"Cheaper By the Dozen"

The original 1950 “Cheaper By the Dozen” movie was based upon the 1946 story written by Frank Gilbreth Jr. and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey who were two of twelve children raised by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth during the early 1900’s.[1]  Cheaper By the Dozen was a popular book during it’s time probably because people were fascinated by the challenges and logistics involved in raising a large family, especially by two well educated parents. The movie begins with the Gilbreth family moving from Providence, Rhode Island to a new home in Montclair, New Jersey in their large automobile (without seatbelts,) in order for the father, Frank, to be closer to his work.  Mr. Gilbreth’s work is to help manufacturers be more efficient by eliminating unnecessary work and occasionally he uses his family to help him study this, such as when he sets up an operating room in the house so the doctor can remove his children’s tonsils while he films the process. Unfortunately the assistant forgets to put the film in the camera.

 

The Gilbreth family lived during an era called the “Roaring Twenties,”[2] when there were major technological advancements such as the automobile, and radio, as well as societal changes such as women’s suffrage, Jazz music and fashion.  Education is of the utmost importance to the Gilbreth’s as he demonstrates to the principal of the new school when his children multiply large numbers in their head, especially the third grader who multiplies 52 times 52. They are given the opportunity to learn musical instruments, even if they don’t have talent and when they go on vacation in Nantucket, Mr. Gilbreth has the Morse code posted in the bathroom for them to memorize.

 

Since it is the “Roaring Twenties,” the time period does present its own challenges to the family such as when a representative of the local birth control group knock’s on their door because a neighbor says she would be a good organizer and when her husband whistles and all the children race down the woman goes into “family” shock and races out the door.  The eldest daughter longs to wear the latest fashions of times which include showing bare knees and bobbed hair, so she can be “popular.”  Frank points out that children should be focused on being smarter instead of popular, not unlike today where children are distracted by what’s the latest and greatest.

 

The Gilbreth Family had a democratic system of communication, which consisted of family meetings where they came to an agreement on decisions that would affect them all, such as doing chores because the house was too large even with domestic help (today our domestic help are modern appliances.)  Although they would clash on specific topics they would communicate and they had a tremendous love and respect for one another, as demonstrated near the end of the film when tragedy strikes.

 

See Faith and Family Fix for their selection of classic movies and television series.

 

Date Published: 2008-03-26 00:00:00

Section: Entertainment,