question carefully, and then, just as the light turned green, would say: "Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know", and drive off.
Belles on Their Toes is a 1950 autobiographical book written by the siblings Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It is the follow-up to their book Cheaper by the Dozen (1948), and covers the period after Frank Gilbreth, Sr. died. It was adapted as a film in 1952.
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Ernestine Moller Gilbreth Carey was an American writer.
Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. was an American journalist and author. He co-authored, with his sister Ernestine, the autobiographical bestsellers Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes. Under his own name, he wrote multiple additional books, such as Time Out for Happiness and Ancestors of the Dozen, and a long-running newspaper column.
Belles on Their Toes is a 1952 American family comedy film based on the autobiographical book Belles on Their Toes (1950) by siblings Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. The film, which debuted in New York City on May 2, 1952, was directed by Henry Levin, and Henry Ephron and Phoebe Ephron wrote the screenplay. It is a sequel to the film Cheaper by the Dozen (1950), based on Gilbreth and Carey's eponymous 1948 book.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948. The novel recounts the authors' childhood lives growing up in a household of 12 children. The bestselling book was later adapted into a feature film by Twentieth Century Fox in 1950 and followed up by the sequel, Belles on Their Toes (1950), which was adapted as a 1952 film.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a biographical novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948.
The Comeback Trail is a 2020 American crime comedy film directed by George Gallo and written by Gallo and Josh Posner, based on the 1982 film of the same name by Harry Hurwitz. It stars Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman, Zach Braff, Emile Hirsch, Eddie Griffin, Kate Katzman, and Blerim Destani.
Cheaper by the Dozen is a 2022 American comedy film directed by Gail Lerner from a screenplay written by Kenya Barris and Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, with Shawn Levy serving as an executive producer. It is the third film adaptation of the 1948 semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey following the 1950 and 2003 films. The film stars Gabrielle Union, Zach Braff, Erika Christensen, and Timon Kyle Durratt with supporting roles by Christian Cote, Sebastian Cote, Christina Anthony, Caylee Blosenski, Journey Brown, Brittany Daniel, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Cynthia Daniel Hauser in her first acting role since 2002, Abby Elliott, Ron Funches, Leo Abelo Perry, Luke Prael, June Diane Raphael, Andre Robinson, Kylie Rogers, and Aryan Simhadri. It tells the story of a restaurant proprietor and his second wife as they raise the kids from the restaurateur's previous marriage, the second wife's family, and the children they later conceived as their respective exes are still involved in their children's lives.