child after Jane (who was born in 1922). This is reversed in the movie's sequel. In real life, Mary, who was the second child, died in 1912, aged 5. However, in the film Cheaper by the Dozen, Mary is placed as the third child after Ernestine, and has few or no lines. Both Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were important figures in real life. The voice-over at the end of the film informs the audience that Lillian went on to become the world's leading efficiency expert and Woman of the Year in 1948, a title bestowed by the Twentieth Century Club of Buffalo. Reception Reviews from critics were mostly positive. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times wrote that "it all adds up to entertainment of a broad, brash and innocent sort." Variety called it "a lot of fun" with "a lot of humor, and just enough clutching at the heart to please any audience." Harrison's Reports called it "delightfully amusing" with comedy "that keeps one chuckling throughout and at times reaches hilarious proportions." "Pleasant light entertainment", reported The Monthly Film Bulletin. John McCarten of The New Yorker was less enthused, writing that "since nothing much happens in the way of conflict, there just isn't any drama, and the piece boils down to one of those typical fluffy comedies about home life in America." References External links 1950 films 1950 comedy-drama films 20th Century Fox films American comedy-drama films 1950s English-language films Films about families Films based on biographies Films directed by Walter Lang Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Films set in the 1920s Films set in Rhode Island Films set in New Jersey Films shot in New Jersey Films with screenplays by Lamar Trotti American children's comedy films Films about parenting 1950s American films