MovieChat Forums > Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) Discussion > A funny movie ... brilliantly casted

A funny movie ... brilliantly casted

posted 15 years ago by mloessel
4 replies | jump to latest

I've seen this movie in its entirety several times but I saw the last half of this gem of a classic on Thanksgiving Day 2008. Clifton Webb is brilliant in his role as the family patriarch (Frank Hunter Gilbreth). Then you add the endearing Myrna Loy as Lillian Gilbreth and an incredibly well casted supporting cast.
'Cheaper by the Dozen' is an enjoyable movie that is void of wasted sub-plots but full of laughs and moments of sorrow. Although made in 1950 the movie showcases the real life story of the Gilbreth family (circa 1930s) as, I believe, narrated by Barabra Bates aka Ernestine Gilbreth. Every scene takes you to the next and there's no temptation to hit the fast/forward button. And I found it particularily delightful that all the young actors (children) seemed totally engaged in their characters.
'Cheaper by the Dozen' makes my list of masterpiece cinema. But see this 1950s classic and decide for yourself. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

[–] TongueFu 15 years ago

The expression is 'brilliantly cast', not casted.
Also, well-cast, not casted.

[–] MadTom 14 years ago

Actually, I think Clifton Webb was miscast based on size and build alone. The real Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr., as described by his kids Frank Jr. and Ernestine who wrote the original book, was a heavy-set man (weighing over 200 pounds for much of his adulthood-- a factor in his premature death) with a booming voice. When I look at pictures of the real person and think of actors of the 1950s, I think Ward Bond or Roy Roberts should've played him in this movie.

(Correction 10/10/10 with regards to his weight as mentioned in the book.)

[–] eljaykay1219 13 years ago

eljaykay

This was the first movie I saw Clifton Webb in and I was expecting a larger man too.
However that is only a minor change. The order of the children was changed too. Jane was actually the youngest but the director wanted to include the scene in which Roberts name is chosen so they reversed the birth order. Also the girl playing Lill is older than the boy playing Bill but in real life Bill was older.

[–] skylands 12 years ago

I've always thought Broderick Crawford would have been perfect for the part. Frank was that kind of guy.